Buy Reserved Instances for Amazon EC2 - Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud
Choosing a platformQueue your purchaseBuy Standard Reserved InstancesBuy Convertible Reserved InstancesBuy from the Reserved Instance MarketplaceCancel a queued purchaseRenew a Reserved Instance
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Buy Reserved Instances for Amazon EC2

To buy a Reserved Instance for Amazon EC2, you can use the Amazon EC2 console, a command line tool, or an SDK to search for Reserved Instance offerings from Amazon and third-party sellers, adjusting your search parameters until you find the exact match that you're looking for.

When you search for Reserved Instances to buy, you receive a quote on the cost of the returned offerings. When you proceed with the purchase, Amazon automatically places a limit price on the purchase price. The total cost of your Reserved Instances won't exceed the amount that you were quoted.

If the price rises or changes for any reason, the purchase is not completed. When you are purchasing a third-party seller’s Reserved Instance from the Amazon EC2 Reserved Instance Marketplace, if there are offerings similar to your choice but at a lower upfront price, Amazon sells you the offerings at the lower upfront price.

Before you confirm your purchase, review the details of the Reserved Instance that you plan to buy, and make sure that all the parameters are accurate. After you purchase a Reserved Instance (either from a third-party seller in the Reserved Instance Marketplace or from Amazon), you cannot cancel your purchase. You can queue a purchase for a future date, and cancel the queued purchase before its scheduled time.

To purchase and modify Reserved Instances, ensure that your user has the appropriate permissions, such as the ability to describe Availability Zones. For information, see Example: Work with Reserved Instances (API) or Example: Work with Reserved Instances (console).

Choosing a platform

Amazon EC2 supports the following platforms for Reserved Instances:

  • Linux/UNIX

  • Linux with SQL Server Standard

  • Linux with SQL Server Web

  • Linux with SQL Server Enterprise

  • SUSE Linux

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux with HA

  • Windows

  • Windows with SQL Server Standard

  • Windows with SQL Server Web

  • Windows with SQL Server Enterprise

Considerations

  • If you bring your existing subscription (BYOS) for Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux, or Ubuntu Pro, you must choose an offering for the Linux/Unix platform.

  • Reserved Instances are not supported on instances running macOS or Ubuntu Pro (EC2 subscription-included, i.e., not BYOS). For saving with On-Demand instance pricing, we recommend that you use macOS and Ubuntu Pro (EC2 subscription-included) instances with Savings Plans. For more information, see Savings Plans User Guide.

To ensure that an instance runs in a specific Reserved Instance, the platform of the Reserved Instance must match the platform of the AMI used to launch the instance. For Linux AMIs, it is important to check whether the AMI platform uses the general value Linux/UNIX or a more specific value like SUSE Linux.

Console
To check the AMI platform

  1. Open the Amazon EC2 console at https://console.amazonaws.cn/ec2/.

  2. In the navigation pane, choose AMIs.

  3. Select the AMI.

  4. On the Details tab, note the value of Platform details.

Amazon CLI
To check the AMI platform

Use the describe-images command and check the value of PlatformDetails.

aws ec2 describe-images \
    --image-id ami-0abcdef1234567890 \
    --query Images[*].PlatformDetails

The following is example output.

[
    "Linux/UNIX"
]
PowerShell
To check the AMI platform

Use the Get-EC2Image cmdlet and check the value of PlatformDetails.

Get-EC2Image `
    -ImageId ami-0abcdef1234567890 | `
    Select PlatformDetails

The following is example output.

PlatformDetails
---------------
Linux/UNIX

Queue your purchase

By default, when you purchase a Reserved Instance, the purchase is made immediately. Alternatively, you can queue your purchases for a future date and time. For example, you can queue a purchase for around the time that an existing Reserved Instance expires. This can help you ensure that you have uninterrupted coverage.

You can queue purchases for regional Reserved Instances, but not zonal Reserved Instances or Reserved Instances from other sellers. You can queue a purchase up to three years in advance. On the scheduled date and time, the purchase is made using the default payment method. After the payment is successful, the billing benefit is applied.

You can set a date for your queued purchases in the Amazon EC2 console, and the purchase is queued until 00:00 UTC on this date. To specify a different time for the queued purchase, use an Amazon SDK or command line tool.

You can view your queued purchases in the Amazon EC2 console. The status of a queued purchase is queued. You can cancel a queued purchase any time before its scheduled time. For details, see Cancel a queued purchase.

Buy Standard Reserved Instances

You can buy Standard Reserved Instances in a specific Availability Zone and get a capacity reservation. Alternatively, you can forego the capacity reservation and purchase a regional Standard Reserved Instance.

After the purchase is complete, if you already have a running instance that matches the specifications of the Reserved Instance, the billing benefit is immediately applied. You do not need to restart your instances. If you do not have a suitable running instance, launch an instance and ensure that you match the exact criteria that you specified for your Reserved Instance. For more information, see Use your Reserved Instances.

For examples of how Reserved Instances are applied to your running instances, see How Reserved Instance discounts are applied.

Console
To buy Standard Reserved Instances

  1. Open the Amazon EC2 console at https://console.amazonaws.cn/ec2/.

  2. In the navigation pane, choose Reserved Instances, and then choose Purchase Reserved Instances.

  3. For Offering class, choose Standard to display Standard Reserved Instances.

  4. To purchase a capacity reservation, toggle on Only show offerings that reserve capacity in the top-right corner of the purchase screen. When you toggle on this setting, the Availability Zone field appears.

    To purchase a regional Reserved Instance, toggle off this setting. When you toggle off this setting, the Availability Zone field disappears.

  5. Select other configurations as needed, and then choose Search.

  6. For each Reserved Instance that you want to purchase, enter the desired quantity, and choose Add to cart.

    To purchase a Standard Reserved Instance from the Reserved Instance Marketplace, look for 3rd party in the Seller column in the search results. The Term column displays non-standard terms. For more information, see Buy from the Reserved Instance Marketplace.

  7. To see a summary of the Reserved Instances that you selected, choose View cart.

  8. If Order on is Now, the purchase is completed immediately after you choose Order all. To queue a purchase, choose Now and select a date. You can select a different date for each eligible offering in the cart. The purchase is queued until 00:00 UTC on the selected date.

  9. To complete the order, choose Order all.

    If, at the time of placing the order, there are offerings similar to your choice but with a lower price, Amazon sells you the offerings at the lower price.

  10. Choose Close.

    The status of your order is listed in the State column. When your order is complete, the State value changes from Payment-pending to Active. When the Reserved Instance is Active, it is ready to use.

    If the status goes to Retired, Amazon might not have received your payment.

Amazon CLI
To buy a Standard Reserved Instance

  1. Find available Reserved Instances using the describe-reserved-instances-offerings command. Specify standard for the --offering-class option to return only Standard Reserved Instances. You can apply additional criteria to narrow your results. For example, use the following command to purchase a regional t2.large Reserved Instance with a default tenancy for Linux/UNIX for a 1-year term only.

    aws ec2 describe-reserved-instances-offerings \
    --instance-type t2.large \
    --offering-class standard \
    --product-description "Linux/UNIX" \
    --instance-tenancy default \
    --filters Name=duration,Values=31536000 \
              Name=scope,Values=Region

    To find Reserved Instances on the Reserved Instance Marketplace only, use the marketplace filter and do not specify a duration in the request, as the term might be shorter than a 1– or 3-year term.

    aws ec2 describe-reserved-instances-offerings \
    --instance-type t2.large \
    --offering-class standard \
    --product-description "Linux/UNIX" \
    --instance-tenancy default \
    --filters Name=marketplace,Values=true

    When you find a Reserved Instance that meets your needs, take note of the offering ID. For example:

    "ReservedInstancesOfferingId": "bec624df-a8cc-4aad-a72f-4f8abc34caf2"

  2. Use the purchase-reserved-instances-offering command to buy your Reserved Instance. You must specify the Reserved Instance offering ID you obtained the previous step and you must specify the number of instances for the reservation.

    aws ec2 purchase-reserved-instances-offering \
    --reserved-instances-offering-id bec624df-a8cc-4aad-a72f-4f8abc34caf2 \
    --instance-count 1

    By default, the purchase is completed immediately. Alternatively, to queue the purchase, add the following option to the previous call.

    --purchase-time "2020-12-01T00:00:00Z"

  3. Use the describe-reserved-instances command to get the status of your Reserved Instance.

    aws ec2 describe-reserved-instances \
    --reserved-instances-ids b847fa93-e282-4f55-b59a-1342fec06327 \
    --query ReservedInstances[].State
PowerShell
To buy a Standard Reserved Instance

  1. Find available Reserved Instances using the Get-EC2ReservedInstancesOffering cmdlet. Specify standard for the -OfferingClass parameter to return only Standard Reserved Instances. You can apply additional criteria to narrow your results. For example, use the following command to purchase a regional t2.large Reserved Instance with a default tenancy for Linux/UNIX for a 1-year term only.

    Get-EC2ReservedInstancesOffering `
    -InstanceType "t2.large" `
    -OfferingClass "standard" `
    -ProductDescription "Linux/UNIX" `
    -InstanceTenancy "default" `
    -Filters @{Name="duration"; Values="31536000"} `
             @{Name="scope"; Values="Region"

    To find Reserved Instances on the Reserved Instance Marketplace only, use the marketplace filter and do not specify a duration in the request, as the term might be shorter than a 1– or 3-year term.

    Get-EC2ReservedInstancesOffering `
    -InstanceType t2.large `
    -OfferingClass "standard" `
    -ProductDescription "Linux/UNIX" `
    -InstanceTenancy default `
    -Filters @{Name="marketplace"; Values="true"}

    When you find a Reserved Instance that meets your needs, take note of the offering ID. For example:

    bec624df-a8cc-4aad-a72f-4f8abc34caf2

  2. Use the New-EC2ReservedInstance cmdlet to buy your Reserved Instance. You must specify the Reserved Instance offering ID you obtained the previous step and you must specify the number of instances for the reservation.

    New-EC2ReservedInstance `
    -ReservedInstancesOfferingId "bec624df-a8cc-4aad-a72f-4f8abc34caf2" `
    -InstanceCount 1

    By default, the purchase is completed immediately. Alternatively, to queue the purchase, add the following parameter to the previous call.

    -PurchaseTime "2020-12-01T00:00:00Z"

  3. Use the Get-EC2ReservedInstance cmdlet to get the status of your Reserved Instance.

    Get-EC2ReservedInstance `
    -ReservedInstancesId b847fa93-e282-4f55-b59a-1342fec06327 | `
    Select State

Buy Convertible Reserved Instances

You can buy Convertible Reserved Instances in a specific Availability Zone and get a capacity reservation. Alternatively, you can forego the capacity reservation and purchase a regional Convertible Reserved Instance.

If you already have a running instance that matches the specifications of the Reserved Instance, the billing benefit is immediately applied. You do not have to restart your instances. If you do not have a suitable running instance, launch an instance and ensure that you match the same criteria that you specified for your Reserved Instance. For more information, see Use your Reserved Instances.

For examples of how Reserved Instances are applied to your running instances, see How Reserved Instance discounts are applied.

Console
To buy Convertible Reserved Instances

  1. Open the Amazon EC2 console at https://console.amazonaws.cn/ec2/.

  2. In the navigation pane, choose Reserved Instances, and then choose Purchase Reserved Instances.

  3. For Offering class, choose Convertible to display Convertible Reserved Instances.

  4. To purchase a capacity reservation, toggle on Only show offerings that reserve capacity in the top-right corner of the purchase screen. When you toggle on this setting, the Availability Zone field appears.

    To purchase a regional Reserved Instance, toggle off this setting. When you toggle off this setting, the Availability Zone field disappears.

  5. Select other configurations as needed and choose Search.

  6. For each Convertible Reserved Instance that you want to purchase, enter the quantity, and choose Add to cart.

  7. To see a summary of your selection, choose View cart.

  8. If Order on is Now, the purchase is completed immediately after you choose Order all. To queue a purchase, choose Now and select a date. You can select a different date for each eligible offering in the cart. The purchase is queued until 00:00 UTC on the selected date.

  9. To complete the order, choose Order all.

    If, at the time of placing the order, there are offerings similar to your choice but with a lower price, Amazon sells you the offerings at the lower price.

  10. Choose Close.

    The status of your order is listed in the State column. When your order is complete, the State value changes from Payment-pending to Active. When the Reserved Instance is Active, it is ready to use.

    If the status goes to Retired, Amazon might not have received your payment.

Amazon CLI
To buy a Convertible Reserved Instance

  1. Find available Reserved Instances using the describe-reserved-instances-offerings command. Specify convertible for the --offering-class option to return only Convertible Reserved Instances. You can apply additional criteria to narrow your results. For example, use the following command to purchase a regional t2.large Reserved Instance with a default tenancy for Linux/UNIX.

    aws ec2 describe-reserved-instances-offerings \
    --instance-type t2.large \
    --offering-class convertible \
    --product-description "Linux/UNIX" \
    --instance-tenancy default \
    --filters Name=scope,Values=Region

    When you find a Reserved Instance that meets your needs, take note of the offering ID. For example:

    "ReservedInstancesOfferingId": "bec624df-a8cc-4aad-a72f-4f8abc34caf2"

  2. Use the purchase-reserved-instances-offering command to buy your Reserved Instance. You must specify the Reserved Instance offering ID you obtained the previous step and you must specify the number of instances for the reservation.

    aws ec2 purchase-reserved-instances-offering \
    --reserved-instances-offering-id bec624df-a8cc-4aad-a72f-4f8abc34caf2 \
    --instance-count 1

    By default, the purchase is completed immediately. Alternatively, to queue the purchase, add the following option to the previous call.

    --purchase-time "2020-12-01T00:00:00Z"

  3. Use the describe-reserved-instances command to get the status of your Reserved Instance.

    aws ec2 describe-reserved-instances \
    --reserved-instances-ids b847fa93-e282-4f55-b59a-1342fec06327 \
    --query ReservedInstances[].State
PowerShell
To buy a Convertible Reserved Instance

  1. Find available Reserved Instances using the Get-EC2ReservedInstancesOffering cmdlet. Specify convertible for the -OfferingClass parameter to return only Convertible Reserved Instances. You can apply additional criteria to narrow your results. For example, use the following command to purchase a regional t2.large Reserved Instance with a default tenancy for Linux/UNIX.

    Get-EC2ReservedInstancesOffering `
    -InstanceType "t2.large" `
    -OfferingClass "convertible" `
    -ProductDescription "Linux/UNIX" `
    -InstanceTenancy "default" `
    -Filters @{Name="scope"; Values="Region"

    When you find a Reserved Instance that meets your needs, take note of the offering ID. For example:

    bec624df-a8cc-4aad-a72f-4f8abc34caf2

  2. Use the New-EC2ReservedInstance cmdlet to buy your Reserved Instance. You must specify the Reserved Instance offering ID that you obtained the previous step and you must specify the number of instances for the reservation.

    New-EC2ReservedInstance `
    -ReservedInstancesOfferingId "bec624df-a8cc-4aad-a72f-4f8abc34caf2" `
    -InstanceCount 1

    By default, the purchase is completed immediately. Alternatively, to queue the purchase, add the following parameter to the previous call.

    -PurchaseTime "2020-12-01T00:00:00Z"

  3. Use the Get-EC2ReservedInstance cmdlet to get the status of your Reserved Instance.

    Get-EC2ReservedInstance `
    -ReservedInstancesId b847fa93-e282-4f55-b59a-1342fec06327 | `
    Select State

Buy from the Reserved Instance Marketplace

You can purchase Reserved Instances from third-party sellers who own Reserved Instances that they no longer need from the Reserved Instance Marketplace. You can do this using the Amazon EC2 console or a command line tool. The process is similar to purchasing Reserved Instances from Amazon. For more information, see Buy Standard Reserved Instances.

There are a few differences between Reserved Instances purchased in the Reserved Instance Marketplace and Reserved Instances purchased directly from Amazon:

  • Term – Reserved Instances that you purchase from third-party sellers have less than a full standard term remaining. Full standard terms from Amazon run for one year or three years.

  • Upfront price – Third-party Reserved Instances can be sold at different upfront prices. The usage or recurring fees remain the same as the fees set when the Reserved Instances were originally purchased from Amazon.

  • Types of Reserved Instances – Only Amazon EC2 Standard Reserved Instances can be purchased from the Reserved Instance Marketplace. Convertible Reserved Instances, Amazon RDS, and Amazon ElastiCache Reserved Instances are not available for purchase on the Reserved Instance Marketplace.

Basic information about you is shared with the seller, for example, your ZIP code and country information.

This information enables sellers to calculate any necessary transaction taxes that they have to remit to the government (such as sales tax or value-added tax) and is provided as a disbursement report. In rare circumstances, Amazon might have to provide the seller with your email address, so that they can contact you regarding questions related to the sale (for example, tax questions).

For similar reasons, Amazon shares the legal entity name of the seller on the buyer's purchase invoice. If you need additional information about the seller for tax or related reasons, contact Amazon Web Services Support.

Cancel a queued purchase

You can queue a purchase up to three years in advance. You can cancel a queued purchase any time before its scheduled time.

Console
To cancel a queued purchase

  1. Open the Amazon EC2 console at https://console.amazonaws.cn/ec2/.

  2. In the navigation pane, choose Reserved Instances.

  3. Select one or more Reserved Instances.

  4. Choose Actions, Delete queued Reserved Instances.

  5. When prompted for confirmation, choose Delete, and then Close.

Amazon CLI
To cancel a queued purchase

Use the delete-queued-reserved-instances command.

aws ec2 delete-queued-reserved-instances \
    --reserved-instances-ids b847fa93-e282-4f55-b59a-1342fec06327
PowerShell
To cancel a queued purchase

Use the Remove-EC2QueuedReservedInstance cmdlet.

Remove-EC2QueuedReservedInstance `
    -ReservedInstancesId b847fa93-e282-4f55-b59a-1342fec06327

Renew a Reserved Instance

You can renew a Reserved Instance before it is scheduled to expire. Renewing a Reserved Instance queues the purchase of a Reserved Instance with the same configuration until the current Reserved Instance expires.

You must renew a Reserved Instance using the Amazon EC2 console.

To renew a Reserved Instance using a queued purchase

  1. Open the Amazon EC2 console at https://console.amazonaws.cn/ec2/.

  2. In the navigation pane, choose Reserved Instances.

  3. Select the Reserved Instance to renew.

  4. Choose Actions, Renew Reserved Instances.

  5. To complete the order, choose Order all, and then Close.