---
title: "Setting the Default Rate Card"
slug: "setting-the-default-rate-card"
updated: 2026-01-12T23:05:47Z
published: 2026-01-12T23:05:47Z
canonical: "resources.realtheory.io/setting-the-default-rate-card"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://resources.realtheory.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Setting the Default Rate Card

The default rate card is used to calculate cost for all clusters that do not have a rate card directly (manually) assigned or automatically assigned through rate card policies. By selecting a default rate card that reflects the most appropriate pricing plan for the highest number of clusters in your environment, you minimize the amount of configuration needed to achieve accurate cost analysis for all clusters in your environment.

See [Rate Cards Explained](https://resources.realtheory.io/docs/rate-cards-explained) for more information about rate cards.

## Prerequisite

To manage rate cards, you must have one of the following roles assigned to your user account:

- *sys_admin*
- *rate_card_admin*

## Procedure

1. Determine the pricing plan that is appropriate for the largest number of your clusters.
2. As a user with the *sys_admin* or *rate_card_admin* role, navigate to **Settings** > **Cost** > **Rate Cards**.
3. Determine if a rate card that matches the pricing plan for the largest number of your clusters already exists:
  - If an existing rate card is the most appropriate, click **Set As Default** for the appropriate rate card.

**Note:** You can review the rate card configuration details by clicking **Edit Card**; be sure you click **Cancel** to close the rate card without accidentally changing it.
  - If no existing rate card matches the pricing plan for the largest number of your clusters, create the rate card:
    - See [Creating a Discount Rate Card](https://resources.realtheory.io/docs/creating-a-discount-rate-card)
    - See [Creating a Custom Rate Card](https://resources.realtheory.io/docs/creating-a-custom-rate-card)
    - See [Creating a SKU Rate Card](https://resources.realtheory.io/docs/creating-a-sku-rate-card)
4. After you have created the rate card that is appropriate for the largest number of your clusters, click **Set As Default**.

**See Also** [Rate Cards Explained](https://resources.realtheory.io/docs/rate-cards-explained) [Creating a Discount Rate Card](https://resources.realtheory.io/docs/creating-a-discount-rate-card) [Creating a Custom Rate Card](https://resources.realtheory.io/docs/creating-a-custom-rate-card) [Creating a SKU Rate Card](https://resources.realtheory.io/docs/creating-a-sku-rate-card) [Creating Rate Card Policies](https://resources.realtheory.io/docs/creating-rate-card-policies)