PDF Summary API Cost Calculator
PDF summarization costs depend mostly on how much extracted text you send to the model and how detailed the summary should be.
Starting estimate
Input tokens
50,000
Output tokens
2,000
Preset name
pdf-summary
These values are only a starting point. You can adjust them on the calculator page.
What counts as input tokens?
Extracted PDF text, headings, tables converted to text, metadata, and summarization instructions.
What counts as output tokens?
Short summary, detailed summary, bullet points, action items, key findings, or extracted fields.
What affects the cost?
PDF length, OCR noise, repeated boilerplate, summary detail, model choice, and whether the document is summarized in one pass or in sections.
FAQ
How many tokens does a PDF summary use?
A 50,000 input and 2,000 output setup is a useful baseline for larger reports.
Why can PDF summarization become expensive?
Large extracted text and verbose summaries quickly increase both input and output token usage.
Should I summarize large PDFs in sections?
Usually yes. Section-based workflows can control context size and improve reliability.
How can I reduce PDF summarization costs?
Remove noise, deduplicate repeated content, and ask for concise summaries first.
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