OpenAI GPT Image API Pricing Calculator & Cost Guide
Calculate API costs for GPT Image Sunburst and Flare (latest flagships) and older GPT Image models. Compare all quality tiers and resolutions with instant monthly estimates.
Pricing TLDR
- • $5 free credits for new users (no credit card required)
- • GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst and Flare ($0.005-$0.211), latest flagships • GPT Image 2 ($0.005-$0.211)
- • GPT Image 1.5 ($0.009-$0.20) and 1 Mini ($0.005-$0.052) retire Dec 1, 2026
- • DALL·E 2 and DALL·E 3 were removed from the API on May 12, 2026
Official pricing:
OpenAIOpenAI Image API Cost Calculator: Monthly Pricing
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Quick Examples:
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
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About OpenAI Image API
What is OpenAI Image API?
OpenAI's image API offers GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst and Flare (current flagships), GPT Image 2 (previous flagship), and GPT Image 1.5 and GPT Image 1 Mini (retiring December 1, 2026). The chatgpt-image-latest alias is also priced per token, at GPT Image 1.5 rates, and retires December 1, 2026. All support text-to-image generation at three resolutions (1024×1024, 1024×1536, 1536×1024). DALL·E 2 and DALL·E 3 were removed from the API on May 12, 2026.
- Up to Five Quality Tiers Per Model: Every GPT Image model offers Low, Medium, and High quality tiers, and GPT Image 2.5 adds X-High and Max. Higher tiers deliver more detail, better prompt adherence, and more photorealistic results, at up to about 35x the per-image cost of Low.
- Three Aspect Ratios: Generate images in square (1024×1024), portrait (1024×1536), or landscape (1536×1024). On GPT Image 2 and 2.5, the widescreen and portrait ratios are slightly cheaper (for example $0.165 vs $0.211 for square at GPT Image 2.5 Max).
- Pay-Per-Image Pricing: Simple pricing model. You only pay for successfully generated images. No subscription required. Failed generations aren't charged. Perfect for variable or seasonal workloads.
When to Use OpenAI Image API
Start with GPT Image 2.5 Flare Low for testing and high-volume projects. Use GPT Image 2.5 Flare High for general client-facing work. Upgrade to GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst Max for premium marketing materials and precise edits. Avoid GPT Image 1.5 and 1 Mini for new projects (retiring December 1, 2026).
Ideal for
- Social media graphics and daily content creation
- Marketing materials and campaign assets
- Product mockups and e-commerce visuals
- Blog featured images and article illustrations
- Rapid prototyping and design iteration
Not ideal for
- Images requiring exact text rendering (use graphic design tools)
- Precise logo recreation or brand guidelines (trademark concerns)
- Medical or legal documentation requiring accuracy
- Real-time generation in user-facing applications (<2s response)
OpenAI Image API Pricing Breakdown
Free Tier
New users receive $5 in free credits with no credit card required. These credits work across all OpenAI services including image generation. Prepaid credits expire 12 months after purchase.
- Sign up at platform.openai.com - no credit card required
- Receive $5 free credits instantly
- ~1,000 images with GPT Image 1 Mini Low at 1024×1024
- ~833 images with GPT Image 2.5 Low at 1024×1024
- ~384 images with GPT Image 2.5 Medium at 1024×1024
Model Comparison
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst (Latest Flagship)
Current flagship that OpenAI recommends when editing precision matters most. 5 quality tiers (Low/Medium/High/X-High/Max). Best for: premium marketing materials, high-end client work, precise edits. Cost: $0.005-$0.211 per image.
GPT Image 2.5 Flare (Latest Flagship)
Current flagship for fast, high-quality everyday generation, at the same token rates as Sunburst. 5 quality tiers. Best for: high-volume projects, social media, prompt iteration. Cost: $0.005-$0.211 per image.
GPT Image 2 (Previous Flagship)
Previous flagship with 3 quality tiers. Its Medium and High tiers cost the same as GPT Image 2.5 High and Max. Cost: $0.005-$0.211 per image.
GPT Image 1.5 (Retiring Dec 1, 2026)
Older flagship scheduled for removal on December 1, 2026. 3 quality tiers. OpenAI recommends moving to GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst or Flare. Cost: $0.009-$0.20 per image.
GPT Image 1 Mini (Retiring Dec 1, 2026)
Cheapest model at 1024×1024 on Low, scheduled for removal on December 1, 2026. GPT Image 2.5 Flare Low and Medium cost about the same. Cost: $0.005-$0.052 per image.
DALL·E 2 & DALL·E 3 (Removed May 12, 2026)
DALL·E 2 and DALL·E 3 were removed from the API on May 12, 2026. New integrations should use the GPT Image lineup. OpenAI's deprecation notice pointed DALL·E users to GPT Image 2, GPT Image 1 or GPT Image 1 Mini. GPT Image 1 retires October 23, 2026 and 1 Mini retires December 1, 2026, so GPT Image 2 or the newer 2.5 Sunburst and Flare are the options that will stay available.
OpenAI Image API Monthly Cost Estimates
Light Use
$5-25/mo
• Personal projects
• 100-500 images/month
• GPT Image 2.5 Flare Low
Medium Use
$25-100/mo
• Small business
• 500-2K images/month
• Mixed quality tiers
Heavy Use
$100-500/mo
• Agency work
• 2K-10K images/month
• Medium/High quality
Enterprise
$500+/mo
• Large scale
• 10K+ images/month
• Premium quality
6 OpenAI Image API Cost Optimization Tips
Start with Lower Quality Tiers
Begin with Low or Medium quality for testing and refinement. Only upgrade to High quality for final production images. This can save 60-80% during the iteration phase while maintaining acceptable preview quality.
Use GPT Image 2.5 Flare for Volume
For high-volume projects like social media or daily content, use GPT Image 2.5 Flare on Low or Medium instead of the Max tier. You'll save over 90% per image with quality suitable for most use cases.
Choose the Right Aspect Ratio
Pick the aspect ratio that fits the placement: 1024×1024 square ($0.006-$0.211 on GPT Image 2.5) for profile pictures and icons; 1024×1536 portrait or 1536×1024 landscape ($0.005-$0.165 on GPT Image 2.5) for hero banners and social cards. The widescreen/portrait ratios are slightly cheaper on GPT Image 2 and 2.5.
Refine Prompts Before Scaling
Test with GPT Image 2.5 Flare Low ($0.005-$0.006) to perfect your prompts. Once you have a winning prompt, scale up to GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst Max for final renders. This prevents expensive iteration on premium tiers.
Generate Variations Strategically
When you get a good base image, generate variations instead of starting from scratch. While not directly cheaper, this reduces the number of attempts needed to achieve desired results.
Monitor Image Generation Spend in Real-Time
Track OpenAI image costs per model with CostGoat. Get alerts when switching between models, when quality tier selection impacts budget, or when resolution choices drive up costs unexpectedly.
OpenAI Image Model Selection Guide
Use Case
Social Media Content
Recommended Model
GPT Image 2.5 Flare
Best Value
Quality Tier
Low
Monthly Cost (Est.)
~$5-15
Use Case
Marketing Materials
Recommended Model
GPT Image 2.5 Flare
Latest Flagship
Quality Tier
High
Monthly Cost (Est.)
~$40-120
Use Case
Product Mockups
Recommended Model
GPT Image 2.5 Flare
Best Value
Quality Tier
Medium
Monthly Cost (Est.)
~$10-30
Use Case
Premium Client Work
Recommended Model
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
Premium
Quality Tier
Max
Monthly Cost (Est.)
~$160-420
Use Case
Testing & Prototyping
Recommended Model
GPT Image 2.5 Flare
Low Cost
Quality Tier
Low
Monthly Cost (Est.)
~$5-20
Use Case
Blog Graphics
Recommended Model
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
Precise Edits
Quality Tier
High
Monthly Cost (Est.)
~$30-100
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OpenAI Image Generation Pricing FAQ
Common questions about OpenAI image generation API costs, models, and optimization
Per image: GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst and Flare ($0.005-$0.211, latest flagships), GPT Image 2 ($0.005-$0.211), GPT Image 1.5 ($0.009-$0.20, retiring Dec 1 2026), and GPT Image 1 Mini ($0.005-$0.052, retiring Dec 1 2026). Pricing depends on quality tier (Low/Medium/High, plus X-High and Max on GPT Image 2.5) and resolution (1024×1024 square, 1024×1536 portrait, 1536×1024 landscape). DALL·E 2 and DALL·E 3 were removed from the API on May 12, 2026.
New OpenAI API users receive $5 in free credits (no credit card required) that work across all services including image generation. With GPT Image 1 Mini Low at 1024×1024 ($0.005/image), $5 generates ~1,000 images. With GPT Image 2.5 Low at 1536×1024 ($0.005/image), about the same, roughly 1,000 images.
Both are current flagships with the same token rates. OpenAI recommends Sunburst when editing precision matters most and Flare for fast, high-quality everyday generation. OpenAI's cost estimates show the same per-image price for both ($0.005-$0.211), though actual token use can differ by model. Both add X-High and Max quality tiers on top of Low/Medium/High. GPT Image 2 stays available at the same price range with three tiers.
Use GPT Image 2.5 Flare Low or Medium ($0.005-$0.013) for high-volume, cost-sensitive projects and prompt iteration. Use GPT Image 2.5 Flare High ($0.041-$0.053) for general production work. Use GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst Max ($0.165-$0.211) for client-facing marketing assets, hero shots and precise edits. Avoid GPT Image 1.5 and 1 Mini for new projects. Both retire on December 1, 2026.
Test prompts with GPT Image 2.5 Flare Low ($0.005-$0.006) before moving to a higher tier. A typical successful prompt may take 5-10 iterations. Use Low/Medium tiers for drafts and only High for final deliverables. Pick the cheapest aspect ratio that fits the placement: 1024×1024 ($0.006-$0.211) is square; 1536×1024 / 1024×1536 ($0.005-$0.165) are widescreen/portrait and slightly cheaper on GPT Image 2 and 2.5.
