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PolarDB:Billing rules for backup storage that exceeds the free quota

Last Updated:Mar 28, 2026

PolarDB backup and recovery are free to use, but the storage space that backup files occupy is billed. This topic explains how PolarDB charges for backup storage beyond the free quota — covering data backups (level-1 and level-2) and log backups, for both single-region and cross-region scenarios.

Free quota

PolarDB includes a free backup storage quota for each cluster. Usage beyond the quota is billed on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Backup typeFree quotaHow it's calculated
Data backupLevel-1Database storage usage × 50%If your database storage usage is 1,000 GB, your free quota is 500 GB. To check your database storage usage, see View database storage usage.
Data backupLevel-2NoneAll level-2 backup storage is billed from the first GB.
Log backup100 GBThe first 100 GB of log backup storage is free. Usage above 100 GB is billed.

Pay-as-you-go rules

Level-1 backups

Level-1 backups (snapshots) are billed on the amount of storage that exceeds your free quota.

Hourly fee = (Total size of level-1 backups − Free quota) × Price per hour

Storage classThe Chinese mainlandChina (Hong Kong) and other regions outside the Chinese mainland
PSL5USD 0.000464/GB/hour

USD 0.0000455/GB/hour

USD 0.0000325/GB/hour

USD 0.0000455/GB/hour

USD 0.0000325/GB/hour

USD 0.0000455/GB/hour

USD 0.0000325/GB/hour

USD 0.0000455/GB/hour

USD 0.0000325/GB/hour

USD 0.000433/GB/hour

USD 0.0003/GB/hour

USD 0.000650/GB/hour

USD 0.000464/GB/hour

USD 0.000650/GB/hour
PSL4USD 0.0003/GB/hourUSD 0.000433/GB/hour

Example (PSL5, Chinese mainland): If the total size of level-1 backups is 700 GB and your database storage usage is 1,000 GB, the free quota is 500 GB. The hourly fee is:USD 0.0659USD 0.02925USD 0.0691USD 0.0325USD 0.0928

Formula: (1000 GB - 100 GB) × 0.0000325 USD/GB/hour = 0.02925 USD

The cost is calculated as follows: 1000 GB × 0.0000325 USD/GB/hour + 500 MB / 1024 × 0.075 USD/GB = 0.0691 USD

Formula: [700 GB - (1,000 GB × 50%)] × USD 0.000464/GB/hour = USD 0.0928/hour

(700 GB − 500 GB) × USD 0.000464/GB/hour = USD 0.0928/hour

To check the total size of your level-1 backups (snapshots), see FAQ.

Level-2 backups

Level-2 backups support both single-region and cross-region configurations. Single-region backups are billed for storage only. Cross-region backups are billed for storage plus the network traffic generated by the transfer.

Single-region backups

Hourly fee = Total size of level-2 backups × Price per hour

The Chinese mainlandChina (Hong Kong) and other regions outside the Chinese mainland
USD 0.0000325/GB/hourUSD 0.0000455/GB/hour

Example (Chinese mainland): If the total size of level-2 backups is 1,000 GB, the hourly fee is:

1,000 GB × USD 0.0000325/GB/hour = USD 0.0325/hour

Cross-region backups

Hourly fee = Total size of level-2 backups × Price per hour + Cross-region network traffic fee

Billable itemThe Chinese mainlandChina (Hong Kong) and other regions outside the Chinese mainland
Backup storageUSD 0.0000325/GB/hourUSD 0.0000455/GB/hour
Network trafficSee Network feesSee Network fees

Example (cross-region within the Chinese mainland): If the total size of level-2 backups is 1,000 GB and the cross-region transfer generates 500 MB of network traffic, the hourly fee is:

1,000 GB × USD 0.0000325/GB/hour + 500 MB ÷ 1,024 × USD 0.075/GB = USD 0.0691/hour

Cross-region backups are billed on a daily basis. The prices shown above are converted to hourly equivalents. Cross-region backup charges appear in your Data Disaster Recovery bills.

Log backups

Log backups support both single-region and cross-region configurations. The first 100 GB of log backup storage is free. Usage beyond 100 GB is billed.

Single-region backups

Hourly fee = (Total log backup size − 100 GB) × Price per hour

The Chinese mainlandChina (Hong Kong) and other regions outside the Chinese mainland
USD 0.0000325/GB/hourUSD 0.0000455/GB/hour

Example (Chinese mainland): If the total size of log backups is 1,000 GB, the hourly fee is:

(1,000 GB − 100 GB) × USD 0.0000325/GB/hour = USD 0.02925/hour

Cross-region backups

Hourly fee = (Total log backup size − 100 GB) × Price per hour + Cross-region network traffic fee

Billable itemThe Chinese mainlandChina (Hong Kong) and other regions outside the Chinese mainland
Backup storageUSD 0.0000325/GB/hourUSD 0.0000455/GB/hour
Network trafficSee Network feesSee Network fees

Example (cross-region within the Chinese mainland): If the total size of log backups is 1,000 GB and the cross-region transfer generates 500 MB of network traffic, the hourly fee is:

(1,000 GB − 100 GB) × USD 0.0000325/GB/hour + 500 MB ÷ 1,024 × USD 0.075/GB = USD 0.0659/hour

Cross-region backups are billed on a daily basis. The prices shown above are converted to hourly equivalents. Cross-region backup charges appear in your Data Disaster Recovery bills.