Qwen Image 2.1 API

About Qwen Image 2.1

Image generation and editing with Pro and Turbo variants, up to ten reference images, transparent PNG output, and custom sizes up to 2560x2560.

Also known as Qwen Image, Alibaba Cloud Qwen Image 2.1

Qwen Image 2.1 specs

Model ID

qwen-image-2-1

Author

Alibaba Cloud

Category

Image Generation

Released

Oct 2, 2026

Input

TextImage

Output

Image

Region

Singapore

Endpoints

POST/v1/images/generations

Alternate model IDs

qwen-image-2.1qwen-image-2.1-proqwen-image-2.1-turboalibaba/qwen-image-2-1alibaba/qwen-image-2.1

Qwen Image 2.1 API pricing

Live pay-as-you-go rates from the EmpirioLabs catalog. You are billed only for what you use, with no monthly minimum.

How to call the Qwen Image 2.1 API

Qwen Image 2.1 runs through POST /v1/images/generations. The request returns a job_id right away; poll GET /v1/jobs/{job_id} until the job completes and read the output URLs from the result. Or add "sync": true to skip polling: the request stays open and returns the finished OpenAI-style image response directly, so OpenAI SDKs work as-is. Get an API key from the EmpirioLabs dashboard.

curl https://api.empiriolabs.ai/v1/images/generations \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $EMPIRIOLABS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "qwen-image-2-1",
    "prompt": "Describe what you want Qwen Image 2.1 to generate."
  }'

curl https://api.empiriolabs.ai/v1/jobs/JOB_ID \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $EMPIRIOLABS_API_KEY"

import requests

response = requests.post(
    "https://api.empiriolabs.ai/v1/images/generations",
    headers={"Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_EMPIRIOLABS_API_KEY"},
    json={
        "model": "qwen-image-2-1",
        "prompt": "Describe what you want Qwen Image 2.1 to generate.",
    },
)
job = response.json()

# Generation runs as an async job. Poll until it completes.
import time
while True:
    status = requests.get(
        f"https://api.empiriolabs.ai/v1/jobs/{job['job_id']}",
        headers={"Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_EMPIRIOLABS_API_KEY"},
    ).json()
    if status.get("status") in ("completed", "failed"):
        print(status)
        break
    time.sleep(5)

Qwen Image 2.1 API parameters

Request parameters supported by the Qwen Image 2.1 API on EmpirioLabs. Defaults apply when a field is omitted.

Good to know

Qwen Image 2.1 combines Pro and Turbo image generation and editing in one model. Pro is selected by default, output starts at 2K, and aspect ratio starts in Auto. Turbo provides a faster, lower-cost option.

Variants

• Choose qwen-image-2.1-pro for the highest image quality and complex edits.
• Choose qwen-image-2.1-turbo for faster, lower-cost generation and routine edits.
• Choose with model_variant. Without it, the model id qwen-image-2.1-turbo runs Turbo and every other id of this model runs Pro.

Modes

• Text to image from a prompt.
• Image editing and reference-guided generation from one to ten images.
• Direct prompt extension works for generation and editing. Agent prompt extension provides deeper refinement for text-to-image requests only.

Transparent images

• Output images are PNG files. For a transparent background, set prompt_extend to false and describe the image in this form: "This is an RGBA image with transparency. A glass perfume bottle. The image has alpha channel and the background is transparent."

Output limits

• One to six output images per request.
• 1K, 2K, automatic, aspect-ratio presets, or an exact custom size.
• Exact and custom sizes stay between 512x512 and 2560x2560 pixels in total area, with an aspect ratio from 1:8 to 8:1.

Billing

• Each output image is billed at its variant's rate. Reference images are not billed.

Content safety

Generated images pass an automated content-safety check. An image flagged as explicit is not returned. Because the image is generated before the check runs, a flagged generation is still billed.

Qwen Image 2.1 API: common questions

How much does the Qwen Image 2.1 API cost?

On EmpirioLabs, Qwen Image 2.1 is billed pay as you go: Pro $0.040 per image; Turbo $0.016 per image. The live rate card on this page always matches what the API charges.

Which endpoint does Qwen Image 2.1 use?

Qwen Image 2.1 is served through POST /v1/images/generations on api.empiriolabs.ai with standard bearer-token authentication.

Can I try Qwen Image 2.1 in the browser before integrating?

Yes. The EmpirioLabs playground runs Qwen Image 2.1 in the browser with the same parameters the API exposes, so you can test prompts before writing code.

How do I get a Qwen Image 2.1 API key?

Create an EmpirioLabs account, then generate a key under API Keys in the dashboard. Billing is pay-as-you-go credits, so you only pay for the requests you make.