What do Azure VM size names mean?

Azure VM names follow the pattern [Family][Sub-family][vCPUs][Constrained vCPUs][Additive Features][Accelerator Type][Version]. For example, Standard_D8s_v5 means D-series (general purpose), 8 vCPUs, premium storage capable (s), version 5. Common families: B=burstable, D=general, E=memory, F=compute, N=GPU.

Should I use B-series burstable VMs?

B-series VMs are cost-effective for workloads with low average CPU usage that occasionally need to burst. They earn CPU credits during idle periods and spend them during spikes. They are ideal for development servers, small databases, and low-traffic web servers but not suitable for sustained high-CPU workloads.

How do Azure Spot VMs differ from regular VMs?

Azure Spot VMs use spare capacity at up to 90% discount but can be evicted when Azure needs the capacity back. You set a maximum price and choose between Stop/Deallocate or Delete eviction policies. Use Spot VMs for fault-tolerant workloads, batch processing, and CI/CD agents.

Azure VM Size Finder

ComputeAzure

Find the right Azure VM size based on vCPU, memory, and workload requirements.

VM Size Requirements

Min vCPUs

Max vCPUs

Min Memory (GB)

Max Memory (GB)

Raw JSON Output

Output will appear here...

About This Tool

The Azure VM Size Finder helps you navigate Azure's extensive virtual machine catalog to find the right SKU for your workload. Filter by vCPU count, memory, temporary storage, GPU availability, and VM series to narrow down options. The tool covers all current VM families including general purpose (B, D), compute optimized (F), memory optimized (E, M), storage optimized (L), and GPU-enabled (N) series with pricing estimates.

When to Use This Tool

•Finding the most cost-effective Azure VM for a .NET application server needing 8 vCPUs and 32 GB RAM.
•Identifying GPU-enabled N-series VMs suitable for machine learning training or rendering workloads.
•Comparing B-series burstable VMs vs. D-series for development and testing environments.
•Selecting memory-optimized E-series or M-series VMs for large SQL Server or SAP HANA deployments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Azure VM size names mean?: Azure VM names follow the pattern [Family][Sub-family][vCPUs][Constrained vCPUs][Additive Features][Accelerator Type][Version]. For example, Standard_D8s_v5 means D-series (general purpose), 8 vCPUs, premium storage capable (s), version 5. Common families: B=burstable, D=general, E=memory, F=compute, N=GPU.
Should I use B-series burstable VMs?: B-series VMs are cost-effective for workloads with low average CPU usage that occasionally need to burst. They earn CPU credits during idle periods and spend them during spikes. They are ideal for development servers, small databases, and low-traffic web servers but not suitable for sustained high-CPU workloads.
How do Azure Spot VMs differ from regular VMs?: Azure Spot VMs use spare capacity at up to 90% discount but can be evicted when Azure needs the capacity back. You set a maximum price and choose between Stop/Deallocate or Delete eviction policies. Use Spot VMs for fault-tolerant workloads, batch processing, and CI/CD agents.

Related Learning Guides

Azure VM Series Guide22 min read
Cost Management Guide24 min read

Disclaimer: This tool runs entirely in your browser. No data is sent to our servers. Always verify outputs before using them in production. AWS, Azure, and GCP are trademarks of their respective owners.