Car Lease Payment Calculator

Estimate Lease Costs

Leases split your monthly payment into depreciation, finance charges, and taxes. Enter the vehicle price, expected residual value, money factor, and any cash due at signing to see how each piece contributes to the total. Labels now clarify every field, making it easier to cross-check figures from a dealer worksheet or lease quote.

How the Math Works

The calculator computes the adjusted capitalized cost by subtracting your down payment and trade-in credit from the vehicle price. Monthly depreciation is then , where C is the capitalized cost, R the residual value, and T the term in months. Finance charges follow the standard leasing approximation , and sales tax applies to the combined base payment. Multiplying the money factor by 2400 reveals the comparable APR for quick benchmarking against loan offers.

Why Taxes and Fees Matter

Jurisdictions vary in how they apply sales tax—some tax every payment while others collect tax upfront. Inputting your local rate shows how much tax is bundled into each bill. Fees entered in the form are added to the total lease cost so you can budget for acquisition, documentation, or registration charges due at signing.

Worked Example

Consider a $30,000 vehicle with a $18,000 residual after 36 months. A 0.002 money factor (≈4.8% APR), $1,000 down payment, $2,000 trade-in, and 5% tax produce a capitalized cost of $27,000. Depreciation is $250 per month, finance charges add $90, and tax contributes $17. The calculator reports a monthly payment of about $357, total lease cost just over $15,800 including cash due at signing, and the next payment date if you provide a start day.

Tips for Lower Payments

Negotiating the vehicle price reduces capitalized cost immediately, while improving your credit score can qualify you for a lower money factor. Keeping the residual value realistic prevents negative depreciation, and entering trade-in credits lets you see whether applying equity to the lease meaningfully reduces payments or if selling the old car outright might deliver better value.