Elite Dangerous Fleet Carrier Calculator

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Review by **Cdr. Alec Mason**, Elite Dangerous Financial Analyst.

Use the **Elite Dangerous Fleet Carrier Cost Calculator** to estimate the total investment required for your mobile space station, factoring in the purchase price and long-term weekly upkeep costs. This tool helps plan your operational budget in Credits (Cr).

Elite Dangerous Fleet Carrier Cost Calculator

Calculated Result
Calculation Details:

Elite Dangerous Fleet Carrier Cost Formula

$$ \text{TCD} = P + (W \times D) $$

Where TCD is the Total Cost Over Duration, P is the Purchase Price, W is the Weekly Upkeep Cost, and D is the number of Operating Weeks.

Formula Source: Elite Dangerous Fandom Wiki, Inara FC Service List.

Variables Explained

  • Carrier Purchase Price (P): The initial cost to buy the carrier, typically 5 billion Cr, plus any mandatory module costs.
  • Weekly Upkeep Cost (W): The total credits deducted weekly to cover crew salaries and service costs (Shipyard, Outfitting, Refuel, Repair, etc.). This can vary significantly based on installed services.
  • Operating Weeks (D): The period (in weeks) you plan to maintain the carrier. This helps project long-term costs.
  • Target Total Cost (TCD): The total budget you are aiming for, used primarily to calculate how long you can operate or what purchase price you can afford.

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What is the Elite Dangerous Fleet Carrier Cost?

The Fleet Carrier is the ultimate status symbol and operational base in Elite Dangerous, requiring an enormous financial commitment. The base cost is 5,000,000,000 Credits (5 billion). However, this is only the beginning. Additional services like Shipyard, Outfitting, and various commodities markets are optional, but each adds millions to the weekly upkeep.

The weekly upkeep is the most critical variable for long-term ownership. If a Commander fails to cover the weekly upkeep, the carrier will enter an insolvency period. If the account is not funded, the carrier will be decommissioned, and the owner will receive a partial refund of the purchase price, making careful financial planning essential.

How to Calculate Total Carrier Cost (Example)

  1. Identify Fixed Costs: Start with the Carrier Purchase Price (P). Assume $P = 5,000,000,000$ Cr.
  2. Determine Operational Costs: Set the Weekly Upkeep Cost (W). Assume full services, $W = 35,000,000$ Cr/week.
  3. Set Duration: Define the Operating Weeks (D). Assume 1 year of operation, $D = 52$ weeks.
  4. Calculate Total Upkeep: Multiply W by D: $35,000,000 \times 52 = 1,820,000,000$ Cr.
  5. Calculate Total Cost: Add the Purchase Price to the Total Upkeep: $5,000,000,000 + 1,820,000,000 = 6,820,000,000$ Cr.
  6. Result: The total minimum financial commitment for the first year is $6.82$ billion Credits.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • How much does a Fleet Carrier cost in Elite Dangerous?
    The base carrier costs 5 billion Credits. Additional services can increase the initial cost, but the primary long-term concern is the weekly upkeep, which can easily exceed 25 million Credits per week.
  • What happens if I cannot afford the weekly upkeep?
    If the upkeep is not paid, the carrier will enter a grace period. After a set time, if the owner still hasn’t funded the account, the carrier will be automatically decommissioned, and the owner will receive a reduced refund.
  • Is the Weekly Upkeep Cost fixed?
    No. The cost is determined by the number of optional services (Shipyard, Outfitting, Commodity Market, etc.) you have installed. You can temporarily disable services to lower the upkeep.
  • Can the calculator solve for the maximum operating duration?
    Yes, if you enter your Purchase Price, Weekly Upkeep, and a Target Total Cost, the calculator will solve for the number of Operating Weeks you can sustain.
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