Log Retention Storage Cost Calculator

Long retention policies can create big storage bills. This calculator estimates steady-state retained volume and storage cost.

Inputs

Logs produced (GB / day)
Retention (days)
Storage price ($ / GB-month)

Results

Retained volume (steady state)
1,500 GB
Estimated monthly storage cost
$45.00

Example scenario

  • 50 GB/day logs with 30-day retention → ~1,500 GB retained steady state (before compression).

Included

  • Steady-state retained volume estimate (GB/day × retention days).
  • Monthly storage estimate from retained GB and $/GB-month pricing.

Not included

  • Ingestion charges (use Log Ingestion Cost Calculator).
  • Indexing/query scan charges (use Log Search Scan Cost Calculator).

How we calculate

  • Retained volume (steady state) ≈ GB/day × retention days.
  • Monthly storage cost = retained GB × storage price per GB-month.
  • This is a simplified model; provider billing may differ by compression, indexing, and tiers.

FAQ

Why steady state?
After you’ve been logging for longer than your retention window, the dataset size is roughly constant: the last N days.
What if I have multiple log types?
Model each log stream separately (app logs, access logs, audit logs), then sum the results.

Related tools

Log ingestion cost Log scan cost Guide: log costs

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