Skip to content

Uber/Lyft Driver Earnings Calculator

Calculate your real Uber and Lyft earnings after gas, maintenance, and depreciation. See your true hourly rate and annual income potential.

Using 28 MPG, $3.50/gal, $0.05/mile maintenance

Earnings & Activity

$

Total earnings before expenses (from app)

miles

Total miles while online

Vehicle & Costs

Your Earnings

Weekly Net

$638

After all expenses

Effective Hourly

$21

30 hrs/week

Cost Per Mile

$0

Total vehicle cost

Weekly Expense Breakdown

Gross Earnings$800
Gas Cost-$63
Maintenance-$25
Depreciation-$75
Net Earnings$638

Monthly Net

$2,760

4.33 weeks average

Annual Net

$33,150

52 weeks

Weekly IRS Deduction

$335

500 mi x $0.67

Tax tip: Your annual IRS mileage deduction could be $17,420. This is usually better than deducting actual expenses. Keep detailed mileage logs!

Using 28 MPG, $3.5/gal, $0.05/mile maintenance, 30 hours/week.

Advertisement

Share Your Results

Embed This Calculator

Copy the code below to embed this calculator on your website.

<iframe
  src="https://calcfalcon.com/embed/gig-economy/uber-lyft-calculator"
  width="100%"
  height="500"
  frameborder="0"
  title="Uber/Lyft Driver Earnings Calculator"
></iframe>

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Uber drivers really make per hour?

After expenses, most Uber/Lyft drivers earn $10-20/hour net. Gross earnings of $20-30/hour are reduced by gas, maintenance, and depreciation. Location, hours worked, and vehicle efficiency greatly impact take-home pay.

How much does driving for Uber cost per mile?

Total vehicle costs average $0.30-0.50 per mile including gas (~$0.12-0.18/mile), depreciation (~$0.15/mile), and maintenance (~$0.05-0.10/mile). Use the IRS rate of $0.67/mile as a benchmark—if your earnings per mile are lower, you may be losing money.

Is Uber or Lyft better for drivers?

Pay is similar between platforms. Most successful drivers use both apps simultaneously to minimize downtime. Uber has more ride volume in most markets, while Lyft sometimes offers better bonuses. Test both in your market.

How do I calculate my true Uber earnings?

True earnings = Gross pay - (Gas + Maintenance + Depreciation + Self-employment tax). Don't forget you pay 15.3% self-employment tax on net earnings. Track all miles and expenses for accurate calculations.

Advertisement

How to Use the Uber/Lyft Earnings Calculator

Enter your average number of rides per day and the typical fare amount per ride. If you are new to rideshare driving, start with conservative estimates — most drivers complete 2-3 rides per hour in busy markets. The calculator shows your gross daily, weekly, and annual earnings based on the schedule you set.

Switch to Advanced mode to account for the real costs of rideshare driving. Enter your vehicle's depreciation rate, maintenance costs, insurance premiums, and fuel expenses. Vehicle depreciation is the expense most drivers overlook — at $0.15-0.25 per mile, it often exceeds gas costs. The calculator reveals your true net hourly rate after all expenses, which is typically 40-50% lower than your gross earnings.

For tax planning, track every mile you drive while the app is active. The IRS standard mileage deduction ($0.67/mile in 2024) covers gas, depreciation, maintenance, and insurance in a single deduction. Most full-time rideshare drivers log 30,000-50,000 miles per year, resulting in $20,000-33,000 in deductions. Keep a mileage log or use an automatic tracking app — the IRS requires records if you are audited.

To maximize earnings, focus on driving during surge pricing periods (weekend nights, major events, airport rushes) and in high-demand zones. Running both Uber and Lyft simultaneously minimizes downtime between rides. Many experienced drivers find that working 20-30 strategic hours earns nearly as much as 40+ hours of unfocused driving.

Get Free Tax Tips

Join thousands of freelancers getting actionable tax and finance tips delivered to their inbox.

Plus, download our free Freelancer Tax Cheatsheet (PDF)

Related Calculators