Model Comparison
DALL-E 3 vs Stable Diffusion XL
DALL-E 3: HeavyStable Diffusion XL: Standard
Side-by-side environmental impact comparison.
Both models use roughly the same energy per query
3.0 Wh vs 2.9 Wh per query · 1.2 g vs 1.2 g CO₂ · 11 mL vs 5 mL water
DALL-E 3
OpenAI
Energy per query3.0 Wh
CO₂ per query1.2 g
Water per query11 mL
VS
Stable Diffusion XL
Stability AI
Energy per query2.9 Wh
CO₂ per query1.2 g
Water per query5 mL
DALL-E 3
ProviderOpenAI
CategoryImage Generation
Inference LocationAzure US East / Sweden
Confidenceestimated
Efficiency TierHeavy
Stable Diffusion XL
ProviderStability AI
CategoryImage Generation
Inference LocationSelf-hosted (varies)
Confidencepeer-reviewed
Efficiency TierStandard
Frequently Asked Questions
Which uses more energy, DALL-E 3 or Stable Diffusion XL?
DALL-E 3 and Stable Diffusion XL use roughly the same amount of energy per query. DALL-E 3 uses 3.0 Wh per query, while Stable Diffusion XL uses 2.9 Wh.
What is the carbon footprint difference between DALL-E 3 and Stable Diffusion XL?
DALL-E 3 and Stable Diffusion XL use roughly the same amount of CO₂ per query. DALL-E 3 emits 1.2 g of CO₂ per query compared to Stable Diffusion XL's 1.2 g.
Which is more environmentally friendly, DALL-E 3 or Stable Diffusion XL?
Both models have very similar environmental footprints. DALL-E 3 uses 3.0 Wh per query while Stable Diffusion XL uses 2.9 Wh.
Calculate your footprint with these models
See how your daily usage of DALL-E 3 and Stable Diffusion XL adds up over time. Our calculator estimates energy, carbon, and water impact.
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