Car Lease Payment Calculator
Estimate your monthly lease costs including depreciation and rent charges.
24 Months
36 Months
48 Months
(Multiply APR by 2400 to get this)
Lease Estimate Summary
Monthly Depreciation:
$0.00
Monthly Rent Charge:
$0.00
Estimated Monthly Payment:
$0.00
*Excludes taxes, registration, and dealer fees.
Understanding Your Car Lease Calculation
Calculating a car lease is more complex than a standard auto loan. While a loan pays off the entire vehicle value plus interest, a lease only pays for the portion of the car's value you "consume" during the term, plus a financing fee known as the money factor.
Key Leasing Terms Explained
- Gross Capitalized Cost: The negotiated price of the vehicle (MSRP plus any add-ons).
- Residual Value: The predicted value of the car at the end of the lease term. This is set by the leasing company and expressed as a percentage of the MSRP.
- Money Factor: The interest rate of the lease. To convert a standard APR to a money factor, divide by 2400. For example, a 3% APR is a 0.00125 money factor.
- Depreciation Fee: Calculated as (Net Cap Cost – Residual Value) / Lease Term.
- Rent Charge: Calculated as (Net Cap Cost + Residual Value) × Money Factor. This is effectively the interest you pay on the capital tied up in the car.
Example Lease Scenario
If you lease a car with an MSRP of $40,000, a 60% residual value after 36 months, and a down payment of $2,000:
- Cap Cost: $38,000 ($40,000 MSRP – $2,000 Down)
- Residual Value: $24,000 (60% of $40,000)
- Total Depreciation: $14,000 over 3 years
- Monthly Depreciation: $388.89
- Money Factor: 0.0015 (approx. 3.6% APR)
- Monthly Rent: ($38,000 + $24,000) * 0.0015 = $93.00
- Total Monthly Base Payment: $481.89