Uber & Lyft Earnings Calculator

Uber & Lyft Earnings Calculator: Real Net Pay

The earnings figure in the Uber or Lyft app is your gross — before fuel, vehicle depreciation, maintenance, insurance, and self-employment tax. This calculator works through every cost layer to show your true hourly rate. Most drivers are surprised how far the number falls from gross to net.

The four cost layers that eat your earnings

Fuel is the most visible cost but often not the largest. Depreciation — the reduction in your car's value from rideshare wear — typically costs $0.06–$0.12 per mile on a standard vehicle. Maintenance (oil changes, tires, brakes, which wear faster under rideshare use) adds another $0.04–$0.08 per mile. Self-employment tax of 15.3% on net profit is the final hit that most new gig workers don't anticipate.

Dead miles are the hidden earnings killer

Every mile you drive to pick up a passenger or reposition between orders costs fuel and wear but earns nothing. In many markets dead miles represent 25–40% of total miles. Your effective earnings per total mile are always lower than your earnings per paid mile — this calculator shows both so you can see the real picture.

The IRS mileage deduction for gig workers

At 70 cents per mile in 2026, the standard mileage deduction is the most powerful tax tool available to gig drivers. A driver doing 300 total miles per week earns a $21,000 annual deduction (300 × 70¢ × 100 weeks). For many part-time drivers this eliminates most or all taxable profit, significantly reducing the SE tax bill. Keep a mileage log — it's your most valuable financial record.