How much does a SQL warehouse cost?
For a fixed configuration, a simple planning estimate is hourly cost × running hours. The result changes with warehouse type, size, scaling and applicable rates.
A DBU is a Databricks usage unit. The size selector shows DBUs per hour; FinOpsWay adds a money estimate. It is an estimate for that configuration, not a monthly bill.
Published SQL warehouse rates
Reference Databricks list rates in USD per DBU. The selected cloud, region and contract can change the applicable price.
| Compute model | Cloud | Cloud infrastructure | Published compute rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| SQL Classic | AWS, Azure, GCP | From about $1.25/hour for 2X-Small on AWS | $0.22 / DBU |
| SQL Pro | AWS, Azure, GCP | From about $1.25/hour for 2X-Small on AWS | $0.55 / DBU |
| SQL Serverless | AWS, Azure, GCP | Included in DBU rate | $0.70 / DBU |
| Lakehouse RT | AWS, Azure, GCP | Included in DBU rate | $0.55 / DBU |
AWS estimate assumes one 2X-Small cluster with two i3.2xlarge instances. Cloud instance pricing varies by cloud and region. Public rates checked Oct 6, 2026.
Prices shown for US East (AWS us-east-1)View official Databricks pricing.
How to compare warehouse sizes
- Connect FinOpsWay and open a SQL warehouse’s settings.
- Open the size selector and compare its hourly estimates.
- Review scaling and Auto Stop before saving. Auto Stop shuts down an idle warehouse after the configured wait.
Example: The screenshot shows $2.80/hour for 2X-Small. At that example rate, 10 hours would be $28 if the configuration stayed fixed. Your region, rates and usage can differ.
Common questions
Does an idle warehouse still cost money?
Yes, while it remains running. Auto Stop helps limit idle time. See Databricks warehouse settings for the behavior of your warehouse type.
Is the cheapest hourly size always cheapest overall?
Not necessarily. A smaller warehouse may take longer to finish. Compare the same workload’s runtime and total cost. Shared warehouse cost also differs from the cost of one query.
Billing can lag by several hours. Check the reported period and freshness. How FinOpsWay calculates costs.
Reference: Databricks SQL warehouse types.
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