Not any more, as of some number of months ago you can grow and change volume type on the fly especially if it isn't a boot volume. http://docs.aws.amazon.com/A

Not any more, as of some number of months ago you can grow and change volume type on the fly especially if it isn't a boot volume. http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/ebs-expand-volume.html http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/ebs-expan... Read the limitations very carefully, http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/considerations.html http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/considera... In particular if it was attached before Nov. 1, 2016 you need to do a one time stop and start of the instance or detach/reattach the volume and there are limits on instance types supported (but the definition of "current generation" is broader than you might assume at first). This is quite an awesome enhancement, we were able to transparently convert a bunch of 15TB volumes from gp2 to st1 without downtime or impact to the app, and save a bunch of money.