How to Delete Idle NAT Gateways in AWS

Idle NAT Gateways are one of the most common sources of wasted cloud spend in AWS. They often get left behind when instances are terminated or projects are deleted.

The Manual Way (Hard)

To find these manually in AWS Console:

1. Log in to the AWS Console.
2. Navigate to the Compute/Storage section.
3. Filter for resources with status "Available" or "Unattached".
4. Check the "Last Attached" date to ensure safety.
5. Select and delete each one manually.

Repeating this for every region is tedious and error-prone.

The Automated Way (Easy)

Cloud Waste Scanner automates this process. It scans all regions in AWS simultaneously and identifies Idle NAT Gateways that have been idle for more than 7 days.

Key Benefits

• Safe: We check for usage metrics before flagging.
• Fast: Scan 20+ regions in under 30 seconds.
• Local-First: Your AWS credentials never leave your computer.