How to Calculate the Required Number of Proxies for Arbitrage, SMM, and Scraping: Formulas and Examples

One of the most common questions when launching a project is: how many proxies do I need to buy? Too few — you'll face blocks and lose accounts. Too many — you'll overpay for unused resources. In this article, we will discuss specific calculation formulas for different tasks: traffic arbitrage, social media account management, marketplace scraping, and automation.

You will receive ready-made calculators and calculation examples for popular scenarios: farming Facebook Ads accounts, managing client Instagram profiles through Dolphin Anty, monitoring prices on Wildberries, and mass posting on TikTok.

Basic Calculation Principle: One Proxy = One Account or Task

The main rule when working with proxies is that each account or individual task must have its unique IP address. This is a fundamental security requirement that helps avoid blocks and linking accounts together.

Imagine a situation: you are managing 10 Instagram accounts for different clients through one proxy. The platform sees that all these profiles are accessing from one IP address and logically concludes — this is mass activity from one person. The result — all 10 accounts receive restrictions or blocks simultaneously. This is called chain-banning.

The basic calculation formula looks like this:

Number of Proxies = Number of Accounts (or Tasks) × Reserve Coefficient

The reserve coefficient usually ranges from 1.2 to 1.3 (that is, +20-30% on top). Why is it needed? First, some proxies may turn out to be non-working or end up in block lists. Second, you will need backup IPs to replace compromised ones. Third, when scaling the project, you will already have ready proxies for new accounts.

However, this formula is just a starting point. The actual number depends on the specifics of your task: the type of platform, usage intensity, geographical requirements, and level of automation. Let's break down specific scenarios.

Proxy Calculation for Traffic Arbitrage (Facebook Ads, TikTok Ads)

Traffic arbitrage is one of the most demanding tasks for proxies. Advertising platforms strictly fight against multi-accounting, so there is a strict rule here: one advertising account = one proxy, and this proxy is not used anywhere else.

Farming Facebook Ads Accounts

When farming Facebook accounts, you need to consider not only the number of ready accounts but also the process of creating them. A typical arbitrage scheme looks like this:

• Creating a Facebook account (warming up for 7-14 days)
• Connecting Business Manager
• Creating an advertising account
• Warming up the advertising account (initial campaigns with a small budget)
• Working with full-fledged campaigns

The calculation formula for Facebook arbitrage is:

Proxies = (Working Accounts + Accounts in Warming Up + Reserve for Replacing Bans) × 1.2

Example:
- Working campaigns: 10 accounts
- In warming up: 5 accounts
- Reserve: 3 accounts
- Total: (10 + 5 + 3) × 1.2 = 21.6 ≈ 22 proxies

An important point: for Facebook Ads, experienced arbitrageurs recommend using mobile proxies, as they show the lowest ban rates. Residential proxies are the second most reliable option. Data center proxies should not be used for Facebook farming — the platform easily identifies them.

TikTok Ads and Other Platforms

TikTok Ads is less aggressive regarding multi-accounting than Facebook, but the basic principle remains the same. For Google Ads, the situation is similar — one account per one IP, but the platform is more lenient towards data center proxies for some geos.

How Many Proxies Does an SMM Agency Need to Manage Client Accounts

SMM agencies and specialists managing client accounts on Instagram, TikTok, VK, and other social networks face a similar task — ensuring secure access to dozens of profiles simultaneously.

The main difference from arbitrage is that accounts are usually "clean," without violations, so the risk of blocking is lower. However, if the social network detects that you are managing multiple profiles from one IP, it may suspect automation and restrict all accounts.

Formula for SMM Agency

Proxies = Number of Client Accounts × 1.2

Example for an agency:
- 25 clients on Instagram
- 15 clients on TikTok
- 10 clients on VK
- Total: (25 + 15 + 10) × 1.2 = 60 proxies

When working through anti-detect browsers (Dolphin Anty, AdsPower, Multilogin), each browser profile is linked to its proxy. The setup looks like this:

1. Create a profile in Dolphin Anty for the client account
2. Link the proxy to the profile (usually residential)
3. Set up browser fingerprints under the proxy geo
4. Work with the account — the social network sees a unique user

An important point: if you manage multiple accounts for one client (for example, a personal profile and a business page on Instagram), you can use one proxy for all their accounts. The platform does not ban for managing multiple personal profiles from one IP — this is normal behavior.

Features for Different Social Networks

Instagram and TikTok are the most sensitive to proxies — it is better to use residential proxies or mobile ones. VK and Telegram are more lenient, and quality data center proxies can suffice.

Calculation for Marketplace Scraping and Price Monitoring

Scraping is a task where the proxy calculation is fundamentally different from working with accounts. Here, the number of requests and their execution speed are important, not the accounts.

Marketplaces (Wildberries, Ozon, Yandex.Market) and competitor websites protect themselves from scraping by limiting the number of requests from one IP. Typical limits are:

• Wildberries: about 100-200 requests per hour from one IP
• Ozon: about 150-300 requests per hour
• Avito: about 50-100 requests per hour (strict protection)
• Yandex.Market: about 200-400 requests per hour

Calculation Formula for Scraping

Proxies = (Total Number of Requests per Hour) / (Request Limit per 1 IP per Hour) × 1.3

Example for scraping Wildberries:
- Need to scrape 10,000 products per hour
- WB limit: 150 requests/hour per IP
- Calculation: 10,000 / 150 × 1.3 = 86.6 ≈ 87 proxies

For scraping, pools of proxies with rotation are usually used. This means you have a set of IP addresses that automatically change after each request or at certain intervals. Most scrapers and scripts support such rotation out of the box.

Cost Optimization for Scraping

For scraping, you can use cheaper data center proxies if the site does not have strict protection. However, for Wildberries, Ozon, and Avito, it is better to use residential proxies — they are harder to identify and block.

An important point: if you are scraping products tied to a region (for example, prices and availability on Wildberries in different cities), you need proxies from the corresponding geos. The formula becomes more complex:

Proxies = (Requests per Hour / Limit per IP) × Number of Regions × 1.3

Example:
- 5,000 requests per hour
- Limit: 150 requests/hour
- Regions: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Kazan (4 cities)
- Calculation: (5,000 / 150) × 4 × 1.3 = 173 proxies

Number of Proxies for Automation and Mass Actions

Automation in social networks (mass posting, likes, follows, comments) requires a special approach to calculating proxies. Two factors come into play here: the number of accounts and the intensity of actions.

Platforms track not only IP addresses but also behavior patterns. If there is too much activity from one IP (for example, 100 follows per hour), it raises suspicions even for one account.

Mass Posting on Instagram and TikTok

If you are publishing content on several dozen accounts simultaneously (for example, through scheduled posting services), the basic rule remains: one account = one proxy.

Proxies for Mass Posting = Number of Accounts × 1.2

Example:
- 40 Instagram accounts for a content project
- Calculation: 40 × 1.2 = 48 proxies

However, if you use aggressive automation (mass following, mass liking through bots), it is recommended to increase the reserve coefficient to 1.5, as the risk of blocks is significantly higher.

Automation Through No-Code Services

Many SMM specialists use ready-made automation services that work through social media APIs. In such cases, proxies are configured at the service level — you simply specify the proxy for each connected account.

Popular services (Instaplus, Tooligram, SocialKit) usually require one proxy per account. Some allow using one proxy for multiple accounts, but this increases the risk of blocking all linked profiles.

Reserve Coefficient: Why You Need to Take 20-30% More

In all the formulas above, you saw a coefficient of 1.2-1.5. This is not over-insurance, but a necessity dictated by the reality of working with proxies.

Reasons Why You Need a Reserve of Proxies

1. Non-Working Proxies from the Pool
Even with reliable providers, 5-10% of proxies may turn out to be temporarily unavailable or end up on platform block lists. This is a normal situation for residential and mobile proxies, as they use IPs from real devices.

2. Rotation of Compromised IPs
If a proxy "gets flagged" (for example, the previous user of this IP violated platform rules), you need a quick replacement. Having backup proxies allows you to switch instantly without stopping work.

3. Scaling the Project
When you launch new accounts or expand scraping, having ready proxies saves time. You don't need to buy and set up more — just take from the reserve.

4. Testing and Experiments
When setting up automation or testing new strategies, you will need additional proxies for experiments to avoid risking working accounts.

Recommended Coefficients for Different Tasks

How to Optimize Costs and Not Overpay for Proxies

Proxies are a regular expense that can constitute a significant part of the project budget. Let's discuss optimization strategies without compromising security and efficiency.

Strategy 1: Combining Proxy Types

Not all tasks require expensive residential or mobile proxies. Use different types for different purposes:

• Mobile Proxies — only for the most critical tasks: farming Facebook Ads, launching new Instagram accounts
• Residential Proxies — for working with ready social media accounts, scraping protected sites
• Data Center Proxies — for scraping less protected sites, working with VK, Telegram

Example of optimization for an SMM agency with 50 accounts:

Strategy 2: Rotational Proxies for Scraping

For scraping, it is more profitable to use not static proxies but pools with automatic rotation. Instead of buying 100 separate proxies, you gain access to a pool of 10,000+ IPs that change automatically.

Such proxies are usually sold based on traffic (per gigabyte) or the number of requests, which often turns out to be cheaper for intensive scraping.

Strategy 3: Long-Term Subscriptions and Bulk Plans

Most proxy providers offer discounts for long-term purchases or large volumes. Typical savings:

• Payment for 3 months: 10-15% discount
• Payment for 6 months: 20-25% discount
• Purchase of 50+ proxies: 15-30% discount

If you are confident in the project's stability, it makes sense to pay for proxies a few months in advance.

Strategy 4: Accurate Calculation Without Excess Reserve

Beginners often buy proxies "with a large reserve just in case" and end up paying for unused resources. Use the formulas from this article for accurate calculations, and keep the reserve minimal (1.2 instead of 1.5) if you are working with clean accounts.

Ready Examples of Calculation for Popular Tasks

Let's break down specific cases with a complete calculation of the number and type of proxies.

Case 1: An Arbitrageur Launches a Team on Facebook Ads

Case 2: An SMM Agency Manages Client Accounts

Case 3: A Seller Scrapes Competitor Prices on Wildberries

Case 4: A Content Project with Mass Posting

Case 5: Scraping Avito Ads Across Russia

Conclusion

The correct calculation of the number of proxies is a balance between security, efficiency, and costs. Use the basic formula "one proxy = one account" for working with social networks and advertising platforms, adding a reserve coefficient of 1.2-1.5 depending on the risk of bans.

For scraping, calculate based on the number of requests and platform limits, multiplying by the number of regions if geographical ties are needed. Don’t forget about optimization: combine different types of proxies for different tasks, use rotational pools for scraping, and purchase bulk plans for savings.

If you are working with advertising platforms or social networks where account security is critical, we recommend starting with residential proxies — they provide the optimal balance of reliability and cost. For high-risk ban tasks (farming Facebook Ads, new Instagram accounts), it is advisable to use mobile proxies, which show the lowest ban rates.