Managing your AWS bill is just as important as managing your infrastructure. Whether you're a solo developer, student, or working in a team, knowing where your money is going helps you stay in control of your cloud usage.
In this quick guide, we’ll walk you through how to check your AWS bill step-by-step using the AWS Console.
🔐 Step 1: Log In to the AWS Console
First, go to https://aws.amazon.com/console/ and log in with your AWS account credentials.
📝 Tip: If you're using an IAM user, make sure billing access is enabled by the root user.
🔍 Step 2: Search for Billing and Cost Management
Once you're logged in:
- Navigate to the search bar at the top of the AWS Management Console.
- Type Billing and Cost Management.
- Click the result that says Billing.
This will take you to the Billing Dashboard, where you can manage costs, view usage, set budgets, and more.
📄 Step 3: Go to the Bills Section
On the left-hand sidebar, you'll see a menu.
- Click on "Bills" under the “Billing” section.
Here, you’ll find a detailed breakdown of your AWS usage and charges.
💡 Step 4: Explore Your Bill Details
Once you're inside the Bills section, you can:
- Select the Billing Period (current or previous months)
- Click Print Bill for a physical or PDF copy
- View Invoice Summary, including tax
- Explore Savings Plans and Credits
- See Charges by AWS Service
- See Charges by Linked Account (if you're using an AWS Organization)
📌 Charges by account is only visible if your account is the management account of an AWS Organization.
🧾 Example Bill Breakdown
Here’s a typical breakdown you’ll see:
- EC2: $4.21
- S3: $1.95
- Lambda: Free (within free tier)
- Support: $0 (Basic Plan)
You’ll also see any applicable taxes or discounts.
✅ Final Thoughts
Regularly checking your AWS bill helps you:
- Avoid unexpected costs
- Understand your usage patterns
- Optimize for savings using Reserved Instances or Savings Plans
Make it a habit to review your Bills tab every week, especially if you're experimenting or running workloads on-demand.
🛠 Bonus Tip: Set a Budget
Want to avoid surprises?
Use the Budgets feature under Billing → Budgets to create alerts when your usage exceeds a certain threshold.
✨ Stay Informed, Stay in Control
AWS gives you the tools — it’s up to you to use them wisely!
If you’re just getting started, this simple billing check could save you big in the long run.
📢 Have questions or want more AWS guides?
Let me know in the comments or connect with me here on Dev.to!
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