Compute Instance Cost Calculator

For back-of-the-napkin budgeting, instance count × hourly price × billable hours gets you most of the way. This calculator estimates monthly compute cost with simple utilization inputs.

Inputs

Instances
Price ($ / hour)
Utilization (%)
Hours/day

Results

Estimated monthly compute cost
$787.97
Billable hours (per instance)
730 hr (100%)

Example scenario

  • 6 instances at $0.18/hour running 24/7 → estimate monthly compute cost.

Included

  • Monthly compute estimate from instance count, $/hour, and billable hours.
  • Utilization inputs for schedules and non-24/7 environments.

Not included

  • Storage, bandwidth, managed service fees, and taxes.
  • Autoscaling behavior and per-second billing nuances.

How we calculate

  • Billable hours per instance ≈ days per month × hours/day × utilization.
  • Monthly cost = instances × billable hours per instance × $/hour.
  • This tool excludes storage, bandwidth, and managed service surcharges.

FAQ

What should I use for utilization?
Use 100% for always-on workloads, or a lower percentage for schedules or dev/test environments.
How do I include committed discounts?
Use your effective $/hour after discounts (or model break-even using the reserved vs on-demand tool).

Related tools

Reserved break-even Kubernetes node cost RPS to monthly requests

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: 2026-01-06