Directions API Usage and Billing

AI-generated Key Takeaways

• The Directions API uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model with separate billing SKUs for basic and advanced requests.

• Requests are billed based on query volume, with higher volumes receiving discounted pricing.

• The Directions Advanced SKU applies to requests using traffic information, more than 10 waypoints, waypoint optimization, or location modifiers.

• Usage is subject to limits, including a maximum of 25 waypoints per request and 3,000 requests per minute.

• Manage costs by setting daily quota limits in the Google Cloud Console to avoid exceeding your budget.

Reminder: To use the Directions API, you must enable billing on each of your projects and include an API key or OAuth token with all API or SDK requests.

Directions API requests generate calls to one of two SKUs depending on the type of request: Essentials or Pro.

SKU details and pricing for the Directions API

The following table shows the SKU details and pricing for the Directions API.

Category	SKU Details	SKU Pricing
Essentials	SKU: Directions	Main pricing list India pricing list
Pro	SKU: Directions Advanced	Main pricing list India pricing list

Usage limits

While there is no maximum number of requests per day, the following usage limits are still in place for the Directions API:

• Maximum allowed number of waypoints per request: 25
  • Using 1–10 waypoints is billed at the Directions SKU rate.
  • Using more than 10 waypoints (11–25) is billed at the Directions Advanced SKU rate.
• Requests per minute are calculated as the sum of client-side and server-side queries. To look up the per-minute quota, see Quotas and quota alerts.

Adjust quota

Quota limits define the maximum number of requests allowed for a specific API or service within a given timeframe. When the number of requests in your project reaches the quota limit, your service stops responding to requests.

Important: To understand how an increase in quota could affect your bill, check out the pricing calculator.

To modify a quota value for your API, follow these steps:

1. In the Cloud console, navigate to Google Maps Platform > Quotas.
2. Select the API for which you want to modify the quota.
3. Identify the quota value that you want to change, and select it using the checkbox.
4. Click Edit, enter a new quota value, and click Submit request.

View quota increase requests

Important: You must have the appropriate IAM permissions to view quota increase requests.

To view all quota increase requests, including past and pending requests:

1. In the Cloud console, navigate to Google Maps Platform > Quotas.
2. Select the API for which you want to view the quota increase request.
3. Click Increase Requests.

Tip: Make sure to monitor your quota usage regularly to avoid service interruptions. Learn more about quotas and quota alerts.

Terms of Use restrictions

For information on terms of use, see policies for the Directions API, and the License Restrictions section of the Google Maps Platform Terms of Service.

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