Auto Tools

Lease vs Buy Calculator

Compare the estimated cash cost of leasing a car versus buying it over the time you expect to keep it.

Updated April 11, 2026
Free online tool
Planning and research use

Why this page exists

Lease-versus-buy decisions get confusing fast because the monthly payment is only one part of the picture. This calculator keeps the comparison focused on simple cash outlay so you can see how lease costs and buy costs stack up over the period you expect to keep the vehicle.

Interactive tool

Run the estimate

Enter your numbers and read the result first, then use the sections below to understand what affects the outcome.

Calculator

Lease vs buy calculator

Compare estimated lease cost against the cash outlay of buying the same vehicle over the time you expect to keep it.

Result

Leasing costs about $8,786 less over this period

Estimated lease and buy cash outlays over the ownership period you entered.

Estimated lease cost over selected period$27,320

Estimated buy payment$648

Estimated buy cost over selected period$36,106

Estimated remaining buy loan balance$7,513

This lease estimate assumes the monthly lease payment continues for 48 months and includes a new lease down payment each time the term resets.
The buy estimate shows cash paid over the period and does not subtract resale value or owner equity, so it works best as a simple planning comparison.
Because the ownership period is longer than one lease term, the lease estimate includes more than one lease cycle.

This is a simplified consumer-planning estimate. It compares lease and buy cash outlays, not insurance, maintenance, taxes, mileage penalties, or resale value.

Planning note

Last updated April 11, 2026. Use this tool to compare scenarios and plan ahead, then confirm important details with the lender, employer, insurer, contractor, or other qualified provider involved in the final decision.

How it works

What the calculator is doing

Enter the lease payment, lease term, and lease down payment to estimate leasing cost over the time you expect to keep the car.

Enter the buy price, buy down payment, APR, and loan term to estimate the monthly buy payment and cash paid over that same period.

Use the comparison statement to see which path looks lower under the assumptions entered, then read the notes about what the simplified estimate leaves out.

Understanding your result

This tool compares cash paid, not total ownership economics. That matters because a buy scenario may leave you with equity or resale value later, while a lease can involve mileage or end-of-term costs that are not included here.

Browse more auto tools

Examples

Ways people use this tool

Example scenarios help turn a quick estimate into a more useful comparison or planning step.

Compare a 36-month lease with a 48-month ownership plan

Useful when you think you may keep the next vehicle longer than a single lease term.

See what a bigger buy down payment changes

Increase the buy down payment to see whether owning becomes easier to justify over the selected period.

Use the same vehicle budget in both paths

Keep the car price fixed so you can compare the financing path against the lease path more directly.

FAQ

Common questions

Does the buy estimate subtract resale value later?

No. This version compares lease and buy cash outlays over the selected period, so resale value and owner equity are not subtracted from the buy side.

What happens if my ownership period is longer than one lease term?

The calculator assumes another lease cycle begins with the same monthly payment and lease down payment when the first lease term ends.

Should I still compare taxes, insurance, and mileage limits separately?

Yes. Those details can materially change the real lease-versus-buy decision, so this calculator works best as a clean first-pass comparison.

Related tools

Keep comparing

Use these related tools to compare nearby scenarios, check a second estimate, or keep narrowing down the right decision.

Auto ToolsUpdated April 11, 2026