> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.bead.run/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# bead workload estimation guide

> Follow the bead workload estimation guide to estimate costs from machine size, duration, retained bytes, and desktop use.

Use the bead workload estimation guide to estimate a bounded workload before you create machines. The estimator uses the current pricing schedule. `GET /v1/pricing` is the live source for rates.

## From the CLI

```bash theme={null}
bead pricing
bead pricing --shape small --hours 1 --disk-mib 1024 --machines 2
```

`--disk-mib` is the retained storage amount per machine for the duration. Include all retained bytes you expect to keep. It is not the machine's advertised disk capacity.

## From the API

The public estimator accepts a size and a duration in seconds:

```bash theme={null}
curl -fsSL https://api.bead.run/v1/pricing/estimate   -H 'Content-Type: application/json'   --data '{"size":"small","duration_seconds":3600,"storage_bytes":1073741824,"machines":2,"desktop":false}'
```

| Field | Meaning |
| - | - |
| `size` | Published machine size, such as `xs` or `small`. |
| `duration_seconds` | Duration from 1 to 86,400 seconds. |
| `storage_bytes` | Retained bytes per machine across that duration. |
| `machines` | Number of machines, from 1 to 256; defaults to 1. |
| `paused` | Estimate paused storage instead of running compute; defaults to false. |
| `desktop` | Include the desktop add-on while running; defaults to false. |

The response includes CPU, memory, storage, and total amounts for the selected schedule. Running size estimates assume all vCPUs are busy and the configured memory is present for the duration. Actual busy CPU can cost less.

## Estimate retained state

For `paused: true`, the size estimator automatically includes the size’s configured memory as retained storage. Set `storage_bytes` to additional retained disk and snapshot bytes per machine, excluding that automatically added memory. A quote does not reserve capacity, fund a machine, or apply trial credit.

Admission may reserve more than the eventual measured charge to cover the authorized runtime. See [Prepaid credit and balance](https://docs.bead.run/platform/prepaid-credit.md).


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