Prompt Chaining
Fixed sequential steps. Predictable cost.
API Calls per Conversation
Low
2
Mid
3
High
5
Best Use Cases
Document processing pipelinesMulti-step content creationData extraction + validationSequential reasoning tasks
Cost Drivers
- •Number of chain steps (2-5 typically)
- •Context passed between steps — each step's output becomes the next step's input
- •Failure in any step may require restarting the chain
Monthly Cost Scenarios
100/day
Haiku 4.5
$90-180/mo
100/day
Sonnet 4.5
$270-540/mo
1,000/day
Sonnet 4.5
$2,700-5,400/mo
Optimization Tips
- →Minimize context passed between steps — only forward what the next step needs
- →Use cheaper models for intermediate steps (e.g., Haiku for extraction, Sonnet for final synthesis)
- →Add validation between steps to fail fast and avoid wasting tokens on bad intermediate results
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