diff --git a/api/resolvers/upload.js b/api/resolvers/upload.js
index ed19b8a0..8d5835b4 100644
--- a/api/resolvers/upload.js
+++ b/api/resolvers/upload.js
@@ -1,6 +1,35 @@
 import { GraphQLError } from 'graphql'
 import { IMAGE_PIXELS_MAX, UPLOAD_SIZE_MAX, UPLOAD_TYPES_ALLOW } from '../../lib/constants'
 import { createPresignedPost } from '../s3'
+import { datePivot } from '../../lib/time'
+import serialize from './serial'
+
+// factor for bytes to megabyte
+const MB = 1024 * 1024
+// factor for msats to sats
+const SATS = 1000
+
+async function uploadCosts (models, userId, photoId, size) {
+  let { _sum: { size: sumSize } } = await models.upload.aggregate({
+    _sum: { size: true },
+    where: { userId, createdAt: { gt: datePivot(new Date(), { days: -1 }) }, id: photoId ? { not: photoId } : undefined }
+  })
+  // assume the image was already uploaded in the calculation
+  sumSize += size
+  if (sumSize <= 5 * MB) {
+    return 0 * SATS
+  }
+  if (sumSize <= 10 * MB) {
+    return 10 * SATS
+  }
+  if (sumSize <= 25 * MB) {
+    return 100 * SATS
+  }
+  if (sumSize <= 100 * MB) {
+    return 1000 * SATS
+  }
+  return -1
+}
 
 export default {
   Mutation: {
@@ -21,6 +50,14 @@ export default {
         throw new GraphQLError(`image must be less than ${IMAGE_PIXELS_MAX} pixels`, { extensions: { code: 'BAD_INPUT' } })
       }
 
+      const { photoId } = await models.user.findUnique({ where: { id: me.id } })
+
+      const costs = avatar ? 0 : await uploadCosts(models, me.id, photoId, size)
+      if (costs < 0) {
+        throw new GraphQLError('image quota of 100 MB exceeded', { extensions: { code: 'BAD_INPUT' } })
+      }
+      const feeTx = models.user.update({ data: { msats: { decrement: costs } }, where: { id: me.id } })
+
       const data = {
         type,
         size,
@@ -30,16 +67,13 @@ export default {
       }
 
       let uploadId
-      if (avatar) {
-        const { photoId } = await models.user.findUnique({ where: { id: me.id } })
-        if (photoId) uploadId = photoId
-      }
+      if (avatar && photoId) uploadId = photoId
       if (uploadId) {
         // update upload record
-        await models.upload.update({ data, where: { id: uploadId } })
+        await serialize(models, models.upload.update({ data, where: { id: uploadId } }), feeTx)
       } else {
         // create upload record
-        const upload = await models.upload.create({ data })
+        const [upload] = await serialize(models, models.upload.create({ data }), feeTx)
         uploadId = upload.id
       }