ReddRadar
Agent skill
cost-estimation
Guidelines for estimating token usage and costs per task and phase. Reference this skill when planning to provide accurate budget estimates.
Install this agent skill to your Project
npx add-skill https://github.com/majiayu000/claude-skill-registry/tree/main/skills/data/cost-estimation
SKILL.md
// Project Autopilot - Cost Estimation Guidelines // Copyright (c) 2026 Jeremy McSpadden jeremy@fluxlabs.net
Cost Estimation Skill
Reference this skill when creating phases to provide accurate token/cost estimates.
Task Cost Estimates
By Task Type
| Task Type | Input Tokens | Output Tokens | Est. Cost (Sonnet) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Read/analyze file | 500-2,000 | 200-500 | $0.002-0.01 |
| Create new file | 1,000-3,000 | 1,500-5,000 | $0.01-0.03 |
| Modify existing file | 1,500-4,000 | 1,000-3,000 | $0.01-0.025 |
| Write unit tests | 2,000-5,000 | 2,000-6,000 | $0.015-0.045 |
| Write integration tests | 3,000-8,000 | 3,000-8,000 | $0.025-0.06 |
| Code review | 2,000-6,000 | 1,000-3,000 | $0.01-0.03 |
| Documentation | 1,000-3,000 | 1,500-4,000 | $0.01-0.025 |
| Debug/fix | 3,000-10,000 | 2,000-5,000 | $0.02-0.05 |
| Schema design | 1,500-4,000 | 2,000-5,000 | $0.015-0.035 |
| API endpoint | 2,000-5,000 | 2,500-6,000 | $0.02-0.045 |
| React component | 2,000-6,000 | 3,000-8,000 | $0.025-0.055 |
| Configuration | 500-1,500 | 500-1,500 | $0.003-0.01 |
By Complexity
| Complexity | Multiplier | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | 1.0x | Add config value, simple function |
| Medium | 1.5x | New endpoint with validation |
| Complex | 2.5x | Auth system, complex logic |
| Very Complex | 4.0x | Multi-service integration |
Phase Cost Estimates
Typical Phase Costs (Sonnet)
| Phase | Tasks | Est. Tokens | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 001 Setup | 3-5 | 15K-30K | $0.08-0.20 |
| 002 Database | 4-6 | 25K-50K | $0.15-0.35 |
| 003 Infrastructure | 4-6 | 20K-40K | $0.12-0.28 |
| 004 Auth | 5-8 | 40K-80K | $0.25-0.55 |
| 005 API | 6-12 | 50K-120K | $0.35-0.85 |
| 006 Business Logic | 6-15 | 60K-150K | $0.40-1.00 |
| 007 Frontend | 8-15 | 80K-180K | $0.55-1.25 |
| 008 Features | 10-25 | 100K-300K | $0.70-2.00 |
| 009 Testing | 6-12 | 50K-120K | $0.35-0.85 |
| 010 Security | 4-8 | 30K-70K | $0.20-0.50 |
| 011 Documentation | 4-8 | 30K-60K | $0.20-0.40 |
| 012 DevOps | 5-10 | 40K-90K | $0.28-0.60 |
| 013 Polish | 3-8 | 25K-60K | $0.15-0.40 |
Total Typical Project: 400K-1.5M tokens, $2.50-$10.00
Estimation Formula
Per Task
Base Cost = (input_tokens × input_rate) + (output_tokens × output_rate)
Haiku: input_rate = $1/1M, output_rate = $5/1M
Sonnet: input_rate = $3/1M, output_rate = $15/1M
Opus: input_rate = $5/1M, output_rate = $25/1M
Adjusted Cost = Base Cost × Complexity Multiplier × Buffer (1.2)
Per Phase
Phase Estimate = Σ(Task Estimates) × Phase Buffer (1.15)
Buffer Factors
| Factor | Buffer | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Task | 1.2x | Retries, validation |
| Phase | 1.15x | Integration, fixes |
| Project | 1.25x | Unknowns, scope creep |
Confidence Levels
| Level | Variance | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| High | ±15% | Well-defined, done before |
| Medium | ±30% | Clear scope, some unknowns |
| Low | ±50% | Vague requirements, new tech |
Estimation Checklist
Before finalizing phase estimates:
- Each task has complexity rating
- Model specified (Opus vs Sonnet)
- Buffer applied (1.2x task, 1.15x phase)
- Confidence level stated
- Range provided (min-max)
- Total phase estimate calculated
- Fits within project budget
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