The present disclosure is directed to a flexible counter system for memory protection. In general, a counter system for supporting memory protection operations in a device may be made more efficient utilizing flexible counter structures. A device may comprise a processing module and a memory module. A flexible counter system in the memory module may comprise at least one data line including a plurality of counters. The bit-size of the counters may be reduced and/or varied from existing implementations through an overflow counter that may account for smaller counters entering an overflow state. Counters that utilize the overflow counter may be identified using a bit indicator. In at least one embodiment selectors corresponding to each of the plurality of counters may be able to map particular memory locations to particular counters.