AWS EBS Snapshot Cost Calculator

Estimate EBS snapshot storage cost using a simplified steady-state model: full volume + daily changed data retained over the retention window. Compare baseline vs peak churn.

Inputs

Volume size (GB)
~0.98 TB.
Daily change rate (%)
~20 GB/day of changes.
Daily change (GB)
Use average daily churn.
Est 2% change/day.
Retention (days)
~1 months of snapshots.
Snapshot storage price ($ / GB-month)
Scenario presets
This is a simplified steady-state estimate for planning. Snapshot storage is incremental, but real behavior depends on change patterns, deletes, compaction, and service specifics.

Results

Estimated snapshot stored volume
1,580 GB
Estimated monthly snapshot storage cost
$79.00

How to get your inputs

  • Inputs: use billing exports, metrics, or logs to get real counts/GB where possible.
  • Units: convert throughput (Mbps) or rates (RPS) into monthly units when needed.
  • Scenarios: build a baseline and a high-usage scenario to avoid under-budgeting.

Result interpretation

  • Daily change rate drives growth; small increases compound quickly with longer retention.
  • Large one-time churn (rebuilds, reindexing) should be modeled as peak months.

Common mistakes

  • Using a single average and ignoring peak/incident scenarios.
  • Double-counting or missing adjacent line items (transfer, logs, retries).

Scenario planning

Scenario Daily change Retention Stored GB
Baseline Typical Standard Estimated
Peak High Same Higher

Validate after changes

  • Compare your estimate to the first real bill and adjust assumptions.
  • Track the primary driver metric (requests/GB/count) over time.

Next steps

Guides All calculators Guide: EBS snapshot cost Guide: EBS pricing EBS cost calculator Database storage growth
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Example scenario

  • 1,000 GB volume, 2% daily changes, 30-day retention -> estimate stored GB and monthly cost.
  • Peak 220% scenario highlights backfill or batch churn.

Included

  • Snapshot stored volume estimate (steady state) from volume + change rate + retention.
  • Monthly snapshot storage cost estimate from stored GB and $/GB-month.
  • Optional daily change GB estimator.
  • Baseline vs peak scenario table for change spikes.

Not included

  • Provider-specific snapshot optimizations, rounding rules, and compression behavior.
  • Data transfer, requests, and restore fees if applicable.

How we calculate

  • Daily changed GB = volume GB x daily change rate.
  • Estimated stored GB ~ volume GB + daily changed GB x (retention days - 1).
  • Monthly cost ~ stored GB x $/GB-month.

FAQ

Is this exact?
No. Snapshot storage is incremental and depends on real change patterns. This is a planning estimate to avoid under-budgeting.
What daily change rate should I use?
Start with measured churn (writes) if you have it. If unsure, model scenarios (1%, 2%, 5%, 10%) and validate later.
What else should I model for EBS?
EBS volume storage plus performance add-ons (IOPS/throughput on some types), plus snapshot storage and retention policy.

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Disclaimer

Educational use only. Not legal, financial, or professional advice. Results are estimates based on the inputs and assumptions shown on this page. Verify pricing and limits with your providers and documentation.

Last updated: 2026-01-29