How This Calculator Works
Use this api cost tool for quick estimation, comparison, and planning intent while keeping formula assumptions visible.
Use the API request cost calculator to estimate AI or metered API costs from request count, input units, output units, and per-million unit pricing.
The calculator multiplies request volume by average input and output units, then applies per-million pricing for each side.
Formula
Cost = input units / 1,000,000 x input price + output units / 1,000,000 x output price.
Example Calculation
100,000 requests with 750 input and 250 output units at $0.50 and $1.50 per million costs about $75.
When to Use This Calculator
- Estimate AI API bills
- Compare prompts
- Plan usage-based pricing
Practical Scenarios
- Use the API Request Cost Calculator to estimate ai api bills while comparing at least one conservative and one higher-cost scenario.
- Use the API Request Cost Calculator to compare prompts while comparing at least one conservative and one higher-cost scenario.
- Use the API Request Cost Calculator to plan usage-based pricing while comparing at least one conservative and one higher-cost scenario.
Tips
- Output length can dominate cost
- Add retries and background jobs
- Check provider pricing before launch
Common Mistakes
- Ignoring failed retries
- Averaging only short requests
- Forgetting logs, embeddings, or batch jobs
- Using a best-case input when a realistic range would be safer.
- Forgetting fees, taxes, inflation, usage changes, or other hidden costs where they apply.
Assumptions and Limitations
The API Request Cost Calculator is most accurate when the inputs match current real-world numbers and when you review the formula, assumptions, and related calculators before acting.
- Provider pricing, runtime overhead, compression, caching, hardware limits, and production traffic can change final requirements.
- The result is a technical planning estimate, not a guarantee of performance or cost.
- Verify against current vendor documentation before committing to infrastructure or hardware.
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