diff --git a/samcli/local/init/templates/cookiecutter-aws-sam-hello-java-gradle/{{cookiecutter.project_name}}/template.yaml b/samcli/local/init/templates/cookiecutter-aws-sam-hello-java-gradle/{{cookiecutter.project_name}}/template.yaml
index cbd079179a..3c8f5a3f19 100644
--- a/samcli/local/init/templates/cookiecutter-aws-sam-hello-java-gradle/{{cookiecutter.project_name}}/template.yaml
+++ b/samcli/local/init/templates/cookiecutter-aws-sam-hello-java-gradle/{{cookiecutter.project_name}}/template.yaml
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ Resources:
       CodeUri: HelloWorldFunction
       Handler: helloworld.App::handleRequest
       Runtime: java8
+      MemorySize: 512
       Environment: # More info about Env Vars: https://github.com/awslabs/serverless-application-model/blob/master/versions/2016-10-31.md#environment-object
         Variables:
           PARAM1: VALUE
diff --git a/samcli/local/init/templates/cookiecutter-aws-sam-hello-java-maven/{{cookiecutter.project_name}}/template.yaml b/samcli/local/init/templates/cookiecutter-aws-sam-hello-java-maven/{{cookiecutter.project_name}}/template.yaml
index cbd079179a..3c8f5a3f19 100644
--- a/samcli/local/init/templates/cookiecutter-aws-sam-hello-java-maven/{{cookiecutter.project_name}}/template.yaml
+++ b/samcli/local/init/templates/cookiecutter-aws-sam-hello-java-maven/{{cookiecutter.project_name}}/template.yaml
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ Resources:
       CodeUri: HelloWorldFunction
       Handler: helloworld.App::handleRequest
       Runtime: java8
+      MemorySize: 512
       Environment: # More info about Env Vars: https://github.com/awslabs/serverless-application-model/blob/master/versions/2016-10-31.md#environment-object
         Variables:
           PARAM1: VALUE