Skip to content

Cloud pricing term

What is Block storage?

Block storage presents a disk-like volume that a machine can format and mount.

Also called: cloud volume, persistent disk, attached volume, network block storage, volume storage.

The expensive mistake

Assuming the compute sticker includes the persistent disk, or assuming a detached volume stops billing. A volume can outlive its server and keep its GB-month, IOPS, throughput, and snapshot charges.

Where it appears on your bill

Look for provisioned volume GB-month, volume type, IOPS, throughput, snapshots, and any attachment-related transfer.

Worked example

The dated example calculates AWS t4g.nano compute at $3.066/month and uses an EBS price of $0.08/GB-month. A 50 GB block volume adds 50 x $0.08 = $4, so compute plus disk is $7.066 before public IPv4, snapshots, and transfer.

Example prices checked:

Primary sources