Introduction
If you have a static website (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files) and want to host it online securely with your own domain, AWS offers an easy and reliable way to do it.
With just a few services — Amazon S3, CloudFront, Route 53, and AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) — you can host a website that is fast, secure, and scalable, without needing any server.
In this article, you’ll learn step by step how to make your static website live using AWS.
⚙️ Services You’ll Use
| Service | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Amazon S3 | Stores your website files (HTML, CSS, JS) |
| CloudFront | Makes your website load fast everywhere |
| Route 53 | Connects your custom domain name |
| Certificate Manager (ACM) | Adds HTTPS security (SSL certificate) |
🪜 Step 1. Create an S3 Bucket
Go to the S3 console → click Create Bucket.
Name your bucket the same as your domain (e.g.,
www.example.com).Uncheck Block all public access and confirm.
Upload your website files (
index.html,style.css, etc.).
Then go to Properties → Static website hosting →
Choose “Use this bucket to host a website”
Set index document:
index.html
Click Save — you’ll get a website endpoint like:
http://www.example.com.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com🪜 Step 2. Create a CloudFront Distribution
CloudFront helps your website load faster globally.
Go to CloudFront → click Create Distribution.
In the Origin domain, select your S3 bucket (the website endpoint).
Set Viewer Protocol Policy → “Redirect HTTP to HTTPS.”
Under Alternate Domain Names (CNAMEs), add your domain name.
Choose Request or import a certificate from ACM (for HTTPS).
Click Create Distribution and note down the CloudFront URL, e.g.:
d123abc.cloudfront.net
🪜 Step 3. Request an SSL Certificate (HTTPS)
Open AWS Certificate Manager (ACM).
Click Request a public certificate.
Add your domain name (e.g.,
example.comandwww.example.com).Choose DNS validation.
ACM will give you a CNAME record to add in Route 53.
Wait until the status shows “Issued”.
🪜 Step 4. Configure Route 53 (Domain Name)
Go to Route 53 → Hosted Zones → open your domain.
Add a new A Record (Alias):
Type: A – IPv4
Alias: Yes
Target: Select your CloudFront distribution
Save the record.
This connects your domain to CloudFront → S3.
🪜 Step 5. Test Your Website
After 10–30 minutes (DNS propagation), open your browser and go to:
https://www.example.com✅ You should see your website live
✅ It loads fast globally
✅ It has a secure HTTPS lock icon
💰 Cost Summary (Approximate)
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| S3 | $0.50/month |
| CloudFront | $1–3/month |
| Route 53 | $1/month |
| ACM | Free |
💡 Total: Usually under $5 per month for small websites.
🧠 Why This Setup is Great
🌍 Fast — CloudFront caches your site worldwide
🔒 Secure — Free SSL certificate
⚙️ Scalable — No servers to manage
💸 Cheap — Pay only for what you use
🧘 Simple — Perfect for portfolios, landing pages, or blogs
🎯 Conclusion
Hosting a static website on AWS is simple, powerful, and affordable.
With just S3, CloudFront, Route 53, and ACM, you get a fully serverless, secure, and globally available website.
This is one of the best ways to start learning AWS — and it’s a skill every cloud developer should know.
Join the conversation! Your thoughts help the community grow.