Commute Calculator
Find out how long you spend on the road each day and what your daily and monthly commute really costs.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter your one-way distance
Measure the typical mileage from home to work, including detours or school drop-offs.
Estimate average traffic speed
Use your real-world door-to-door average rather than the posted speed limit for better accuracy.
Add commute days and vehicle MPG
Include remote-work flexibility by entering non-integer days (e.g. 3.5 days per week).
Capture parking and toll costs
Add daily parking, transit, or toll charges to see the true cost of commuting.
Formula
Daily Cost = (2 × Distance ÷ MPG × Fuel Price) + Parking
Daily Time (hours): (2 × Distance) ÷ Average Speed
Monthly Cost: Daily Cost × Days per Week × 4.33
Example with 12 mile commute, 30 mph average, 5 days/week, 27 mpg, $3.85 fuel, and $8 parking:
Daily fuel = (24 ÷ 27) × 3.85 = $3.42 → Daily cost = $3.42 + $8 = $11.42
Monthly cost = $11.42 × 5 × 4.33 = $247.24; Daily time = 24 ÷ 30 = 0.8 h = 48 minutes
About the Commute Calculator
Small daily drives add up in both time and money. Our commute calculator helps you evaluate the financial and time impact of driving to work so you can weigh telecommuting, transit, or relocation options.
When to Use This Calculator
- Remote work decisions: Compare the savings from working from home.
- Job offers: Understand the hidden cost of a longer commute before accepting.
- Budget planning: Track how much of your monthly income goes toward travel.
- Carpool or transit comparisons: Evaluate whether ride-sharing or public transit is cheaper.
Why Use Our Calculator?
- ✅ Time + money: See both commute hours and dollars in one place.
- ✅ Flexible inputs: Account for partial office weeks or hybrid schedules.
- ✅ Fuel awareness: Estimate gas usage under real-world traffic speeds.
- ✅ Actionable insights: Present clean numbers for negotiations and budgeting.
Common Applications
House hunting: Compare commute burdens for multiple neighborhoods.
HR policies: Build business cases for flexible scheduling programs.
Environmental impact: Estimate emissions by combining fuel usage with carbon calculators.
Tips for Best Results
- Track average speed for a full week to smooth out traffic variations.
- Update fuel price monthly to reflect market changes.
- Include occasional rideshare or transit costs if you mix modes.
- Revisit the calculation when switching vehicles or job locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is the commute time estimate?
Accuracy depends on the speed you enter. Use the actual average speed you observe across multiple days, including traffic delays, to get realistic numbers.
Can I compare different commute options?
Absolutely. Run the calculator multiple times with different distances, speeds, or parking costs to compare new office locations, carpool routes, or public transit options.
How do I factor in maintenance and depreciation?
You can add an allowance to the parking/other costs field to account for oil changes, tires, and vehicle wear. Many commuters use $0.10–$0.20 per mile as a rough estimate.
Why use 4.33 weeks per month?
Months vary in length. Multiplying weekly totals by 4.33 (52 weeks ÷ 12 months) gives a more accurate monthly average than using exactly 4 weeks.