# Suboptimal storage type for DynamoDB table | Cloud Efficiency Hub Canonical: https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub/inefficiencies/suboptimal-storage-type-for-dynamodb-table A table remains in the default Standard storage class despite having minimal or infrequent access. By: PointFive Updated: 2026-09-28 [Cloud Efficiency Hub](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub) # Suboptimal Storage Type for DynamoDB Table The short version A table remains in the default Standard storage class despite having minimal or infrequent access. PointFive Research Cloud cost research at PointFive AWS service [AWS DynamoDB](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub/cloud-services/aws-dynamodb) Category [Databases](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub/service-category/databases) Reference CER-0107 Type Inefficient Configuration ## Explanation Why the waste happens and who it affects. In these cases, switching to Standard-IA can significantly reduce monthly storage costs, especially for archival tables, compliance data, or legacy systems that are still retained but rarely queried. ## Billing model The pricing dimensions that drive this cost. DynamoDB tables are billed based on the storage class assigned to the entire table. - Standard: Higher monthly storage cost, lower read and write throughput prices. - Standard-IA: Lower storage cost, but higher read and write throughput prices (on-demand requests and provisioned capacity). AWS notes it can reduce total table cost when storage exceeds 50% of the table's throughput cost under Standard. Tables incur ongoing storage charges regardless of usage, so selecting the wrong storage class can lead to unnecessary cost. ## How to detect 5 checks to find it in your estate. - Identify tables currently set to the Standard storage class - Review read and write volume over the past 30+ days and compare throughput cost with storage cost - Determine whether the table is used for active workloads or primarily exists for reference, compliance, or long-term retention - Assess whether the higher read and write prices are outweighed by the storage savings (performance is the same in both classes) - Validate with data owners or service teams before changing the storage class ## How to fix How to remove the waste. If the table is rarely read and doesn't serve an active production workload, consider switching it to Standard-IA. Start by confirming that the higher read and write prices won't outweigh the storage savings; performance, durability and availability are the same as Standard. Then update the table's storage class using the AWS Console, CLI, or SDK. This change can be made without downtime or data migration, but a table allows no more than two table class updates in a trailing 30-day period, so plan changes rather than switching back and forth. To prevent recurrence, review provisioning defaults in infrastructure-as-code templates or automation scripts to ensure archival or infrequently accessed tables default to Standard-IA when appropriate. Periodically audit storage class assignments across environments to identify tables that may no longer require high-frequency access. ## Documentation Vendor references for pricing and configuration. - [DynamoDB Table Classes docs.aws.amazon.com](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/amazondynamodb/latest/developerguide/HowItWorks.TableClasses.html) - [DynamoDB Pricing aws.amazon.com](https://aws.amazon.com/dynamodb/pricing/) ## Related inefficiencies [Browse the library](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub) - AWS DynamoDB CER-0041 ### [Inefficient Use of On-Demand Capacity in DynamoDB](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub/inefficiencies/inefficient-use-of-on-demand-capacity-in-dynamodb) While On-Demand mode is well-suited for unpredictable or bursty workloads, it can be cost-inefficient for applications with steady, high throughput. In these cases, shifting to Provisioned mode with Auto Scaling allows teams to set a... Databases - AWS DynamoDB CER-0185 ### [Underutilized Write Capacity on a DynamoDB Table](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub/inefficiencies/underutilized-write-capacity-on-a-dynamodb-table) Provisioned capacity mode is appropriate for workloads with consistent or predictable throughput. However, when write capacity is significantly over-provisioned relative to actual usage, it results in wasted spend. This inefficiency is... Databases - AWS DynamoDB CER-0153 ### [Underutilized Read Capacity on a DynamoDB Table](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub/inefficiencies/underutilized-read-capacity-on-a-dynamodb-table) Provisioned capacity mode is appropriate for workloads with consistent or predictable throughput. However, when read capacity is significantly over-provisioned relative to actual usage, it results in wasted spend. This inefficiency is... Databases --- Source: the public page above. Product screenshots and illustrative interfaces are examples, not live customer data.