# Commute Calculator

URL: https://speedycalculator.com/calculators/everyday-life/commute-cost/
Last updated: 2026-10-25

> The commute calculator works out the monthly and yearly cost of driving to work – fuel, parking, tolls and wear and tear – split between the people sharing the car, compares it with public transport and totals the time you spend commuting.

## Inputs

- One-way distance (mi, km, m, nmi)
- One-way travel time (min)
- Commuting days per month
- People sharing the car
- Fuel economy given as
- Fuel economy (mpg (US), mpg (UK), km/L)
- Fuel consumption (L/100 km)
- Fuel price (/US gal, /L, /UK gal)
- Parking and tolls per day
- Wear and tear (/mi, /km)
- Public transport pass per month

## Results

- Fuel per month
- Total driving cost per month
- Cost per person per month
- Cost per person per year
- Saving with public transport (per month)
- Time spent commuting per year

## Formula

```
Driving cost per month = days × [2 × distance ÷ fuel economy × fuel price + parking and tolls + 2 × distance × wear rate]
Cost per person = driving cost ÷ people
Time per year = days × 2 × one-way minutes × 12
```

## Explanation

For most people commuting is one of the biggest transport costs, and the time adds up to weeks every year. Fuel is only part of the cost of driving: tyres, maintenance and depreciation add roughly 10–20 cents per mile. Comparing the full cost of driving with a monthly transit pass can be eye-opening.

### How to use the Commute Calculator

- **One-way distance**
- **One-way travel time**
- **Commuting days per month**
- **People sharing the car**
- **Fuel economy given as**
- **Fuel economy**
- **Fuel consumption**
- **Fuel price**
- **Parking and tolls per day**
- **Wear and tear**
- **Public transport pass per month**

Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.

### How it works

Enter the one-way distance and travel time, commuting days per month, the number of people sharing the car, fuel economy and price, daily parking and tolls, the wear-and-tear rate and the price of a monthly transit pass.

### Tips

- Use your own measured figures – fuel economy, speed and prices vary a lot with driving style, traffic, load and season.
- Pick the unit in each field's menu (miles or kilometres, mpg or L/100 km); the calculator converts everything for you.
- Fill up to the brim twice and divide the distance by the fuel added to measure real fuel economy.
- For vehicle modifications, treat results as a starting point and confirm with the parts maker or a professional mechanic.

### Common mistakes to avoid

- Mixing US and imperial (UK) gallons – a UK gallon is about 20% bigger.
- Using the advertised fuel economy instead of real-world figures.
- Forgetting tolls, parking and wear and tear when comparing driving with public transport.

### Inputs explained

FieldWhat to enterOne-way distanceUnits: mi, km, m, nmiOne-way travel timeIn minCommuting days per monthA numberPeople sharing the carA numberFuel economy given asChoose one: Distance per volume (mpg, km/L), Litres per 100 kmFuel economyUnits: mpg (US), mpg (UK), km/LFuel consumptionIn L/100 kmFuel priceUnits: /US gal, /L, /UK galParking and tolls per dayAmount in your currencyWear and tearUnits: /mi, /kmPublic transport pass per monthAmount in your currency

### What each result means

- **Total driving cost per month** = [Fuel per month] + [Commuting days per month]×[Parking and tolls per day] + [Commuting days per month]×2×[One-way distance]×[Wear and tear]
- **Cost per person per month** = [Total driving cost per month]÷[People sharing the car]
- **Cost per person per year** = [Cost per person per month]×12
- **Saving with public transport (per month)** = [Cost per person per month] - [Public transport pass per month]
- **Time spent commuting per year** = [Commuting days per month]×2×[One-way travel time]×12÷60

### Example values

How the main result changes when **One-way distance** changes and everything else stays at the example values above:

One-way distance (mi)Cost per person per month10290.415347.620404.82546230519.240633.6

## Worked example

Inputs — One-way distance: 20 mi; One-way travel time: 35 min; Commuting days per month: 22; People sharing the car: 1; Fuel economy given as: Distance per volume (mpg, km/L); Fuel economy: 25 mpg (US); Fuel consumption: 8 L/100 km; Fuel price: $3.5 /US gal; Parking and tolls per day: $8; Wear and tear: $0.12 /mi; Public transport pass per month: $120.

Results — Fuel per month = $123.20; Total driving cost per month = $404.80; **Cost per person per month = $404.80**; Cost per person per year = $4,857.60; Saving with public transport (per month) = $284.80; Time spent commuting per year = 308 hours.

## FAQ

**How much does commuting cost per year?**
A 20-mile commute in a 25 mpg car at $3.50/gal costs about $1,480 a year in fuel alone, and $3,000+ with parking and wear.

**What is a good wear-and-tear allowance?**
10–20 cents per mile for tyres, maintenance and depreciation; the IRS mileage rate (about 67–70 cents) also includes fuel, insurance and depreciation.

**How much time do I spend commuting?**
35 minutes each way for 22 days a month is about 300 hours a year – more than seven working weeks.

**What formula does the Commute Calculator use?**
Driving cost per month = days × [2 × distance ÷ fuel economy × fuel price + parking and tolls + 2 × distance × wear rate].


## Sources

- [AAA – Your Driving Costs](https://newsroom.aaa.com/)