Prompt Cost Optimizer Calculator

Calculator Inputs

Enter workload, token, pricing, and optimization assumptions. The form stays stacked by section, while inputs use a responsive 3-column, 2-column, and 1-column grid.

Monthly Requests

System Prompt Tokens

User Prompt Tokens

Retrieved Context Tokens

Tool / Wrapper Overhead Tokens

Average Output Tokens

Context Reduction (%)

Output Reduction (%)

Cache Hit Rate (%)

Batch Discount (%)

Retry Rate (%)

Input Cost per 1M Tokens ($)

Cached Input Cost per 1M Tokens ($)

Output Cost per 1M Tokens ($)

Monthly Budget ($)

Reset

Example Data Table

This example shows one realistic optimization scenario for a retrieval-heavy AI workflow.

Monthly Requests	System	User	Context	Overhead	Output	Cache	Batch	Retry	Baseline Cost	Optimized Cost	Monthly Savings
200,000	200	900	1,400	150	650	40%	10%	4%	$2,730.00	$1,727.26	$1,002.74

Formula Used

1) Effective Requests
Effective Requests = Monthly Requests × (1 + Retry Rate)

2) Baseline Input Tokens per Request
Baseline Input = System Tokens + User Tokens + Context Tokens + Tool Overhead Tokens

3) Optimized Input Tokens per Request
Optimized Input = System Tokens + User Tokens + [Context Tokens × (1 − Context Reduction %)] + Tool Overhead Tokens

4) Optimized Output Tokens per Request
Optimized Output = Output Tokens × (1 − Output Reduction %)

5) Baseline Monthly Cost
Baseline Cost = (Baseline Monthly Input Tokens ÷ 1,000,000 × Input Cost) + (Baseline Monthly Output Tokens ÷ 1,000,000 × Output Cost)

6) Optimized Monthly Cost
Optimized Cost = {[(Uncached Input ÷ 1,000,000 × Input Cost) + (Cached Input ÷ 1,000,000 × Cached Input Cost) + (Output ÷ 1,000,000 × Output Cost)] × (1 − Batch Discount %)}

7) Savings
Monthly Savings = Baseline Monthly Cost − Optimized Monthly Cost

8) Budget Capacity
Max Requests Within Budget = Monthly Budget ÷ Optimized Cost per Request

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your expected monthly production request volume.
Fill in average system, user, context, overhead, and output tokens per request.
Add expected optimization controls such as context reduction, output reduction, caching, batching, and retries.
Enter model pricing for uncached input, cached input, and output tokens.
Add your monthly budget to measure financial fit and workload capacity.
Click Calculate Optimization to see the result summary above the form.
Review detailed tables and the Plotly graph below the form for token and cost analysis.
Use the CSV and PDF buttons to export the calculated report.

FAQs

1) What does this calculator optimize?

It estimates the cost impact of prompt engineering controls such as caching, shorter context, reduced outputs, batching, and retry management for AI workloads.

2) Why are retries included?

Retries increase the true number of billed requests. Ignoring them can understate actual monthly cost, especially in unstable workflows or systems with strict validation.

3) What is cached input pricing?

Some providers charge less for repeated cached prompt segments. This calculator separates cached and uncached input to model those pricing differences more accurately.

4) Should I include tool wrapper tokens?

Yes. Wrapper instructions, schemas, routing metadata, and orchestration prompts can materially increase input size, so they should be included in total request overhead.

5) What does batch discount mean here?

It models price reductions or processing efficiency gained when work is grouped into batches. Use zero if your provider or architecture offers no batching advantage.

6) Can I use this for multiple models?

Yes. Run one scenario per model or policy set, then compare exported reports. That approach makes pricing tradeoffs and token strategy differences easier to evaluate.

7) Why can savings be negative?

Savings turn negative when optimization assumptions are weak or incorrect. Low cache rates, limited token reductions, or aggressive output settings can erase expected gains.

8) Does the calculator replace vendor invoices?

No. It is a planning tool. Actual billing may vary because of rounding rules, tiered pricing, regional rates, or provider-specific charges not included here.