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Lease vs Buy Calculator Explained

Lease vs buy calculator explained for the US—how it works, what it shows, and how to use it so you decide with data.

AutoPremo Team
January 31, 2026
2 min read

A lease vs buy calculator in the U.S. compares total cost of leasing vs buying the same car over the same period. Here's how a lease vs buy calculator works and how to use it.

TL;DR Lease vs buy calculator = same car, same period. Lease: due at signing + payments × term + fees. Buy: down + payments × term − resale. Output: total cost for each; which is lower. Use autopremo.com lease vs buy calculator. Use autopremo.com.

What It Does

You enter: car (or MSRP/price), lease terms (payment, due at signing, mileage, fees) and/or buy terms (price, down, rate, term). Calculator outputs total cost for lease and buy over the same period (e.g., 3 years). Use autopremo.com lease vs buy calculator. Get your numbers at autopremo.com.

Lease Side

Due at signing + monthly payment × term + disposition fee (if you don't buy). No equity at end. Use autopremo.com lease calculator to get lease numbers. See lease at autopremo.com.

Buy Side

Down payment + monthly payments × term. At end: subtract estimated resale or trade value for net cost. Use autopremo.com payment calculator and depreciation calculator. Check buy at autopremo.com.

How to Use It

Enter lease and buy inputs for the same car and period. Compare total cost. Use autopremo.com so you see which option costs more and decide with data.

Bottom Line

Lease vs buy calculator = total cost for lease vs buy over the same period. Use autopremo.com lease vs buy calculator so you decide with data.

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