How it works
Calculate monthly auto lease payments based on negotiated price, residual value, and money factor.
Input query strings and outputs
Use an input name in this page’s URL as ?name=value, and join additional inputs with &. Portable shared links may instead use the compact ?ac= state parameter.
Input query strings
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?msrp=MSRP (Sticker Price)Number · Optional · Default: 35,000
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?negotiatedPrice=Negotiated PriceNumber · Optional · Default: 33,000
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?downPayment=Down PaymentNumber · Optional · Default: 2,000
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?term=Lease Term (Months)Number · Optional · Default: 36
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?residualValue=Residual ValueNumber · Optional · Default: 55
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?moneyFactor=Money FactorNumber · Optional · Default: 0.0025
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?taxRate=Sales Tax RateNumber · Optional · Default: 7
Outputs
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resultResultText · Primary output
result contains the calculator’s complete rendered result area, including its visible result cards, tables, charts, and messages.
Estimate your monthly car lease payments
Description
The Auto Lease Calculator mimics the complex math used by dealerships to determine your monthly lease payment. It breaks down the cost into its two primary components: the “Depreciation Fee” (paying for the car’s loss in value) and the “Finance Fee” (the interest-like charge for borrowing the car).
Inputs
- MSRP (Sticker Price): The manufacturer’s suggested retail price ($).
- Negotiated Price: The actual sales price you’ve agreed upon for the vehicle ($).
- Down Payment: The amount of cash or trade-in value applied at signing ($).
- Lease Term (Months): The length of the lease (standard is 36 months).
- Residual Value: The estimated value of the car at the end of the lease, expressed as a percentage of the original MSRP (%).
- Money Factor: The finance rate used in leasing. (Tip: Multiply by 2,400 to see the approximate effective APR).
- Sales Tax Rate: The applicable sales tax for your location (%).
Outputs
- Monthly Payment (Incl. Tax): The total amount you will pay each month.
- Total Lease Cost: The sum of all monthly payments plus your initial down payment.
- Effective APR: The money factor converted into a standard annual percentage rate (%).
Chart
- N/A: This tool provides a numeric breakdown of the lease components.
“Good to Know”
- The “Money Factor” is often presented as a small decimal (like 0.0025). This is equivalent to a 6% APR.
- Negotiating the “sales price” (Capitalized Cost) is just as important in a lease as it is in a purchase; it directly lowers your monthly depreciation fee.
- At the end of the lease, you usually have the option to “buy out” the car for its Residual Value.
Examples
Example 1: Standard SUV Lease
- Input:
- MSRP: $35,000, Price: $33,000, Down: $2,000
- Term: 36, Residual: 55%, MF: 0.0025, Tax: 7%
- Output:
- Monthly Payment: ~$495
- Total Lease Cost: ~$20,000
Example 2: Luxury Lease (High Residual)
- Input:
- MSRP: $60,000, Price: $57,000
- Residual: 62%
- Output:
- Higher residuals result in lower monthly payments because you are paying for less depreciation.
Example 3: No Money Down
- Input:
- Down Payment: $0
- Output:
- Shows how the monthly payment increases when you don’t provide an upfront “cap cost reduction.”