AWS

DynamoDBLimitExceededException - DynamoDB Limit Exceeded

Getting a **DynamoDBLimitExceededException** means you've exceeded DynamoDB's account-level or operation-level limits—the number of concurrent table requests, tables per account, indexes per table, or concurrent modifications has reached the maximum allowed. This client-side error (4xx) happens when AWS enforces DynamoDB limits. Most common when too many concurrent table operations occur, but also appears when table limits per account are exceeded, index limits per table are reached, concurrent modification limits are hit, or account-level limits are exceeded.

#Common Causes

→Identity: IAM policy allows DynamoDB operations but limit exceeded. Service Control Policy (SCP) enforces DynamoDB limits.
→Network: VPC endpoint DynamoDB operation restrictions. Regional DynamoDB limits.
→Limits: Too many concurrent table operations. Table limit per account exceeded (default: 256 tables). Index limit per table exceeded (20 GSI, 5 LSI). Concurrent modification limit reached. Account-level limits exceeded.

✓Solutions

1Step 1: Diagnose - Check current table count: aws dynamodb list-tables --query 'length(TableNames)' --output text. Compare with account limit (default: 256 tables).
2Step 2: Diagnose - Check account limits: aws service-quotas get-service-quota --service-code dynamodb --quota-code L-2485A583 --query 'Quota.Value' --output text. Verify table limit. Check index limits per table.
3Step 3: Diagnose - Monitor concurrent operations: Review CloudWatch metrics for DynamoDB throttling. Check if concurrent operations are causing limits.
4Step 4: Fix - Use batch operations: Use batch_writer for writes: aws dynamodb batch-write-item. Use batch_get_item for reads. Reduces concurrent request count.
5Step 5: Fix - Request limit increase or optimize: Request limit increase: aws service-quotas request-service-quota-increase --service-code dynamodb --quota-code L-2485A583 --desired-value 500. Or reduce concurrent operations. Implement request throttling. Optimize table and index count.

</>Code Examples

Check Current DynamoDB Table Count and Limits

1#!/bin/bash
2echo "=== Current Table Count ==="
3TABLE_COUNT=$(aws dynamodb list-tables --query 'length(TableNames)' --output text)
4echo "Tables: ${TABLE_COUNT}"
5
6# Check account limit
7echo "\n=== Account Limits ==="
8TABLE_LIMIT=$(aws service-quotas get-service-quota \
9  --service-code dynamodb \
10  --quota-code L-2485A583 \
11  --query 'Quota.Value' \
12  --output text 2>/dev/null || echo "256")
13
14echo "Table limit: ${TABLE_LIMIT}"
15echo "Usage: ${TABLE_COUNT} / ${TABLE_LIMIT}"
16
17if [ ${TABLE_COUNT} -ge ${TABLE_LIMIT} ]; then
18  echo "✗ Table limit reached (DynamoDBLimitExceededException)"
19else
20  echo "✓ Table count within limit"
21fi
22
23# List all tables
24echo "\n=== All Tables ==="
25aws dynamodb list-tables --output table

Request DynamoDB Limit Increase

1#!/bin/bash
2echo "=== Requesting DynamoDB Limit Increase ==="
3DESIRED_VALUE=500
4
5echo "Current limit: Check with aws service-quotas get-service-quota"
6echo "Desired limit: ${DESIRED_VALUE}"
7
8# Request table limit increase
9aws service-quotas request-service-quota-increase \
10  --service-code dynamodb \
11  --quota-code L-2485A583 \
12  --desired-value ${DESIRED_VALUE} \
13  --output json
14
15if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
16  echo "\n✓ Limit increase requested"
17  echo "Check status: aws service-quotas get-requested-service-quota-change"
18  echo "Note: AWS Support may need to approve the request"
19else
20  echo "\n✗ Failed to request limit increase"
21  echo "Check IAM permissions or contact AWS Support"
22fi

Use Batch Operations to Reduce Concurrent Requests

1#!/bin/bash
2TABLE_NAME="my-table"
3
4echo "=== Using Batch Operations ==="
5echo "Batch operations reduce concurrent request count"
6echo "Instead of individual puts/gets, use batch operations"
7
8echo "\n=== Batch Write Example ==="
9echo "aws dynamodb batch-write-item \"
10echo "  --request-items '{"
11echo "    "${TABLE_NAME}": ["
12echo "      {"
13echo "        "PutRequest": {"
14echo "          "Item": {"id": {"S": "1"}, "value": {"S": "data1"}}"
15echo "        }"
16echo "      },"
17echo "      {"
18echo "        "PutRequest": {"
19echo "          "Item": {"id": {"S": "2"}, "value": {"S": "data2"}}"
20echo "        }"
21echo "      }"
22echo "    ]"
23echo "  }'"
24
25echo "\n=== Batch Get Example ==="
26echo "aws dynamodb batch-get-item \"
27echo "  --request-items '{"
28echo "    "${TABLE_NAME}": {"
29echo "      "Keys": ["
30echo "        {"id": {"S": "1"}},"
31echo "        {"id": {"S": "2"}}"
32echo "      ]"
33echo "    }"
34echo "  }'"
35
36echo "\n=== Benefits ==="
37echo "1. Reduces concurrent request count"
38echo "2. More efficient than individual operations"
39echo "3. Helps avoid DynamoDBLimitExceededException"

Provider Information

This error code is specific to AWS services. For more information, refer to the official AWS documentation.

#Common Causes

✓Solutions

</>Code Examples

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Provider Information