About the Rideshare Driver Earnings Calculator
This rideshare driver earnings calculator turns the gross payout shown in your Uber, Lyft, DoorDash or Instacart app into what you actually keep per hour. It subtracts fuel, maintenance and tyres, vehicle depreciation, the extra cost of rideshare insurance and other expenses such as your phone plan and car washes, then sets money aside for income and self-employment tax.
It is for new drivers deciding whether gig driving is worth it, for full-timers comparing platforms or shifts, and for anyone trying to set a minimum acceptable fare. The biggest hidden costs are depreciation and the unpaid miles you drive between trips and on the way to a busy area, so include every mile you drive while online and travelling to start a shift.
Costs per mile vary with the car: fuel for a 50 mpg hybrid costs about 7 cents a mile at $3.50 gas, while a 20 mpg SUV burns more than twice that before maintenance and depreciation. The tax set-aside is a simple percentage of profit; your real bill depends on your total income, deductions and whether you claim the standard mileage rate or actual expenses.
With the default inputs, the net hourly pay after costs is $21.78. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the rideshare driver earnings calculator
- 1Enter a typical week’s total payout, including tips and bonuses.
- 2Enter hours online and every mile driven while working.
- 3Add your car’s mpg, local gas price and per-mile maintenance and depreciation.
- 4Include extra rideshare insurance and other weekly costs.
- 5Choose a tax set-aside percentage and review your real hourly pay.
Formula and method
Fuel is miles ÷ mpg × gas price. Maintenance and depreciation are each your per-mile rate × weekly miles, and the monthly extra insurance premium is converted to a weekly amount (× 12 ÷ 52). Subtracting all of these from weekly gross earnings gives your profit before tax, which divided by hours online gives net hourly pay.
The tax set-aside applies your chosen percentage to positive profit only, as a rough allowance for federal and state income tax plus the 15.3% self-employment tax on net earnings. Yearly take-home multiplies weekly after-tax profit by the number of weeks you drive. Count unpaid miles (driving to hot spots and between trips), not just miles with a passenger or order.
- Gross
- Weekly payout including tips and bonuses
- Fuel
- Miles ÷ mpg × price per gallon
- Depreciation
- Miles × loss in car value per mile
- Hours
- Hours online per week, including waiting time
Worked examples
30 hours a week in a 30 mpg sedan
Fuel is 600 ÷ 30 × $3.50 = $70, maintenance $60, depreciation $90, insurance $11.54 a week and other costs $15, totalling $246.54. That leaves $653.46 profit, or $21.78 an hour. Setting aside 20% for tax leaves $17.43 an hour and about $25,093 over 48 weeks.
Delivery driving in a hybrid
A 50 mpg hybrid burns only $31.50 of gas for 450 miles. With $36 maintenance, $54 depreciation and $10 other costs, profit is $518.50, or $20.74 an hour before tax and $17.63 after a 15% set-aside.
Full-time driver in an SUV
Driving 1,200 miles a week in a 22 mpg SUV costs $207.27 in fuel plus $144 maintenance, $240 depreciation, $18.46 insurance and $15 other — $624.73, or $0.52 a mile. The $1,500 gross shrinks to $875 profit, just $17.51 an hour.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Uber and Lyft drivers really make per hour?+
It varies widely by city, time of day and car. Gross pay often looks like $20–$35 an hour, but after fuel, maintenance, depreciation and taxes many drivers net considerably less. Enter your own weekly numbers to see your real figure.
What expenses should rideshare drivers track?+
Track every mile driven while working, fuel, maintenance and repairs, tyres, car washes, phone and data, rideshare insurance, tolls and parking. Depreciation is the largest cost many drivers forget because it is not paid out of pocket each week.
Do I have to pay self-employment tax as a rideshare driver?+
Yes. In the US, rideshare and delivery drivers are usually independent contractors and owe self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare) on net earnings of $400 or more, plus income tax. Many drivers set aside 20–30% of profit.
Should I use the standard mileage rate or actual expenses?+
The IRS standard mileage rate covers fuel, maintenance, insurance and depreciation in one per-mile deduction and is simpler. Actual expenses can be better for costly vehicles. This calculator estimates real cash costs, which is different from your tax deduction.
How can I increase my net hourly earnings?+
Drive a fuel-efficient car, cut unpaid miles by waiting in busy areas, work peak hours and surge times, decline trips with long pickups, and track per-mile earnings so you accept rides that pay more than they cost.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Rates, fees and terms vary — confirm with your lender or a licensed advisor before making decisions.