diff --git a/builder/amazon/common/run_config.go b/builder/amazon/common/run_config.go
index ec637ef4a..57c86a8c5 100644
--- a/builder/amazon/common/run_config.go
+++ b/builder/amazon/common/run_config.go
@@ -265,13 +265,21 @@ type RunConfig struct {
 	// because a particular availability zone does not have capacity for the
 	// specific instance_type requested in instance_type.
 	SpotInstanceTypes []string `mapstructure:"spot_instance_types" required:"false"`
-	// The maximum hourly price to pay for a spot instance
-	// to create the AMI. Spot instances are a type of instance that EC2 starts
-	// when the current spot price is less than the maximum price you specify.
-	// Spot price will be updated based on available spot instance capacity and
-	// current spot instance requests. It may save you some costs. You can set
-	// this to auto for Packer to automatically discover the best spot price or
-	// to "0" to use an on demand instance (default).
+	// With Spot Instances, you pay the Spot price that's in effect for the
+	// time period your instances are running. Spot Instance prices are set by
+	// Amazon EC2 and adjust gradually based on long-term trends in supply and
+	// demand for Spot Instance capacity.
+	//
+	// When this field is set, it represents the maximum hourly price you are
+	// willing to pay for a spot instance. If you do not set this value, it
+	// defaults to a maximum price equal to the on demand price of the
+	// instance. In the situation where the current Amazon-set spot price
+	// exceeds the value set in this field, Packer will not launch an instance
+	// and the build will error. In the situation where the Amazon-set spot
+	// price is less than the value set in this field, Packer will launch and
+	// you will pay the Amazon-set spot price, not this maximum value.
+	// For more information, see the Amazon docs on
+	// [spot pricing](https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/spot/pricing/).
 	SpotPrice string `mapstructure:"spot_price" required:"false"`
 	// Required if spot_price is set to
 	// auto. This tells Packer what sort of AMI you're launching to find the
diff --git a/website/source/partials/builder/amazon/common/_RunConfig-not-required.html.md b/website/source/partials/builder/amazon/common/_RunConfig-not-required.html.md
index b2f46681b..19e6f5ac2 100644
--- a/website/source/partials/builder/amazon/common/_RunConfig-not-required.html.md
+++ b/website/source/partials/builder/amazon/common/_RunConfig-not-required.html.md
@@ -175,13 +175,21 @@
     because a particular availability zone does not have capacity for the
     specific instance_type requested in instance_type.
     
--   `spot_price` (string) - The maximum hourly price to pay for a spot instance
-    to create the AMI. Spot instances are a type of instance that EC2 starts
-    when the current spot price is less than the maximum price you specify.
-    Spot price will be updated based on available spot instance capacity and
-    current spot instance requests. It may save you some costs. You can set
-    this to auto for Packer to automatically discover the best spot price or
-    to "0" to use an on demand instance (default).
+-   `spot_price` (string) - With Spot Instances, you pay the Spot price that's in effect for the
+    time period your instances are running. Spot Instance prices are set by
+    Amazon EC2 and adjust gradually based on long-term trends in supply and
+    demand for Spot Instance capacity.
+    
+    When this field is set, it represents the maximum hourly price you are
+    willing to pay for a spot instance. If you do not set this value, it
+    defaults to a maximum price equal to the on demand price of the
+    instance. In the situation where the current Amazon-set spot price
+    exceeds the value set in this field, Packer will not launch an instance
+    and the build will error. In the situation where the Amazon-set spot
+    price is less than the value set in this field, Packer will launch and
+    you will pay the Amazon-set spot price, not this maximum value.
+    For more information, see the Amazon docs on
+    [spot pricing](https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/spot/pricing/).
     
 -   `spot_price_auto_product` (string) - Required if spot_price is set to
     auto. This tells Packer what sort of AMI you're launching to find the