What is the Tokens to Words & Cost Calculator?
Large language models (LLMs) like GPT, Claude and Gemini process text in tokens rather than words. A token is a chunk of text — often a word fragment of about four characters. This calculator estimates how many words a given number of tokens represents and what those tokens cost based on a model's price per 1,000 tokens.
How to use it
Enter the number of tokens, the words-per-token ratio (0.75 is a good default for English prose), and the price your provider charges per 1,000 tokens. The tool instantly returns an estimated word count and the dollar cost.
The formula explained
The word estimate uses \(\text{words} \approx \text{tokens} \times 0.75\), reflecting the common rule of thumb that 1,000 tokens equals roughly 750 English words. Cost is $$\text{Cost} = \frac{\text{tokens}}{1000} \times \text{price per 1k}$$ since providers bill per thousand tokens. Adjust the ratio for other languages or code, which tend to use more tokens per word.
Worked example
Suppose you have 1,000 tokens at a ratio of 0.75 and a price of $0.50 per 1,000 tokens. $$\text{Words} = 1{,}000 \times 0.75 = 750 \text{ words}$$ $$\text{Cost} = \frac{1{,}000}{1{,}000} \times \$0.50 = \$0.50$$
FAQ
How accurate is the word estimate? It's an approximation. Actual tokenization varies by model and content; 0.75 words/token is a solid average for English.
Do input and output tokens cost the same? No — many providers charge different rates. Run the calculator twice with each rate to add them up.
Why do code or non-English texts differ? They often pack more tokens per word, so lower the ratio (e.g. 0.5) for a better estimate.
