Method
Monthly lease payment is depreciation charge plus finance charge, then tax and entered monthly fees. Finance charge is capitalized cost plus residual value multiplied by money factor.
Example
With a $30,000 capitalized cost, $18,000 residual value, 36-month term and 0.002 money factor, depreciation is $333.33 per month and finance charge is $96.00 before fees and tax.
Common mistakes
Money factor is not the same as APR. A rough APR estimate is money factor x 2400, so 0.002 is about 4.8% APR before lease-specific details.
Limitations
This is a generic estimate. Real leases can include deposits, insurance, maintenance obligations, buyout options, acquisition fees, taxes and end-of-lease charges.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-16