Auto Lease Calculator

Free auto lease calculator. Calculate your auto lease payment with money factor, residual value, and cap cost breakdown. Includes lease vs buy comparison and full payment schedule.

mo
35K
$19,250
%
MF: 0.00208
%

Monthly Payment
$550.52
551

Payment Breakdown

How your monthly payment is split

Depreciation
Finance
Tax
$438
438
$113
113
$0
0

Lease Summary

Key figures for your 36-month lease

Due at Signing

$551

551

Total Lease Cost

$19,819

20K

Total Depreciation

$15,750

16K

Total Finance Charges

$4,069

4.1K

Lease Details

Underlying rates and residual for your lease

Effective Monthly

$550.52

551

Money Factor

0.00208

5% APR ÷ 2400

Residual Value

$19,250.00

55% of asset price

Lease vs Buy Comparison

Side-by-side cost analysis over 36 months

MetricLeaseBuy
Monthly Payment$550.52$1,048.98
Total Cost$19,818.75$37,763.33
Equity at End$0.00$19,250.00

Leasing saves $498.46/mo but you own nothing at the end.

Payment Schedule

Month-by-month breakdown of your lease payments

#PaymentDepreciationFinanceTaxBalance
1$550.52$437.50$113.02$0.00$34,562.50
2$550.52$437.50$113.02$0.00$34,125.00
3$550.52$437.50$113.02$0.00$33,687.50
4$550.52$437.50$113.02$0.00$33,250.00
5$550.52$437.50$113.02$0.00$32,812.50
6$550.52$437.50$113.02$0.00$32,375.00
7$550.52$437.50$113.02$0.00$31,937.50
8$550.52$437.50$113.02$0.00$31,500.00
9$550.52$437.50$113.02$0.00$31,062.50
10$550.52$437.50$113.02$0.00$30,625.00

What Is a Lease Calculator?

Estimate monthly payments for auto and equipment leases

A lease calculator estimates your monthly lease payment based on the asset price, residual value, interest rate (or money factor), lease term, and any upfront costs. Unlike buying, leasing means you pay for the depreciation of the asset during your lease term plus a finance charge — not the full purchase price.

This calculator works for both auto leases and equipment leases, with multi-currency support covering USD, EUR, GBP, INR, AUD, CAD, and more. It also provides a lease-vs-buy comparison to help you make an informed financial decision.

Auto

Lease

Cars, trucks, SUVs

Equipment

Lease

Machinery, tools, tech

Compare

Lease vs Buy

Side-by-side analysis

How Lease Payments Are Calculated

Three components that make up every lease payment

Step 1: Monthly Depreciation

Depreciation = (Adj. Cap Cost − Residual Value) / Lease Term

The portion of the asset's value you “use up” during the lease.

Step 2: Monthly Finance Charge

Finance Charge = (Adj. Cap Cost + Residual) × Money Factor

The interest cost. Money Factor = APR ÷ 2400.

Step 3: Total Monthly Payment

Payment = (Depreciation + Finance Charge) × (1 + Tax Rate)

Add sales tax to get your final monthly amount.

Worked Example

Vehicle: $35,000 | Residual: 55% ($19,250) | APR: 5% | Term: 36 months | No down payment

  • Money Factor = 5.0 ÷ 2400 = 0.00208
  • Depreciation = ($35,000 − $19,250) / 36 = $437.50/mo
  • Finance Charge = ($35,000 + $19,250) × 0.00208 = $113.02/mo
  • Monthly Payment = $437.50 + $113.02 = $550.52

Key Lease Terms Explained

Understanding the language of leasing

Money Factor vs APR

The money factor is the lease equivalent of an interest rate. Divide APR by 2400 to get money factor (e.g., 6% APR = 0.0025). Lower money factor = lower finance charges. You can negotiate this like a loan rate.

Residual Value

The estimated worth of the asset at lease end, expressed as a percentage of the original list price. Higher residual = less depreciation = lower monthly payments. Set by the leasing company and typically not negotiable.

Capitalized Cost (Cap Cost)

The negotiated price of the asset minus down payment, trade-in, and rebates, plus any fees rolled into the lease. Negotiating a lower selling price directly reduces your monthly payment.

Lease vs Buy

Leasing typically offers lower monthly payments since you only pay for depreciation. However, buying builds equity. Use the comparison table above to see the trade-off for your specific numbers.

Dealers are not required to disclose the money factor. Always ask for it and convert to APR (money factor × 2400) so you can compare with loan rates.

Common Lease Mistakes to Avoid

Pitfalls that cost lessees thousands

Ignoring the money factor

Dealers may quote money factor instead of APR to make the rate seem lower. Always convert to APR (money factor × 2400) to compare with loan rates.

Large down payment on a lease

Unlike buying, a large down payment on a lease is risky — if the car is totaled or stolen, gap insurance may not refund your upfront money.

Exceeding mileage limits

Most auto leases include a mileage cap (typically 10,000–15,000 miles/year). Excess mileage fees of $0.15–$0.30 per mile can add up fast.

Not negotiating the selling price

The list price is not the final price. Negotiate the selling price (cap cost) down, just like you would when buying. Every dollar saved reduces your monthly payment.

About the Lease Calculator

How this calculator works and what it covers

This calculator computes your monthly lease payment using the standard US auto-lease formula. Enter your asset price, residual value, and APR to get an instant breakdown of depreciation, finance charges, and tax. Toggle between Auto and Equipment lease modes, compare lease vs buy side-by-side, and view a full month-by-month payment schedule — all with multi-currency support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about lease payments, money factors, and residual values

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