Claude API Cost Optimization

Description

--- name: claude-api-cost-optimization description: Save 50-90% on Claude API costs with Batch API, Prompt Caching & Extended Thinking. Official techniques, verified. triggers: - "/api-cost" - "save money" - "reduce cost" - "API pricing" - "batch api" - "prompt caching" --- # Claude API Cost Optimization > Save 50-90% on Claude API costs with three officially verified techniques ## Quick Reference | Technique | Savings | Use When | |-----------|---------|----------| | **Batch API** | 50% | Tasks can wait up to 24h | | **Prompt Caching** | 90% | Repeated system prompts (>1K tokens) | | **Extended Thinking** | ~80% | Complex reasoning tasks | | **Batch + Cache** | ~95% | Bulk tasks with shared context | --- ## 1. Batch API (50% Off) ### When to Use - Bulk translations - Daily content generation - Overnight report processing - NOT for real-time chat ### Code Example ```python import anthropic client = anthropic.Anthropic() batch = client.messages.batches.create( requests=[ { "custom_id": "task-001", "params": { "model": "claude-sonnet-4-5", "max_tokens": 1024, "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Task 1"}] } } ] ) # Results available within 24h (usually <1h) for result in client.messages.batches.results(batch.id): print(f"{result.custom_id}: {result.result.message.content[0].text}") ``` ### Key Finding: Bigger Batches = Faster! | Batch Size | Time/Request | |------------|--------------| | Large (294) | **0.45 min** | | Small (10) | 9.84 min | **22x efficiency difference!** Always batch 100+ requests together. --- ## 2. Prompt Caching (90% Off) ### When to Use - Long system prompts (>1K tokens) - Repeated instructions - RAG with large context ### Code Example ```python response = client.messages.create( model="claude-sonnet-4-5", max_tokens=1024, system=[{ "type": "text", "text": "Your long system prompt here...", "cache_control": {"type": "ephemeral"} # Enable caching! }], messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "User question"}] ) # First call: +25% (cache write) # Subsequent: -90% (cache read!) ``` ### Cache Rules - Minimum: 1,024 tokens (Sonnet) - TTL: 5 minutes (refreshes on use) --- ## 3. Extended Thinking (~80% Off) ### When to Use - Complex code architecture - Strategic planning - Mathematical reasoning ### Code Example ```python response = client.messages.create( model="claude-sonnet-4-5", max_tokens=16000, thinking={ "type": "enabled", "budget_tokens": 10000 }, messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Design architecture for..."}] ) ``` --- ## Decision Flowchart ``` Can wait 24h? → Yes → Batch API (50% off) ↓ No Repeated prompts >1K? → Yes → Prompt Caching (90% off) ↓ No Complex reasoning? → Yes → Extended Thinking ↓ No Use normal API ``` --- ## Official Docs - [Batch Processing](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/build-with-claude/batch-processing) - [Prompt Caching](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/build-with-claude/prompt-caching) - [Extended Thinking](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/build-with-claude/extended-thinking) --- *Made with 🐾 by [Washin Village](https://washinmura.jp) - Verified against official Anthropic documentation*

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