How to Manage AWS S3 Copy Data Costs Effectively

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When uploading large files to Amazon S3, keep in mind that there is a 5 GB limit for each individual PUT request. If your file is larger than 5 GB, or if you experience unstable internet connections, you’ll need to use a method called multipart upload. This technique breaks your file into smaller parts, making it easier and more reliable to upload large files.

Here’s how to approach it: Instead of uploading the entire file at once, you split it into smaller chunks—say 8 MB each. For a 5 GB file, this means you’ll have about 640 parts to upload. Each of these parts requires a separate request called an “UploadPart” request.

Keep in mind, each UploadPart request has a small fee, typically around $0.005 per 1,000 requests. So, if you’re uploading thousands of parts, these costs can add up. For example, uploading 1,000 large files, each divided into 640 parts, would result in roughly 640,000 UploadPart requests. At $0.005 per 1,000 requests, that totals about $3.20 in extra fees.

The total cost depends on how you split your files and the number of parts you upload. Larger files with more parts will tend to cost more due to the increased number of requests. If you’re uploading many large files regularly, it’s worth calculating these costs upfront to better plan your expenses.

For more detailed information, review the official AWS documentation on multipart uploads. This will help you understand the process and manage costs effectively.