Rate Limits and API Keys

Defaults, account overrides, API key limits, and increase requests

Each account receives default production limits and can request higher limits as usage grows.

Default limits

LimitDefault
Requests per minute50 RPM
Tokens per minute2,000,000 TPM
API keys per account50

Email support@empiriolabs.ai if you need higher limits for production workloads.

API key format

API keys use the sk-empiriolabs- prefix:

1Authorization: Bearer sk-empiriolabs-...

Keep API keys server-side only. Never expose them in browser code, mobile apps, public repos, or client logs.

Managing API keys

  • Generate new keys from the dashboard
  • Each account can hold up to 50 API keys (adjustable — contact support)
  • Delete unused keys promptly to reduce your attack surface
  • Use separate keys for production, staging, and development to isolate environments

Rate limit behavior

When you exceed a rate limit, the API returns a 429 Too Many Requests response. Use exponential backoff with jitter when retrying.

Rate limits are applied per account, not per API key. All keys on the same account share the same RPM and TPM budget.

Requesting higher limits

If your workload requires more than the default 50 RPM or 2M TPM, email support@empiriolabs.ai with:

  • Your account email or account ID
  • The limits you need and why
  • Expected traffic patterns (peak RPM, average request size)

Common errors

CodeMeaning
missing_api_keyNo bearer token was provided.
invalid_api_keyThe token is malformed, inactive, expired, or not found.
insufficient_creditsThe account needs more credits before making API calls.
model_not_foundThe requested model does not exist or is not available.
rate_limit_exceededThe account has exceeded its RPM or TPM limit. Retry with backoff.
model_unavailableThe model’s worker is temporarily offline. Retry shortly.
upstream_errorThe model provider returned an error.