{
  "slug": "commercial-truck-lease-vs-purchase-cost",
  "title": "Commercial Truck Lease vs Purchase Cost Calculator",
  "heading": "Commercial Truck Lease vs Purchase Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/commercial-truck-lease-vs-purchase-cost",
  "summary": "Compare leasing a work truck against buying it outright or financing the purchase.",
  "description": "Leasing a commercial truck keeps monthly payments lower and often includes maintenance, but you never build equity and mileage limits apply, while purchasing costs more upfront or via a loan but the truck becomes an asset you own outright at the end. This tool compares total lease payments against purchase cost net of resale value and financing, over your expected hold period.",
  "formula": "Lease Total = Monthly Lease × 12 × Years + Excess Mileage Fees. Purchase Total = Price + Loan Interest − Resale Value + Maintenance × Years.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-06",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=commercial-truck-lease-vs-purchase-cost",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "leaseMonthly",
      "label": "Lease monthly payment",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 950,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "purchasePrice",
      "label": "Truck purchase price",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 55000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "loanRate",
      "label": "Loan APR (if financed)",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 7,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 20
    },
    {
      "id": "maintenanceAnnual",
      "label": "Annual maintenance (purchase)",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 2500,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "years",
      "label": "Years to project",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 5,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": 15
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "winner",
      "label": "Lower total cost option",
      "format": "raw",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "leaseTotal",
      "label": "Lease total cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "purchaseTotal",
      "label": "Purchase total cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "diff",
      "label": "Difference over horizon",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Lease monthly payment: 950 $",
      "Truck purchase price: 55000 $",
      "Loan APR (if financed): 7 %",
      "Annual maintenance (purchase): 2500 $",
      "Years to project: 5"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Lower total cost option: Lease",
      "Lease total cost: $57,000",
      "Purchase total cost: $62,208",
      "Difference over horizon: $5,208"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter lease monthly payment ($).",
      "Enter truck purchase price ($).",
      "Enter loan apr (if financed) (%).",
      "Enter annual maintenance (purchase) ($).",
      "Enter years to project.",
      "Read your lower total cost option on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "leaseMonthly": 575,
        "purchasePrice": 33000,
        "loanRate": 4.2,
        "maintenanceAnnual": 1500,
        "years": 3
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "leaseMonthly": 950,
        "purchasePrice": 55000,
        "loanRate": 7,
        "maintenanceAnnual": 2500,
        "years": 5
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "leaseMonthly": 1525,
        "purchasePrice": 88000,
        "loanRate": 11.200000000000001,
        "maintenanceAnnual": 4000,
        "years": 8
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Does leasing include maintenance?",
      "a": "Many commercial leases bundle scheduled maintenance into the payment, which is why purchase maintenance is modeled separately here — check your specific lease terms."
    },
    {
      "q": "What about Section 179 depreciation for purchases?",
      "a": "Business owners can often deduct a large portion of a purchased truck's cost in the first year under Section 179, a meaningful tax benefit not modeled here — consult your accountant."
    },
    {
      "q": "When does leasing usually win?",
      "a": "For fleets that upgrade trucks every 2-4 years and want predictable payments without resale hassle or depreciation risk on rapidly-changing models."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/truck-lease-vs-buy",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/equipment-lease-vs-buy"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Commercial Truck Lease vs Purchase Cost Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/commercial-truck-lease-vs-purchase-cost)"
}