Unused EBS Volumes
CostLens flags EBS volumes unattached for more than 7 days — typically leftover from terminated instances.
EBS volumes that are not attached to any EC2 instance continue to bill by the hour. CostLens flags volumes that have been unattached for more than 7 days — these are typically leftover from terminated instances and can safely be deleted after verifying the data is no longer needed.
Permanent deletion — you must take your own snapshot first
Deleting an EBS volume is irreversible. CostLens does not create any automatic snapshot. If the volume contains data you may need, create an EBS snapshot before applying this fix. Once deleted, the data cannot be recovered through CostLens.
How it works
CostLens finds unattached volumes
Calls ec2:DescribeVolumes and filters for volumes with state available (not attached to any instance).
Flags volumes unattached 7+ days
The monthly cost is calculated from volume type, size, and the AWS regional price.
Confirmation dialog
When you click Apply Fix, CostLens shows a confirmation dialog with snapshot instructions and two required acknowledgement checkboxes.
Deletes the volume
Once both checkboxes are checked and you confirm, CostLens calls ec2:DeleteVolume to permanently delete the volume.
How to create an EBS snapshot before deleting
- Open EC2 → Elastic Block Store → Volumes in the AWS Console.
- Select the volume, then Actions → Create Snapshot.
- Add a description (e.g. "pre-delete backup") and click Create Snapshot.
- Wait for the snapshot status to show completed under Snapshots.
- Return to CostLens and apply the delete fix.
Severity levels
| Severity | Volume cost |
|---|---|
| critical | ≥ $50/mo |
| high | $20–$50/mo |
| medium | $5–$20/mo |
| low | <$5/mo |
Tip
If you are unsure whether the data is still needed, create a snapshot (a few cents/GB/month) and delete the volume. You can restore the snapshot to a new volume at any time if needed.