AI Token & Cost Estimator
Estimate tokens, expected output, and standard API costs across leading models before your content leaves the browser.
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Estimated output: 12 tokens
Compare standard API cost
Tokenization differs by provider. This tool uses OpenAI's o200k_base as a common approximation. Actual billing, caching and long-context rates may differ; verify with each provider.
How to read token and cost estimates
Language models process tokens rather than raw characters or words. A token may be a whole short word, part of a longer word, punctuation, code, or a fragment of a Chinese phrase. This estimator uses the o200k_base tokenizer to provide one consistent and reproducible planning figure. It then combines your input estimate, an adjustable output ratio, and published standard API rates so you can compare models before sending any content to a provider.
How to use it
- Paste text or load a supported plain-text file.
- Adjust the output ratio to match the length you expect the model to generate.
- Compare estimated standard input and output costs, then open the linked provider source before making a purchasing decision.
What to expect
Treat every result as a planning estimate, not an invoice. The text stays in your browser, but the final token count and bill depend on the provider, model, API request structure, caching rules, tools, and hidden system instructions used in the real request.
What a token estimate actually measures
A tokenizer converts text into numbered pieces that a model can process. Spaces, punctuation, emoji, source code, and non-Latin writing systems can all change how those pieces are formed. Two passages with the same character count can therefore have noticeably different token counts. Short English words often map neatly, while compound words, unusual names, and code identifiers may be split into several parts.
RunAIToolkit performs that encoding locally with o200k_base. Using one tokenizer makes comparisons stable inside this page, but it does not claim that every listed provider uses the same vocabulary. The number is most useful for sizing prompts, spotting unusually large inputs, and comparing alternative drafts under one consistent method.
Why the real API bill can be different
An API request usually contains more than the text visible in your editor. System instructions, role markers, tool definitions, images, retrieved documents, and previous chat turns may all add billable input. The model can also stop earlier or later than the output ratio predicts. Some providers charge reasoning tokens, cached input, long-context requests, batches, or regional service tiers differently.
For that reason, the calculator separates estimated input and output and applies standard per-million-token prices. It does not apply promotional credits, enterprise agreements, cache-hit discounts, batch discounts, or taxes. DeepSeek input is shown using the cache-miss rate. Always follow the source link beside a model when the exact price matters.
Choosing a useful output ratio
The output slider is a scenario control. A short classification, extraction, or rewrite may produce only 10–30% as many tokens as the input. A detailed summary or answer may be closer to 40–80%. Expansion, translation with commentary, or long-form generation can equal or exceed the input length. Set the ratio from the task you intend to run instead of treating one percentage as universal.
For recurring workloads, test a representative batch in the provider dashboard and compare actual usage with this estimate. You can then adjust the ratio to match your workflow. Multiplying the per-request estimate by daily or monthly volume gives a basic budget range, but keep a margin for retries, validation prompts, and unusually long responses.
Privacy and practical limits
Your pasted text and local text file are decoded and tokenized in the current browser tab. RunAIToolkit does not send the content to a processing API or save it to an account. Closing or refreshing the tab clears the working input. Normal hosting infrastructure may still receive ordinary page-request information, as explained in the privacy policy, but it never needs the text entered into this tool.
Avoid pasting secrets into any web page unless necessary, even when processing is local. For regulated or highly sensitive material, verify your device, browser extensions, and organizational policy as well. This calculator helps with estimation; it does not replace a provider invoice, contractual price schedule, or security review.
Common sources of estimate differences
| Factor | What changes | How to plan |
|---|---|---|
| Tokenizer | The same text can split differently by model | Use this count as a consistent baseline |
| Request wrapper | System prompts, roles, and tools add input | Include a safety margin |
| Output length | Generation may stop early or reach its limit | Choose a task-specific ratio |
| Caching and tiers | Effective price may be lower or higher | Confirm the provider's current terms |
Frequently asked questions
Why can provider token counts differ?
Models use different tokenizers and message wrappers, so the same text can produce a different actual count.
Does the estimate include caching discounts?
No. The table uses standard rates; DeepSeek input uses its cache-miss rate.
Is my text sent anywhere?
No. Encoding and cost calculation happen inside this browser tab.
Does the estimate include system prompts and tool definitions?
Only text you paste or load is counted. Add a margin for hidden instructions, message wrappers, tools, images, and conversation history.
Which output ratio should I choose?
Use a lower ratio for classification or short summaries and a higher ratio for detailed generation. Compare with real usage from a representative request when possible.
How often are model prices updated?
The page shows its pricing review date and links to official provider sources. Verify those sources before making a budget or purchasing decision.