AWS Direct Connect provides a dedicated private network connection between your data center and AWS. With pricing based on port hours and reduced data transfer rates, Direct Connect can dramatically lower networking costs for organizations transferring large volumes of data to and from AWS.
TL;DR: Direct Connect port fees start at $0.30/hour for 1 Gbps (approximately $219/month). Data transfer OUT costs $0.02-$0.05/GB compared to $0.09/GB over the public internet. Organizations transferring more than 5 TB per month typically break even on Direct Connect costs through data transfer savings alone.
Port-Hour Pricing
| Connection Speed | Port-Hour Price | Approximate Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Gbps | $0.30/hour | $219 |
| 10 Gbps | $1.50/hour | $1,095 |
| 100 Gbps | $13.50/hour | $9,855 |
Port-hour charges apply for the entire time a connection is provisioned, regardless of utilization. A dedicated connection reserves a physical port at an AWS Direct Connect location. Even if no data flows through the connection, you pay the port-hour fee while it is active.
Hosted Connections
| Connection Speed | Port-Hour Price | Approximate Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 50 Mbps | $0.03/hour | $22 |
| 100 Mbps | $0.06/hour | $44 |
| 200 Mbps | $0.08/hour | $58 |
| 300 Mbps | $0.11/hour | $80 |
| 400 Mbps | $0.13/hour | $95 |
| 500 Mbps | $0.15/hour | $110 |
Hosted connections are provisioned by AWS Direct Connect Partners and offer smaller bandwidth increments. They are ideal for organizations that need dedicated connectivity but do not require a full 1 Gbps port.
Data Transfer Pricing
| Direction | Direct Connect Price (US East) | Internet Egress Price |
|---|---|---|
| Data Transfer IN | Free | Free |
| Data Transfer OUT (first 10 TB) | $0.02/GB | $0.09/GB |
| Data Transfer OUT (next 40 TB) | $0.02/GB | $0.085/GB |
| Data Transfer OUT (next 100 TB) | $0.02/GB | $0.07/GB |
| Data Transfer OUT (over 150 TB) | $0.02/GB | $0.05/GB |
Data transfer IN to AWS over Direct Connect is free, just as it is over the public internet. The major savings come from data transfer OUT. At $0.02/GB in US East compared to $0.09/GB over the internet, Direct Connect reduces egress costs by approximately 78% for the first 10 TB tier.
Regional Variations
Data transfer OUT pricing varies by AWS Region. Some examples:
| Region | Direct Connect OUT per GB |
|---|---|
| US East (N. Virginia) | $0.02 |
| US West (Oregon) | $0.02 |
| EU (Ireland) | $0.02 |
| Asia Pacific (Tokyo) | $0.04 |
| Asia Pacific (Sydney) | $0.05 |
| South America (Sao Paulo) | $0.05 |
Direct Connect Gateway
Direct Connect Gateway allows a single Direct Connect connection to access VPCs in multiple AWS Regions. There is no additional charge for the gateway itself. You pay standard port-hour fees and data transfer rates.
This means one 1 Gbps connection at $219/month can reach VPCs across all Regions, avoiding the need for separate connections in each Region.
Break-Even Analysis
The key question is when Direct Connect saves money compared to using the public internet.
| Monthly Egress | Internet Cost | DX Port + Transfer (1 Gbps) | Monthly Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 TB | $92 | $239 | -$147 (internet cheaper) |
| 3 TB | $276 | $279 | -$3 (roughly break-even) |
| 5 TB | $460 | $319 | $141 |
| 10 TB | $920 | $419 | $501 |
| 50 TB | $4,000 | $1,219 | $2,781 |
| 100 TB | $7,500 | $2,219 | $5,281 |
The break-even point for a 1 Gbps Direct Connect connection is approximately 3 TB of monthly egress. Beyond that threshold, every additional TB saves roughly $0.07/GB compared to internet egress.
Real-World Cost Examples
| Scenario | Connection | Monthly Egress | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small hybrid office | Hosted 200 Mbps | 500 GB | $68 |
| Media company | 1 Gbps dedicated | 20 TB | $619 |
| Enterprise data sync | 10 Gbps dedicated | 100 TB | $3,095 |
| Large enterprise (redundant) | 2x 10 Gbps | 200 TB | $6,190 |
Cost Optimization Tips
1. Calculate Your Break-Even Point
Before committing to Direct Connect, calculate your monthly egress volume. If you consistently transfer under 3 TB per month via a single Region, internet egress may be more cost-effective. Use AWS Cost Explorer to analyze your current data transfer spending.
2. Use Direct Connect Gateway for Multi-Region Access
Rather than provisioning separate connections in each Region, use a Direct Connect Gateway to route traffic from a single connection to VPCs across multiple Regions. This avoids duplicate port-hour charges.
3. Right-Size Your Connection
Start with a hosted connection at a lower bandwidth tier (200-500 Mbps) and upgrade as traffic grows. Overprovisioning a 10 Gbps connection when you only need 500 Mbps wastes $985 per month in port fees.
4. Implement Link Aggregation Groups
Link Aggregation Groups (LAGs) bundle multiple connections for higher throughput and redundancy. Two 1 Gbps connections in a LAG cost $438/month but provide 2 Gbps of bandwidth with failover, compared to $1,095/month for a single 10 Gbps port.
5. Combine with CloudFront for Content Delivery
Route end-user content through CloudFront and use Direct Connect only for backend data transfers. CloudFront egress pricing can be lower than Direct Connect for high-volume content delivery, and it reduces the bandwidth needed on your Direct Connect link.
Related Guides
- AWS Data Transfer Pricing Guide
- AWS Data Transfer Cost Optimization Guide
- AWS NAT Gateway Pricing Guide
- AWS CloudFront Pricing Guide
FAQ
Do I pay for data transfer IN over Direct Connect?
No. Data transfer IN to AWS over Direct Connect is free, just like data transfer in over the public internet. You only pay for data transfer OUT from AWS to your on-premises environment.
Can I use Direct Connect with multiple VPCs?
Yes. A single Direct Connect connection can access multiple VPCs through virtual interfaces (VIFs). Use a Direct Connect Gateway to connect to VPCs across multiple Regions and accounts from a single connection.
What happens if my Direct Connect link goes down?
AWS recommends configuring a VPN backup connection that automatically activates when Direct Connect is unavailable. The VPN connection incurs standard VPN pricing and internet data transfer rates, but only while active. For production workloads, consider redundant Direct Connect connections at separate locations.
Lower Your Direct Connect Costs with Wring
Wring helps you access AWS credits and volume discounts to lower your Direct Connect costs. Through group buying power, Wring negotiates better rates so you pay less per port hour and GB transferred.
