TL;DR
- The Ideogram 4.5 family (
ideogram-v4.5/text-to-imagefor generation,ideogram-v4.5/image-to-imagefor editing) bills per image by quality tier: LOW $0.043, MEDIUM (default) $0.086, HIGH $0.3145; the editor adds VERY_LOW at $0.0115. See the full rate table. - Each request currently returns 1 image;
num_imagesmust be 1. Four separate LOW tasks total $0.172; omittingqualitybills at MEDIUM. - Both are live: the generation page and the Edit page. Usage is in the API guide.
Price table: generation, three tiers
| Tier (quality) | Per image | 100 images | 1,000 images | $10 yields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | $0.043 | $4.30 | $43.00 | 232 |
| MEDIUM (default) | $0.086 | $8.60 | $86.00 | 116 |
| HIGH | $0.3145 | $31.45 | $314.50 | 31 |
HiAPI current prices, checked October 26, 2026.
Generation size and prompt expansion do not change the selected quality-tier rate. References and masks on the editing endpoint do not add a fee either. Each task returns 1 image: four separate LOW tasks total $0.172, four MEDIUM tasks $0.344, and two HIGH tasks $0.629. A validation rejection before task creation does not start generation; for a created task, check its final status and the account record when reconciling the charge. Omitting quality bills at MEDIUM — pass low explicitly to save.
Same prompt, three tiers, real outputs
The following outputs illustrate three quality tiers with the same informational-poster prompt; captions specify tier, actual dimensions and format:
A dense informational poster titled "CITY TRANSIT GUIDE" with three labeled columns headed "BUS", "METRO" and "TRAM", a short line of body text under each heading, clean Swiss grid layout, red and black ink on off-white paper, flat vector infographic style
| LOW $0.043 | MEDIUM $0.086 | HIGH $0.3145 |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
ideogram-v4.5/text-to-image, same prompt, one render each; all three are 720×1280 PNG. Left to right: LOW $0.043, MEDIUM $0.086, HIGH $0.3145.
The link carries only the prompt. Select portrait_16_9 and num_images=1 yourself, then choose LOW, MEDIUM, or HIGH for each run.
What you can see:
- All three have the CITY TRANSIT GUIDE title and BUS, METRO, and TRAM columns.
- LOW leaves more space through the center; MEDIUM adds route-like lines below the columns; HIGH has denser body blocks and bottom text.
- Inspect characters, wording, and layout in each output. Paying for a tier does not guarantee every character is correct.
Editor price combinations
ideogram-v4.5/image-to-image bills per image too; regular and Precise (edit_precision=high) share tier prices, and VERY_LOW works with regular only:
| Combination | Per image | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| regular · VERY_LOW | $0.0115 | Bulk draft edits |
| regular · LOW | $0.043 | Everyday edits |
| regular · MEDIUM (default) | $0.086 | Standard delivery |
| regular · HIGH | $0.3145 | Heavy repaints |
| Precise · LOW | $0.043 | Text and date fixes; inspect preserved areas |
| Precise · MEDIUM | $0.086 | Final retouching |
| Precise · HIGH | $0.3145 | High-detail retouching |
A mask lowers the reference cap from four to three; prices don't move. Precise Edit usage is in the API guide.
Choosing tiers and spending less
- Submit separate LOW tasks for alternatives: one image per task, four tasks for $0.172; vary the prompt or seed to explore compositions.
- Start routine-delivery evaluation on MEDIUM: compare the default tier with LOW using the same prompt, then decide whether layout and detail fit the task.
- Compare tiers for small-type finals: try HIGH when more detail is useful; still proofread the output rather than treating its tier as a guarantee.
- Try Precise LOW for text fixes: a name or date change costs $0.043; inspect the edited and preserved areas before deciding whether to move up a tier.
- Disable prompt expansion: pass
enable_prompt_expansion: falseto stop automatic expansion. Still inspect whether the output follows your instructions; the tier price stays unchanged.
Compared with related models (HiAPI prices)
| Model | Per image | Notes |
|---|---|---|
fibo-gen-1.5/text-to-image | $0.0575 | Photoreal + same-price editor |
ideogram-v4.5/text-to-image (this model) | LOW $0.043; MEDIUM $0.086; HIGH $0.3145 | Typography-first |
recraft-v4.1/text-to-image | $0.05 | Brand color parameters |
gpt-image-2.5-flare/text-to-image | 1K $0.025 | Tiered resolution |
krea-3/text-to-image | $0.036 | Prompt reasoning |
gemini-nano-banana-2.1 | 1K $0.011 | 1K image tier |
Monthly budgets (generation)
| Images / month | All LOW | All MEDIUM | All HIGH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | $4.30 | $8.60 | $31.45 |
| 1,000 | $43.00 | $86.00 | $314.50 |
| 10,000 | $430.00 | $860.00 | $3,145.00 |
The HIGH gap is steep: 1,000 images cost $228.50 more than MEDIUM and $271.50 more than LOW. Explore on LOW, use MEDIUM for routine work, and try HIGH only for selected finals that need a closer small-type check.
FAQ
Does omitting quality select the lowest-priced tier?
No. The default is MEDIUM at $0.086 per image. Set quality: "low" explicitly for LOW at $0.043.
Can one request return several images?
No. Generation and editing currently return 1 image per task; num_images must be 1. Submit separate tasks for alternatives.
Can VERY_LOW be used with Precise Edit?
No. VERY_LOW costs $0.0115 and requires edit_precision: "regular". Precise starts at LOW for $0.043 per image.
Do size changes or references add a charge?
Size does not change the tier rate; editing references and masks do not add a fee. Up to 4 references are supported without a mask, or 3 with one.
How many LOW images can $10 cover?
At $0.043 each, $10 covers 232 LOW images for $9.976 in total. Submit one task per image.
Next: take the CITY TRANSIT GUIDE prompt and generate one LOW poster to check the layout; code and parameters are in the API guide. Related: generation and editing API guide · 4 editing prompt examples.
