Fleet Carrier Calculator

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Expert Verified by: Commander David Chen, Senior Fleet Logistics Analyst

Manage your orbital assets efficiently. This fleet carrier calculator helps you determine the total cost of ownership, required maintenance reserves, or the duration your budget will last in Elite Dangerous.

Fleet Carrier Calculator

Enter any three variables to calculate the fourth.

Calculation Result

Fleet Carrier Calculator Formula:

$$ T = F + (V \times Q) $$

Where: T = Total Cost, F = Fixed Purchase, V = Weekly Maintenance, Q = Number of Weeks.

Formula Source: Elite Dangerous Wiki (Fandom) and Inara Financial Tools.

Variables:

  • Initial Purchase (F): The base cost of the carrier (5 Billion) plus any service installation fees.
  • Weekly Maintenance (V): The ongoing automated deduction for services and crew.
  • Duration (Q): The number of weeks you plan to hold the carrier without making additional revenue.
  • Total Budget (T): The total amount of credits required in your carrier balance or personal account.

What is a Fleet Carrier Calculator?

A fleet carrier calculator is a financial planning tool specifically designed for Commanders in Elite Dangerous. Since Fleet Carriers (Drake-class vessels) require high initial capital and constant weekly maintenance, failure to plan can lead to decommission and financial loss.

Using this calculator allows you to perform “sustainability analysis”—calculating how long your current credit balance can support your carrier if you take a break from active gameplay (the “hibernation” calculation).

How to Calculate Fleet Carrier Costs (Example):

  1. Identify your Initial Cost (e.g., 5,000,000,000 Cr).
  2. Estimate your Weekly Maintenance (e.g., base 5M + Refuel/Repair 15M = 20M Cr).
  3. Choose your Timeline (e.g., 1 Year / 52 Weeks).
  4. Multiply Weekly Cost by Weeks: 20,000,000 * 52 = 1,040,000,000 Cr.
  5. Add Initial Cost: 5,000,000,000 + 1,040,000,000 = 6,040,000,000 Cr Total.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

What happens if I can’t pay the maintenance? If your carrier bank reaches a negative balance, services will be suspended. After several weeks of debt, the carrier is decommissioned.

Can I reduce my weekly maintenance? Yes, you can suspend or remove services like the Armoury or Shipyard to lower the weekly cost.

Does jumping cost credits? Yes, every jump costs 100,000 Cr in maintenance fees plus the cost of Tritium fuel.

Is the purchase price refundable? If you decommission your carrier voluntarily, you receive a partial refund based on its current value and debt.