Codex 5-Hour Limit vs Weekly Limit
Content updated: Sep 15, 2026
The short version
The 5-hour limit is about intensity: how much you can use right now. The weekly limit is about volume: how much you can use in total. You can be under the weekly limit and still be paused by the 5-hour window, or have 5-hour capacity free while the weekly limit keeps you stopped.
How they interact
Every request counts against both windows. Heavy bursts drain the 5-hour window quickly, but it recovers continuously. Sustained daily work drains the weekly window, which recovers only at your weekly reset. Checking both lines in /status tells you whether a pause lasts minutes or days.
Which one is stopping you?
Run /status: if 5-hour remaining is zero and weekly is not, take a short break — capacity returns as the window rolls. If weekly remaining is zero, plan around the weekly reset: pace usage with a safe daily budget and set an alert so you resume the moment it refills.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the 5-hour and weekly limit?
The 5-hour limit caps burst usage in a rolling window; the weekly limit caps total usage across seven days. Both are personal to your account.
Can I hit the weekly limit with 5-hour capacity left?
Yes. The weekly limit is the harder stop — no amount of short waiting helps until your weekly reset.