# Unused EBS volume attached to a stopped EC2 instance Canonical: https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub/inefficiencies/unused-ebs-volume-attached-to-a-stopped-ec2-instance An EC2 instance is stopped but still has one or more attached EBS volumes. By: Taylor Houck Updated: 2026-09-28 [Cloud Efficiency Hub](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub) # Unused EBS Volume Attached to a Stopped EC2 Instance The short version An EC2 instance is stopped but still has one or more attached EBS volumes. [Taylor Houck](https://www.linkedin.com/in/twhouck/) Cloud FinOps Specialist @ PointFive AWS service [AWS EBS](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub/cloud-services/aws-ebs) Category [Storage](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub/service-category/storage) Reference CER-0051 Type Idle or Unused Resource ## Explanation Why the waste happens and who it affects. Although the compute resource is not generating charges while stopped, the attached volumes continue to incur full storage and performance-related costs. These volumes are often overlooked in cost reviews, especially if the instance is temporarily paused or has been left in a stopped state long-term. Without regular validation, these volumes may represent unused capacity that delivers no value. ## Billing model The pricing dimensions that drive this cost. EBS volumes are billed per GB-month of provisioned storage, with additional charges for provisioned IOPS (io1/io2, and gp3 above 3,000 IOPS) and throughput (gp3 above 125 MB/s). Charges apply continuously, regardless of whether the volume is attached to a running instance. When a volume is attached to an EC2 instance that is stopped, the instance incurs no charges - but the volume continues to accumulate storage and performance-related costs. ## How to detect 4 checks to find it in your estate. - Identify EC2 instances in a stopped state during the defined lookback period - Check whether attached EBS volumes remain actively provisioned - Validate whether the instance or its volumes are needed for recovery, migration, or scheduled activation - Consult application owners to determine if the instance and its storage are still required ## How to fix How to remove the waste. If the volume is no longer needed, back up any essential data and delete the volume to stop ongoing storage charges. Consider creating a snapshot if the data may be useful for future recovery. If the instance will be restarted soon, set a policy or reminder to revisit after a fixed period. Implement scheduled audits to catch volumes attached to stopped instances that no longer serve an operational purpose. ## Documentation Vendor references for pricing and configuration. - [EBS Pricing aws.amazon.com](https://aws.amazon.com/ebs/pricing/) - [Amazon EC2 Instance Lifecycle docs.aws.amazon.com](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/ec2-instance-lifecycle.html) ## Related inefficiencies [Browse the library](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub) - AWS EBS CER-0013 ### [Unaccessed EBS Snapshot](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub/inefficiencies/unaccessed-ebs-snapshot) Snapshots are retained long after they've served their purpose. Snapshots may have been created for backups, migrations, or disaster recovery plans but were never deleted - even after the related workload or volume was decommissioned. Over... Storage - AWS EBS CER-0066 ### [Inactive and Detached EBS Volume](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub/inefficiencies/inactive-and-detached-ebs-volume) EBS volumes frequently remain detached after EC2 instances are terminated, replaced, or reconfigured. Some may be intentionally retained for reattachment or backup purposes, but many persist unintentionally due to the lack of automated... Storage - AWS EBS CER-0398 ### [Unused EBS Fast Snapshot Restore](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub/inefficiencies/unused-ebs-fast-snapshot-restore) EBS fast snapshot restore (FSR) lets volumes created from a snapshot deliver their full provisioned performance immediately, without first-read initialization latency. It is enabled per snapshot and per Availability Zone, and each snapshot... Storage --- Source: the public page above. Product screenshots and illustrative interfaces are examples, not live customer data.