How to use the commute time cost calculator
- Enter your one-way commute in minutes.
- Enter how many days per year you commute, subtracting vacation, holidays and remote days.
- Enter the value of an hour of your time, such as your hourly pay or another figure you choose.
- Optionally add the one-way distance and a cost per mile. Read the hours, the full days and work weeks, and the value of the time.
Formula
Round trip hours = one-way minutes x 2 / 60
Hours per year = round trip hours x commuting days
Time cost = hours per year x value of an hour
Cost of the miles = one-way miles x 2 x days x cost per mile
Full days use 24 hours and work weeks use 40 hours, both only for comparison.
A 30-minute commute each way
A 30-minute one-way commute is a one-hour round trip. Over 250 days that is 250 hours, which is 10.42 full days or 6.25 forty-hour work weeks. Valued at $25 an hour, the time is worth $6,250 a year, or $25 per round trip.
If the drive is 15 miles each way and you use $0.30 a mile, the miles cost 15 x 2 x 250 x $0.30 = $2,250 a year, so time and miles together are $8,500.
Putting a value on time
The dollar value is a way to compare options, such as a longer commute for a higher salary or a shorter one for less pay. It is not money you will pay, and the right hourly value is your choice. Your hourly pay is one reference point and a lower or higher figure may suit you better.
The hours themselves are often the clearest number. Seeing a year of commuting as work weeks or full days can help when you weigh a move or a job.
The cost of the miles
Fuel, tires, maintenance, parking and depreciation all depend on your vehicle, so the cost per mile is up to you. Use your own figure and not the number from someone else's car.
To estimate fuel on its own use the fuel cost calculator, and for the full cost of owning a car see the total cost of car ownership calculator. The cost in work hours calculator turns any price into hours of your pay.
Assumptions and limits
- The commute takes the same time every day.
- The commuting days you enter are round trips.
- The value of an hour is your own figure, and it is used only for comparison.
- Traffic changes, remote days, tolls and transit fares are not modeled unless you enter them in the cost per mile.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate the cost of a commute?
Multiply the round trip time by the days you commute to get hours per year, then multiply by the value you place on an hour. Add the cost of the miles if you want to include them.
What value should I give an hour of my time?
That is your choice. Some people use their hourly pay, and others use a lower figure because commute time is not working time. The tool uses whatever you enter.
Does a longer commute mean the job pays less?
Not necessarily. The comparison only shows the time and money the commute takes, so you can weigh it against pay and other benefits of the job.
How many days should I enter?
Count the round trips you really make in a year. Start with the working days and remove vacation, holidays and the days you work from home.