API Rate Limit & Capacity

USD
Math Updated 16 Jun 2026

The API Rate Limit & Capacity Calculator estimates how many requests an API can serve and what they cost. Enter a requests-per-second limit (or a fixed monthly volume) and the cost per request to see daily, hourly, and monthly figures. Monthly (auto) = RPS × 86,400 × 30; hourly peak = RPS × 3,600; monthly cost = monthly requests × cost per request.

Formula

Monthly (auto) = RPS × 86,400 × 30 Hourly Peak = RPS × 3,600 Monthly Cost = Monthly Requests × Cost/Request

Example Calculation

Inputs
  • Requests per Second (RPS): 100
  • Monthly Requests (0 = auto): 0
  • Cost per Request (USD): 0.0001 USD

At 100 requests per second with auto monthly volume, monthly requests = 100 × 86,400 × 30 = 259.2 million. At $0.0001 each, that is about $25,920 per month.

Frequently asked questions

How is monthly request volume estimated?
If you leave monthly requests at 0, it is derived from your RPS limit: RPS × 86,400 seconds per day × 30 days. Enter a value to override it.
What is the hourly peak capacity?
It is the most requests the API could handle in an hour at the RPS limit: RPS × 3,600.
How is cost calculated?
Monthly cost = monthly requests × cost per request, and annual cost is twelve times that.
What should I enter for cost per request?
Use your provider's per-request price (for example a gateway or function invocation cost). Enter 0 if requests are free.
Is real traffic this steady?
Rarely. Actual traffic varies by time of day, so treat the auto monthly figure as a theoretical maximum at the rate limit.