AWS EKS Support
EKS cost optimization with Karpenter.
Kubernetes bills are mostly idle capacity: nodes sized for peak, pod requests that are too large and environments left running overnight. Karpenter launches the right nodes for the pods that exist and consolidates them when load drops.
When You Need This
The situations where this work pays for itself.
Signs it is time
- Node utilization is low but the cluster keeps growing
- Pod requests were copied from templates and never measured
- You run on a single large node group with Cluster Autoscaler
- Dev and staging clusters run all night
- You want Spot or Graviton nodes without outages
What you get
- A utilization and waste report by namespace
- Karpenter configuration in infrastructure as code
- Spot and Graviton migration plan
- Cost dashboards by team and workload
How we do it
A clear, safe process you can follow along with.
1. Measure utilization and waste
We compare resource requests with actual usage per workload, and node utilization over time.
2. Right-size requests and limits
Using usage data and Vertical Pod Autoscaler recommendations, we set requests that match reality.
3. Introduce Karpenter
We configure NodePools with a wide set of instance types and sizes, so Karpenter can pick the cheapest fit for pending pods.
4. Add Spot and Graviton safely
Stateless, interruption-tolerant workloads move to Spot and arm64 images, with PodDisruptionBudgets and fallback to on-demand.
5. Enable consolidation
Karpenter replaces underused nodes with fewer, cheaper ones. We tune disruption budgets so consolidation does not hurt availability.
6. Schedule non-production and add cost visibility
We scale down dev environments off hours and add cost allocation with tools such as OpenCost.
Mistakes we help you avoid
Common ways this goes wrong, and what we do instead.
Spot without disruption handling
Interruptions need PodDisruptionBudgets, multiple instance types and graceful shutdown.
Right-sizing on averages
Limits that are too tight cause throttling and out-of-memory kills. We use percentiles.
Aggressive consolidation on stateful workloads
We protect stateful and slow-starting pods with disruption controls.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Karpenter?
An open-source node provisioner for Kubernetes that launches nodes sized to pending pods and removes them when no longer needed.
Karpenter or Cluster Autoscaler?
Karpenter generally packs workloads more efficiently and scales faster because it is not limited to predefined node groups. Cluster Autoscaler remains simpler for some setups.
Does the EKS control plane cost extra?
Yes, each cluster has an hourly control plane charge, and clusters on versions in extended support cost more, so consolidating clusters and staying current helps.
Want Help With EKS cost optimization with Karpenter?
Schedule an appointment. Tell us about your environment and we will outline the safest, highest-value approach.
Schedule Appointment › No commitment required