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Dev.to
7/21/2026
I added MCP servers to Claude Code. Here's what they cost in tokens.

I added MCP servers to Claude Code. Here's what they cost in tokens.

Short summary

Every MCP tool registered in Claude Code injects 80–150 tokens of tool-definition overhead into the context window on every turn, compounding across entire sessions. Measured results show the GitHub MCP server (26 tools) costs ~62,000 tokens per 20-turn session — roughly $0.19 at Sonnet 4 pricing — and scales to ~$18.60 in pure overhead for 2,000-turn autonomous loops. Practical mitigations include project-scoped MCP configs, preferring servers with fewer focused tools, and keeping tool descriptions tight when authoring MCP servers.

  • •Each MCP tool adds 80–150 tokens of definition overhead to every turn, not just when used
  • •GitHub MCP server costs ~62K tokens per 20-turn session, scaling to ~$18.60 overhead at 2,000 turns
  • •Mitigate with project-scoped configs, fewer tools per server, and tight descriptions when authoring MCP servers

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