AI API cost glossary
Requests per day
Requests per day is the number of billable API calls made during a day. TokenMath commonly derives it from requests per active user multiplied by active users.
Why it matters for API cost
Small per-request costs compound with traffic. Modeling active usage avoids confusing registered users with billable activity.
Formula
Example
Ten requests per active user across 500 daily active users produce 5,000 requests per day.
Frequently asked questions
Should retries count as requests?
Yes. Any retry that reaches the provider can create usage and should be included in production estimates.
Related guides
How to Calculate LLM Tokens and Estimate API Cost
Learn how to estimate LLM tokens, convert input and output usage into API cost, and build a realistic monthly AI budget.
OpenOpenAI API Pricing Explained: Tokens, Cache, Batch, and Cost
Understand OpenAI API input, output, cached input, batch, image, audio, and embedding pricing with practical formulas.
Open