Commute time value.

Worked example

A 35-minute commute each way on 230 days is 2 x 35 x 230 / 60 = 268.3 hours a year, about 6.7 forty-hour work weeks. Valued at $25 an hour that time is $6,708.33. With $8 a day in fuel or fares ($1,840 over 230 days) the commute costs $8,548.33 a year. A 20-minute alternative would be 153.3 hours, saving 115 hours worth $2,875.00.

How it works

Hours per year = 2 x minutes each way x commuting days / 60. Value of time = hours x your value per hour. Total cost = value of time + out-of-pocket cost per day x days. The alternative commute is run through the same formula and compared.

The value of an hour is the one thing the tool cannot know. Some people use their after-tax wage, some use a fraction of it, and some count only the hours they could have used for something else. Try a few values; the hours per year do not depend on it.

The work-week equivalent divides hours by 40 and the day equivalent divides by 24, only to give a sense of scale.

Sources and basis (checked 2026-10-08): arithmetic on the numbers you enter; no external rate is applied.

FAQ

How many hours a year do I spend commuting?

Multiply your one-way minutes by 2, then by the number of days you commute, and divide by 60. A 35-minute commute each way on 230 days is about 268 hours.

What is an hour of my commuting time worth?

That is your own judgement. The tool asks for a dollar value per hour and does not assume one. After-tax hourly pay is one option, but you can use any figure.

Does the calculator include the cost of fuel or transit?

Yes, if you enter an out-of-pocket cost per commuting day. It is multiplied by the number of commuting days.

How do I compare two commutes?

Enter the longer commute as the main one and the shorter as the alternative. The result shows the hours and the value of time saved each year.

How many days should I count?

Count the days you actually travel. A five-day week over 46 working weeks is 230 days, but fewer if you work from home some days.