IBM: Granite 4.2 8B
Analysis Summary
IBM Granite 4.2 8B is a compact text model with a 131,072-token context window, tool use, and function calling. Its measured reasoning and coding capability are limited, while its agentic performance is particularly weak for complex multi-step workflows.
The model suits classification, extraction, templated responses, and simple API-connected automations where predictable cost matters more than deep reasoning. Text-only operation limits its usefulness for image-heavy content or document workflows that depend on visual understanding. Pricing is low at $0.10 per million input tokens and $0.15 per million output tokens, which supports high-volume routine traffic. Adopt it for constrained utility tasks, not for autonomous agents, advanced coding, or high-stakes client-facing analysis.
Assessed September 7, 2026
Editorial notes
Granite 4.2 8B offers low-cost inference, a 131K context window, and tool and function calling. Its reasoning and agentic capability are limited, so it fits lightweight automation rather than demanding client work.
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DFO Verdict
Granite 4.2 8B offers low-cost inference, a 131K context window, and tool and function calling. Its reasoning and agentic capability are limited, so it fits lightweight automation rather than demanding client work.
How IBM: Granite 4.2 8B compares
IBM: Granite 4.2 8B ranks #227 of 443 AI models we track for overall intelligence, #141 of 210 for coding, #162 of 192 for agentic tasks. Its 131K-token context window is larger than 46% of the models we list. At $0.06 per million input tokens it is cheaper than 74% of comparable models.
Dark bar = input · light bar = output, scaled to the priciest peer.
1M tokens ≈ 8 full-length novels or ~2,500 pages of business documents in a single request.
Strongest on value. The pulled-in intelligence corner is the trade-off, and if the shape matters more than the price, this is your model.
Compare shapes side-by-side →Pricing
| Token Type | Cost per 1M tokens | Cost per 1K tokens |
|---|---|---|
| Input | $0.06 | $0.000060 |
| Output | $0.25 | $0.000250 |
What would IBM: Granite 4.2 8B cost your business?
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A website chatbot handling around 100 customer conversations a day, a few short messages each.
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These numbers get smaller with the right architecture.
We route routine calls to cheap models and save IBM: Granite 4.2 8B for the hard ones. Most clients cut their estimate by 60-80%.
Talk to our teamAbout IBM: Granite 4.2 8B
Granite 4.2 8B is a dense reasoning model from IBM. It is suited for mathematics, code generation, multilingual dialogue, and agentic workflows that need multi-step reasoning. It supports full, low-effort,..
Frequently asked questions about IBM: Granite 4.2 8B
How much does IBM: Granite 4.2 8B cost?
IBM: Granite 4.2 8B costs $0.06 per million input tokens and $0.25 per million output tokens.
What is the context window of IBM: Granite 4.2 8B?
IBM: Granite 4.2 8B has a context window of 131,072 tokens (131K).
Is IBM: Granite 4.2 8B good for coding?
On our coding benchmark index, IBM: Granite 4.2 8B ranks #141 of 210 models, placing it in the broader range of the field for code generation and debugging.
What can IBM: Granite 4.2 8B do?
IBM: Granite 4.2 8B supports tool use and function calling.
Who created IBM: Granite 4.2 8B?
IBM: Granite 4.2 8B is developed by IBM and was released on August 31, 2026.