How to calculate your real GitHub Actions usage in minutes

#github #githubactions #devops #productivity

GitHub Actions usage reporting doesn't tell the full story. If you're running different types of runners (like 4-core, 8-core, or more), those minutes aren't equal, and your total usage number doesn't reflect it.

This guide will show you how to:

Export your raw usage data
Normalize it by runner type
Get an accurate total you can actually budget against \

Why normalizing GitHub Actions minutes matters

Runner types in GitHub Actions have different compute capacities and costs. For example, a 4-core runner can do twice the work of a 2-core runner. If you just sum the raw usage, you're underestimating your real consumption and leaving yourself open to surprise bills.

Step 1: Export your usage report

In GitHub, click your avatar (top right) and go to Settings
Select Billing and plans
Under Usage this month, click Get usage report
Choose your date range (30/60/90 days) and download the CSV

You'll now have a CSV showing runner types, quantities, and costs.

Step 2: Normalize your minutes

Open the CSV in any spreadsheet tool. Focus on the 'sku' and 'quantity' columns. Each runner type has a multiplier based on its compute capacity:

Runner Type	Multiplier
actions_linux	1
actions_linux_4_core	2
actions_linux_8_core	4
actions_linux_16_core	8
actions_linux_32_core	16

To normalize your total usage:

For each runner type, multiply the quantity by the multiplier
Sum these normalized values across all runner types

This gives you the total compute-equivalent minutes your team used during the period.

Step 3: Use the data to control costs

Without normalized data, you're likely underestimating usage. This normalization process gives you a real number to track, budget against, and compare over time.

Take it further with Depot

Once you know how many minutes you're actually burning, the next step is cutting them down. Depot Runners can dramatically speed up your CI builds, reducing both time and cost.

If you're ready to stop guessing and start saving, give Depot a try.