A lease buyout calculator compares the contract residual to market value and optional lease buyout loan financing. Use the free tool above, then read when early buyout beats returning the car.
Free lease buyout calculator: compare residual buyout price to market value, lease buyout loan cost, and early buyout math.
Practical tip Start with round numbers from your bank or contract. You can refine decimals after the first pass.
What to enter
Have these handy before you start. Names vary by tool, but the ideas are the same.
Contract residual (buyout price) from your lease
Estimated market value (KBB, Edmunds, or dealer quote)
Sales tax rate and purchase-option or disposition fees
Buyout loan APR and term if you will finance the purchase
Quick workflow
Enter residual and market value to see equity direction.
Add tax, fees, and optional loan payment for total buyout cost.
Compare buyout total to replacing the car at retail before you decide.
Free calculator This article is the guide. For residual vs market and financing, open the lease buyout calculator and lease buyout loan calculator with your contract numbers.
Lease buyout math step by step
Start with the buyout price in your contract (residual plus fees). Compare it to fair market value from KBB, Edmunds, or dealer quotes. If market value is higher than buyout, buying can be a bargain; if residual is above market, returning or negotiating may be cheaper.
Add sales tax on the purchase, disposition or purchase-option fees, and any early-termination charge if you buy out before lease end. If you finance the buyout, include the loan APR and term—monthly payment affects total cost even when residual looks attractive.
Worked example (illustrative)
Suppose your payoff quote is $21,500 and similar cars list near $26,000—that is roughly $4,500 of equity before fees. At 7% sales tax on the buyout, add about $1,505. A $350 disposition fee you would owe if you returned the car disappears when you buy—factor that in. Run the same numbers in the lease buyout calculator with your APR if you finance. Compare market values using independent guides (Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds); shop buyout loans at banks or credit unions, not only the captive lessor—the CFPB recommends comparing auto loan offers before you sign.
Open the tool when you already have a quote, a deadline, or a what-if and need a clear number for loans.
Situations people use it for
Lease ends in 90 days and residual is below market value
Financing a buyout vs paying cash at lease maturity
Early buyout quote includes remaining rent charges you want to model
How to read the result
Treat the output as a structured estimate. Small input changes should move the result in a direction that makes sense.
Run a conservative case first. If it still works, you have margin.
Change one field at a time so you know what actually moved the number.
Save the scenario with a name you will recognize later ("2027 refi", "15-year plan").
This model assumes: Free lease buyout calculator: compare residual buyout price to market value, lease buyout loan cost, and early buyout math.
Common slip-ups
Comparing APR quotes with different fee structures
Looking only at monthly payment, not total interest
Assuming extra payments apply the way your bank applies them
Try it with your numbers
Open the Lease Buyout calculator, enter your case, and keep a screenshot or PDF if you will revisit the decision. Everything runs in your browser; your inputs are not sent to our servers for the math.