Model Comparison
Midjourney vs Stable Diffusion XL
Midjourney: HeavyStable Diffusion XL: Standard
Side-by-side environmental impact comparison. Midjourney uses 2.6x more energy per query.
Midjourney uses 2.6x more energy than Stable Diffusion XL
7.5 Wh vs 2.9 Wh per query · 2.3 g vs 1.2 g CO₂ · 14 mL vs 5 mL water
Midjourney
Midjourney
Energy per query7.5 Wh
CO₂ per query2.3 g
Water per query14 mL
VS
Stable Diffusion XL
Stability AI
Energy per query2.9 Wh
CO₂ per query1.2 g
Water per query5 mL
Midjourney
ProviderMidjourney
CategoryImage Generation
Inference LocationGoogle Cloud (US/EU TPU regions)
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, Midjourney or Stable Diffusion XL?
Midjourney uses 2.6x more energy per query than Stable Diffusion XL. Midjourney uses 7.5 Wh per query, while Stable Diffusion XL uses 2.9 Wh.
What is the carbon footprint difference between Midjourney and Stable Diffusion XL?
Midjourney uses 92% more CO₂ per query than Stable Diffusion XL. Midjourney emits 2.3 g of CO₂ per query compared to Stable Diffusion XL's 1.2 g.
Which is more environmentally friendly, Midjourney or Stable Diffusion XL?
Stable Diffusion XL is the more environmentally friendly option, using 2.9 Wh per query compared to Midjourney's 7.5 Wh. That makes Midjourney roughly 2.6x more energy-intensive.
Calculate your footprint with these models
See how your daily usage of Midjourney and Stable Diffusion XL adds up over time. Our calculator estimates energy, carbon, and water impact.
Calculate My Compute