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Linear GraphQL API

A GraphQL API for Linear issues, projects, teams, cycles, users, and integrations.

PUBLISHED PROVIDER LIMITS

Limits keep their provider-specific dimensions.

Linear tracks request count and GraphQL complexity independently. Some endpoints apply additional lower request limits.

Authentication: Personal API key, OAuth access token, Unauthenticated requests where supported

Primary scope: Authenticated User, OAuth App User, OAuth App, Or Source IP

Measured dimensions: Requests, Graphql Complexity, Endpoint Requests

Profile coverage: Linear request allowances by authentication type, GraphQL complexity pools, maximum query complexity, endpoint-specific headers, and 429 handling. Lower endpoint-specific quotas remain discoverable through response headers.

Request Rate

Linear GraphQL API Request Rate
LimitValuePeriodScopeConditions and variability
API key requests2,500 requestsPer hourAuthenticated UserAPI keys owned by the same user share the allowance The current allowance table lists 2,500 requests per hour, while nearby prose still states 5,000. This profile uses the table value.
OAuth requests5,000 requestsPer hourAuthenticated User Or App UserPublished provider limit.
Unauthenticated requests600 requestsPer hourSource IpPublished provider limit.

Complexity Pool

Linear GraphQL API Complexity Pool
LimitValuePeriodScopeConditions and variability
API key GraphQL complexity3,000,000 complexity pointsPer hourAuthenticated UserPublished provider limit.
OAuth GraphQL complexity2,000,000 complexity pointsPer hourAuthenticated User Or App UserPublished provider limit.
Unauthenticated GraphQL complexity100,000 complexity pointsPer hourSource IpPublished provider limit.

Request Complexity

Linear GraphQL API Request Complexity
LimitValuePeriodScopeConditions and variability
Maximum single-query complexity10,000 complexity pointsAt one timeRequestPublished provider limit.

Endpoint limits

Linear GraphQL API Endpoint limits
LimitValuePeriodScopeConditions and variability
Endpoint-specific request limitsProvider-specificProvider-definedEndpoint And IdentitySome endpoints apply lower allowances identified through X-RateLimit-Endpoint-* response headers.

RESPONSE METADATA

Headers expose the applicable limit state.

X-RateLimit-Requests-LimitFormat: Integer
Maximum requests in the current request-count window.
X-RateLimit-Requests-RemainingFormat: Integer
Requests remaining in the current request-count window.
X-RateLimit-Requests-ResetFormat: Unix Epoch Milliseconds
Time when the request-count allowance resets.
X-RateLimit-Endpoint-Requests-LimitFormat: Integer
Maximum requests for an additional endpoint-specific limit.
X-RateLimit-Endpoint-Requests-RemainingFormat: Integer
Requests remaining for the endpoint-specific limit.
X-RateLimit-Endpoint-Requests-ResetFormat: Unix Epoch Milliseconds
Time when the endpoint-specific allowance resets.
X-RateLimit-Endpoint-NameFormat: String
Name of the endpoint-specific limit that applies.
X-ComplexityFormat: Integer
Complexity points consumed by the GraphQL request.
X-RateLimit-Complexity-LimitFormat: Integer
Maximum GraphQL complexity points in the current window.
X-RateLimit-Complexity-RemainingFormat: Integer
GraphQL complexity points remaining in the current window.
X-RateLimit-Complexity-ResetFormat: Unix Epoch Milliseconds
Time when the complexity allowance resets.

WHEN A LIMIT IS EXCEEDED

Read the response before choosing a delay.

  • Rate-limit responses can use HTTP 400.
  • Primary exhaustion signal: GraphQL errors contain the RATELIMITED extension code.
  • Errors[].extensions.code: RATELIMITED identifies a Linear rate-limit error in a GraphQL response.

RECOMMENDED HANDLING

Protect both the provider and your own queue.

  • Track request count and complexity independently.
  • Use the relevant reset header before retrying.
  • Reduce requested fields and pagination size when complexity is the binding constraint.
  • Honor lower endpoint-specific allowances when those headers are present.

VERIFICATION RECORD

Official sources reviewed