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“AWS Glacier vault” and “S3 Glacier” are not the same storage model. A Glacier vault belongs to the separate Amazon Glacier service; the current S3 Glacier storage classes keep data as objects in Amazon S3 buckets. For new long-term data, AWS recommends the S3 Glacier classes. Choose among them based on how soon you may need a file and how long you can wait to retrieve it.
What is an AWS Glacier vault?
An AWS Glacier vault is a container in the separate Amazon Glacier service, where data is stored as archives. It is distinct from an S3 bucket: the current S3 Glacier storage classes store objects in S3 buckets and are managed through Amazon S3. The shared word “Glacier” describes a relationship to archival storage, not an identical service or interchangeable workflow.
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AWS documentation recommends using the S3 Glacier storage classes within Amazon S3 for long-term data. That recommendation makes the vault model important mainly for understanding terminology and existing setups; it does not mean that a vault and an S3 archive object are the same thing. The legacy vault service also lacks S3 features and does not support uploading or downloading through the S3 console. AWS documentation checked on October 25, 2026, does not establish the operational status of a particular existing vault account or the current migration terms for its archives.
Is Amazon Glacier the same as S3 Glacier?
No. Amazon Glacier is the separate vault-based service; S3 Glacier is a family of storage classes for objects held in Amazon S3. In an S3 workflow, you work with a bucket and its objects, and you select a storage class according to the object’s access needs.
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The distinction changes both where you manage data and how you retrieve it. S3 Glacier Instant Retrieval keeps objects online for millisecond access. Flexible Retrieval and Deep Archive use a restoration process: a request makes a temporary copy available, rather than turning the archived object into an instantly readable file. An archive in a vault should not be approached as if it were simply an S3 object with a different label.
If you already have data in a vault, do not assume that an S3 lifecycle rule or S3 console action can manage or migrate it. The available documentation does not establish account-specific migration steps. Verify the status and supported options for the particular vault with AWS documentation or AWS Support before planning a transfer.
What are the three S3 Glacier storage classes?
The three classes are Instant Retrieval, Flexible Retrieval, and Deep Archive. Their main differences are the expected access pattern, whether a restore is required, the typical time to retrieve data, and the minimum time the data must remain in the class.
| Storage class | Access pattern | Access model and typical retrieval | Minimum storage duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Glacier Instant Retrieval | About once per quarter | Online; millisecond access | 90 days |
| S3 Glacier Flexible Retrieval | About once or twice per year | Restore required; expedited 1–5 minutes, standard 3–5 hours, or bulk 5–12 hours | 90 days |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | Less than once per year | Restore required; standard typically within 12 hours or bulk within 48 hours | 180 days |
These access patterns are AWS’s intended guidance, not a rule that prevents retrieving an object more often. The practical question is whether the chosen class’s access path and potential retrieval charges suit your data. Instant Retrieval is the option for an archive that still needs online access. Flexible Retrieval and Deep Archive trade a restore wait for storage intended for less frequent access.
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Which AWS Glacier storage class should I use?
Start with the time window in which you need the data, then check how often it is likely to be accessed and how long it will remain stored. There is no universal cheapest class: the total depends on region, object sizes and count, retention, transitions, retrieval tier and volume, and any data egress needs.
Choose Instant Retrieval for online archive data
Use Instant Retrieval when data is archive-like but may be needed without a restore wait—for example, data expected to be accessed about quarterly. Objects remain online and support millisecond access. The class has a 90-day minimum storage duration and a 128 KB minimum object size, so include both limits when considering objects that are small or may be replaced or deleted soon.
Choose Flexible Retrieval when a restore wait is acceptable
Flexible Retrieval fits data expected to be accessed about once or twice a year when immediate online access is not essential. It offers three restore tiers: expedited, standard, and bulk. Bulk retrieval is free, according to AWS’s class guidance; the availability and charges for other retrieval paths should be checked against current regional pricing. Its minimum storage duration is 90 days.
Choose Deep Archive for the least frequent access
Deep Archive is intended for data accessed less than once a year when a longer retrieval wait can be planned for. It has standard and bulk retrieval, but no expedited tier. Its minimum storage duration is 180 days, making it a poor fit for data likely to be removed or moved sooner.
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If your recovery plan requires a predictable expedited restore, do not treat the usual expedited time as a guarantee. AWS says expedited retrieval is subject to demand and recommends provisioned capacity when reliable, predictable expedited restore times are needed. Flexible Retrieval and Deep Archive restore windows are typical durations, not guaranteed service-level commitments.
How do I retrieve data from Glacier Deep Archive?
To read a Deep Archive object, submit a restore request, wait for the requested retrieval tier to complete, and access the temporary restored copy while it is available. You can initiate the request through the S3 console, S3 Batch Operations, the REST API, an SDK, or the AWS CLI.
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- Identify the object. Locate the S3 bucket and the object stored in Deep Archive. Confirm the object is the one you need and decide when it must be accessible.
- Submit a restore request. Use one of the supported interfaces and select the retrieval option appropriate to your deadline. Deep Archive offers standard and bulk retrieval, not expedited retrieval.
- Wait for restoration to finish. AWS lists standard retrieval as typically completing within 12 hours and bulk within 48 hours. These are typical windows, not guaranteed deadlines.
- Use the restored copy during its requested availability period. The restore creates a temporary accessible copy; it does not itself change the object’s storage class.
- Plan for the temporary copy to expire. At the end of the requested duration, the temporary copy is removed. If you need longer-term online access, plan an appropriate storage-class change separately rather than assuming a restore makes a permanent change.
The same basic restore model applies to Flexible Retrieval, although its retrieval options and typical timing differ. A restore request is an access operation, not a migration: the archived object remains in its storage class. Include the duration of the temporary copy in your operational plan, particularly if a person or process must act on the file before that copy expires.
How long does an S3 Glacier restore take?
The expected time depends on the class and, for Flexible Retrieval, the selected retrieval tier. AWS’s published durations below are typical service figures checked on October 25, 2026, not guaranteed completion times.
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| Storage class | Retrieval option | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Flexible Retrieval | Expedited | 1–5 minutes |
| Flexible Retrieval | Standard | 3–5 hours |
| Flexible Retrieval | Bulk | 5–12 hours |
| Deep Archive | Standard | Within 12 hours |
| Deep Archive | Bulk | Within 48 hours |
For Flexible Retrieval, expedited requests are subject to demand; if predictable expedited timing is essential, AWS recommends provisioned capacity. The Deep Archive table has no expedited option because that class does not offer one. Choose based on the business deadline rather than treating the fastest listed duration as a firm service commitment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What costs and object-size details should I check?
Storage price alone is not enough to compare classes. Retrieval, transition requests, temporary restored-copy storage, and early deletion or transition charges can affect the total. AWS’s reviewed documentation does not establish current region-specific monetary rates, so use the current AWS pricing page or calculator with the details of your workload rather than relying on an unqualified dollar estimate.
Account for duration and transitions
Instant and Flexible Retrieval have a 90-day minimum storage duration; Deep Archive has a 180-day minimum. Deleting an object or transitioning it out before the minimum can result in a prorated early deletion or transition charge. Include the expected retention period and any planned lifecycle transitions in a cost estimate, not just the class’s storage rate.
Include metadata overhead for archived objects
Flexible Retrieval and Deep Archive add 40 KB of metadata per object: 32 KB is charged at the archive-class rate and 8 KB at S3 Standard rates. This per-object overhead makes object count and size relevant. A very large collection of small objects can incur meaningful metadata cost compared with the apparent size of the files alone.
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AWS suggests considering aggregation and filtering lifecycle transitions by object size. Aggregation can reduce the number of objects that carry per-object overhead, while a size filter can keep objects that are too small to benefit from an archive transition in a different class. Those choices involve a trade-off: aggregation changes how data is packaged and retrieved, and filtering changes which objects transition. Base the decision on how your application needs to find and restore data.
Build a workload-specific estimate
For a useful estimate, gather the AWS Region, object count and size distribution, expected retention, number and volume of transitions, expected retrieval volume and tier, and egress requirements. These inputs matter because the total can change with request volume and object characteristics as well as the chosen class. Check rates for the region and use case you will actually run; the general class comparison does not establish a universal price ranking.
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How should I plan an archive workflow?
Before moving objects into an archive class, write down the access requirement and the end-to-end retrieval path. That turns a class choice into a workable policy rather than a storage-price guess.
- Set a recovery deadline. Decide how quickly an object must be available and whether a temporary restored copy is operationally acceptable.
- Estimate access frequency. Distinguish data that is rarely read but must remain online from data that can tolerate a restore request.
- Check object size and count. Account for the 128 KB minimum object size for Instant Retrieval and per-object metadata for Flexible Retrieval and Deep Archive.
- Model retention and transitions. Compare the planned time in class with its minimum duration and consider early-deletion or transition charges.
- Include the restore and use process. Identify who or what submits requests, waits for completion, handles the temporary copy, and performs any separate class transition needed afterward.
- Price the whole workload. Use current region-specific AWS rates and include requests, retrieval, temporary restored-copy storage, and egress where relevant.
The right archival class is the one whose combined access delay, retention constraints, object overhead, and retrieval economics fit the data’s actual lifecycle. A data set that is inexpensive to store can still be inconvenient or costly if it must be retrieved unexpectedly, consists of many tiny objects, or is transitioned out before its minimum duration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I upload directly to an AWS Glacier vault from the S3 console?
No. The separate vault service does not support console upload or download through the S3 console. S3 Glacier classes, by contrast, are managed as objects through Amazon S3.
Can I migrate an existing Glacier vault archive into an S3 Glacier class?
The reviewed AWS documentation does not establish migration terms or a universal migration procedure for existing vault archives. The supported path may depend on the account and archive, so verify with AWS documentation or AWS Support before committing to a migration plan.
Does the restore window for Glacier retrieval have an SLA?
AWS describes the listed restore durations as typical rather than guaranteed service-level commitments. For Flexible Retrieval expedited requests, demand can affect availability; provisioned capacity is AWS’s recommendation when predictable expedited restores are required.
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