AI Image Token Calculator
Calculate vision API costs for GPT-4, Claude, and Gemini
Select Vision Model
Latest multimodal model, fast and affordable
Image Settings
Include your prompt and expected response tokens
Token & Cost Estimate
1,105
0.92 MP
1,105
1 image
1,605
+ 500 text tokens
$0.004013
$0.002763/image
Cost Breakdown
$0.002763
1,105 tokens
$0.001250
500 tokens
$2.50/1M
GPT-4o
Compare All Models (1280x720, 1 image)
| Model | Tokens/Image | Price/1M | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-4o(OpenAI) | 1,105 | $2.50 | $0.004013 |
| GPT-4o mini(OpenAI) | 1,105 | $0.15 | $0.000241 |
| GPT-4 Turbo(OpenAI) | 1,105 | $10.00 | $0.016050 |
| Claude 3.5 Sonnet(Anthropic) | 1,272 | $3.00 | $0.005316 |
| Claude 3 Opus(Anthropic) | 1,272 | $15.00 | $0.026580 |
| Claude 3 Haiku(Anthropic) | 1,272 | $0.25 | $0.000443 |
| Gemini 2.0 Flash(Google) | 258 | $0.10 | $0.000076 |
| Gemini 1.5 Pro(Google) | 258 | $1.25 | $0.000947 |
OpenAI Vision: Uses a tiling system where images are scaled and divided into 512x512 pixel tiles. Each tile costs ~170 tokens plus a base cost of 85 tokens. Larger images = more tiles = more cost.
Claude Vision: Token count is based on image resolution/megapixels. Smaller images use fewer tokens. Maximum resolution supported is 8192x8192.
Gemini Vision: Currently charges a fixed token count per image (~258 tokens) regardless of resolution, making it predictable for budgeting.
How to Use the AI Image Token Calculator
Select Your Vision Model
Choose from GPT-4o, GPT-4o mini, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Claude 3 Haiku, or Gemini 2.0 Flash. Each model has different token calculation methods and pricing for image processing.
Enter Image Dimensions
Input your image resolution (width x height in pixels). OpenAI uses a tile-based system where larger images cost more, while Gemini charges a flat rate regardless of size.
Set Number of Images
Specify how many images you plan to process. The calculator will multiply the per-image token cost by your quantity to show total token usage and estimated API cost.
Compare Costs Across Models
Review the cost comparison showing token counts and prices for each vision model. Gemini is often cheapest for high-resolution images, while GPT-4o mini excels for simple tasks.
Pro tip: Your data is processed entirely in your browser. Nothing is sent to any server, ensuring complete privacy.
Understanding AI Vision API Pricing
AI vision models like GPT-4o, Claude 3, and Gemini can analyze images and answer questions about visual content. However, processing images adds to your API costs through additional token usage. Understanding how each provider calculates image tokens helps you budget effectively.
How Vision Models Calculate Tokens
OpenAI (GPT-4o, GPT-4 Turbo): Uses a tiling algorithm. Images are first scaled down if larger than 2048px on any side, then the shortest side is scaled to 768px. The result is divided into 512x512 tiles. Each tile costs ~170 tokens plus a base cost of 85 tokens.
Anthropic (Claude 3 family): Token count is based on image resolution in megapixels. Roughly 1,380 tokens per megapixel with a minimum of ~300 tokens. Maximum supported resolution is 8192x8192.
Google (Gemini): Currently uses a fixed token count of ~258 tokens per image regardless of resolution. This makes cost predictable but means small images cost the same as large ones.
Typical Image Token Costs
| Resolution | GPT-4o | Claude 3.5 | Gemini 2.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 512×512 | 255 tokens | ~360 tokens | 258 tokens |
| 1024×1024 | 765 tokens | ~1,400 tokens | 258 tokens |
| 1920×1080 | 765 tokens | ~1,590 tokens | 258 tokens |
| 4K (3840×2160) | 765 tokens | ~1,590 tokens | 258 tokens |
Cost Optimization Tips
- Resize images: For OpenAI, images larger than 1024px often don't add value but do add cost. Resize to the minimum needed.
- Choose the right model: GPT-4o mini and Claude 3 Haiku are significantly cheaper for simple vision tasks.
- Batch processing: If analyzing many similar images, consider if a cheaper model can handle the task.
- Use Gemini for volume: Fixed per-image pricing makes Gemini cost-effective for high-resolution images.
- Compress when possible: JPEG quality doesn't affect token count, so compression reduces bandwidth without increasing cost.
When to Use Each Model
- GPT-4o: Best for complex visual reasoning, document analysis, and detailed image understanding.
- GPT-4o mini: Great for simple image classification, basic OCR, and high-volume simple tasks.
- Claude 3.5 Sonnet: Excellent for nuanced visual analysis, charts, and technical diagrams.
- Claude 3 Haiku: Fast and cheap for simple image tasks, good for real-time applications.
- Gemini 2.0 Flash: Best value for simple vision tasks, especially with high-resolution images.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does GPT-4 Vision calculate image tokens?
GPT-4 Vision uses a tiling system where images are scaled down and divided into 512×512 pixel tiles. Each tile costs approximately 170 tokens plus a base cost of 85 tokens. Larger images require more tiles and thus more tokens, though OpenAI caps the scaling to prevent excessive costs.
How much does it cost to process an image with AI?
Costs vary significantly by model. GPT-4o typically costs $0.0008-0.003 per image, GPT-4o mini costs $0.00005-0.0002, Claude 3 Haiku costs $0.0001-0.0004, and Gemini 2.0 Flash costs around $0.00003 per image. Higher resolution images cost more on OpenAI and Claude but not on Gemini.
Which AI vision model is cheapest?
Gemini 2.0 Flash and GPT-4o mini are currently the cheapest vision models. Gemini charges a flat ~258 tokens per image at $0.10/1M tokens, making it extremely cost-effective. GPT-4o mini charges variable tokens based on resolution at $0.15/1M tokens.
Does image resolution affect token count?
Yes, for OpenAI and Anthropic models. OpenAI uses a tile-based system where larger images require more tiles. Anthropic charges based on megapixels. Gemini currently uses a fixed token count regardless of resolution, which can be advantageous for high-resolution images.