Image token calculator: OpenAI vs Claude vs Gemini
Enter an image size and your prompt's text-token count. The calculator estimates what the image costs on each model family and whether it beats sending the text directly.
| Model family | Image tokens (est.) | vs 2,000 text tokens |
|---|---|---|
| OpenAI | ~256 | 87% fewer tokens |
| Claude | ~324 | 84% fewer tokens |
| Gemini | ~258 | 87% fewer tokens |
Formulas: OpenAI — ≈ one token per 32×32-pixel patch (rounded up per side); Claude — ≈ one token per 28×28-pixel visual patch (rounded up per side); Gemini — 258 tokens per 768×768 tile (small images count as one tile). Estimates only, before any wrapper instructions or caching — verify with the provider's token-counting API. See our methodology.
How many tokens is a 500×500 image?
Using currently documented image-token calculations:
| Model family | 500×500 image (est.) | Break-even text length |
|---|---|---|
| OpenAI | ~256 tokens | >256 text tokens |
| Claude | ~324 tokens | >324 text tokens |
| Gemini | ~258 tokens | >258 text tokens |
The image only pays for itself once your prompt exceeds the image's own token cost — and the text must remain legible at that density. Older tile-based OpenAI model families calculate the same square differently, which is one more reason a single universal savings percentage is indefensible.
Per-model calculators
Ready to try it on a real prompt? The visual prompt compressor gives you a live estimate, a fidelity-risk score and the exported image — all rendered locally.
Last updated July 15, 2026 · Estimates are derived from provider documentation and can change — see methodology.