diff --git a/config/dev.yml b/config/dev.yml
--- a/config/dev.yml
+++ b/config/dev.yml
@@ -9,3 +9,5 @@
 debug: yes
 
 server-type: asgi
+
+max_query_cost: 1000
diff --git a/config/staging.yml b/config/staging.yml
--- a/config/staging.yml
+++ b/config/staging.yml
@@ -9,3 +9,5 @@
 debug: yes
 
 server-type: wsgi
+
+max_query_cost: 1000
diff --git a/swh/graphql/errors/__init__.py b/swh/graphql/errors/__init__.py
--- a/swh/graphql/errors/__init__.py
+++ b/swh/graphql/errors/__init__.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 # License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
 # See top-level LICENSE file for more information
 
-from .errors import ObjectNotFoundError, PaginationError
+from .errors import ObjectNotFoundError, PaginationError, QueryCostError
 from .handlers import format_error
 
-__all__ = ["ObjectNotFoundError", "PaginationError", "format_error"]
+__all__ = ["ObjectNotFoundError", "PaginationError", "QueryCostError", "format_error"]
diff --git a/swh/graphql/errors/errors.py b/swh/graphql/errors/errors.py
--- a/swh/graphql/errors/errors.py
+++ b/swh/graphql/errors/errors.py
@@ -16,3 +16,7 @@
     def __init__(self, message, errors=None):
         # FIXME, log this error
         super().__init__(f"{self.msg}: {message}")
+
+
+class QueryCostError(Exception):
+    """ """
diff --git a/swh/graphql/resolvers/base_node.py b/swh/graphql/resolvers/base_node.py
--- a/swh/graphql/resolvers/base_node.py
+++ b/swh/graphql/resolvers/base_node.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 from collections import namedtuple
 
 from swh.graphql.errors import ObjectNotFoundError
+from swh.graphql.utils import query_cost
 
 
 class BaseNode(ABC):
@@ -21,6 +22,14 @@
         self._node = self._get_node(node_data)
         # handle the errors, if any, after _node is set
         self._handle_node_errors()
+        self.cost = self._get_node_cost()
+        # validate and register the cost
+        query_cost.query_cost.add_cost(self.cost)
+
+    def _get_node_cost(self):
+        # get the cost for this node
+        # Override for specific behaviour
+        return query_cost.get_node_cost(self)
 
     def _get_node(self, node_data):
         """
diff --git a/swh/graphql/utils/__init__.py b/swh/graphql/utils/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
diff --git a/swh/graphql/utils/query_cost.py b/swh/graphql/utils/query_cost.py
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/swh/graphql/utils/query_cost.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2022 The Software Heritage developers
+# See the AUTHORS file at the top-level directory of this distribution
+# License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
+# See top-level LICENSE file for more information
+
+from swh.graphql.errors import QueryCostError
+
+
+class QueryCost:
+    total = 0
+
+    def get_max_query_cost(self):
+        # Add logic to have different limits on user type
+        return 1000
+
+    def total_query_cost(self):
+        return self.total
+
+    def add_cost(self, cost):
+        self.total += cost
+        max_query_cost = self.get_max_query_cost()
+        if self.total > max_query_cost:
+            # FIXME, return the already calculated data
+            raise QueryCostError(max_query_cost, self.total)
+
+    def register_usage(self):
+        # FIXME, register the usage against the user
+        pass
+
+
+query_cost = QueryCost()
+
+
+def get_node_cost(node):
+    # FIXME, logic to calculate node cost
+    return 1