Owner-operators
Owner-operator cost per mile calculator.
Enter what you actually pay each month and each mile. Get your fixed cost per mile, variable cost per mile, break-even rate, and the rate per mile you need to take home a target amount.
With $60,000 of fixed cost spread over 110,000 miles and $0.90 of variable cost per mile, the example truck costs $1.44 per mile to run. Taking home $90,000 before income tax needs about $2.26 per mile.
Your numbers
Result
Method and limits
Formulas. Fixed cost per mile = 12 × (monthly truck payment + insurance + other fixed) ÷ annual miles. Fuel per mile = diesel price ÷ miles per gallon. Tolls per mile = 12 × monthly tolls ÷ annual miles. Variable cost per mile = fuel + maintenance + tires + tolls per mile. Cost per mile = fixed + variable. Rate needed = cost per mile + (take-home target ÷ annual miles).
Inputs are yours. The example values on this page are placeholders to show how the maths works. They are not industry averages. Replace every field with your own invoices and statements. Costs this page does not model: self-employment and income tax (see the take-home calculator), driver wages if you hire, depreciation beyond your payment, and downtime between loads, which is why a realistic annual-miles figure matters.
Everything is calculated in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.
Sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update (retrieved 2026-10-15): where weekly U.S. and regional average retail diesel prices are published, if you want a reference for the diesel price field. The page itself does not supply a price.
FAQ
How do I calculate cost per mile as an owner-operator?
Add up everything you pay in a year (truck payment, insurance, permits, fuel, maintenance, tires, tolls) and divide by the miles you drove. This calculator splits it into fixed cost, which does not change with miles, and variable cost, which does.
Should I use loaded miles or all miles?
Use all miles to get your true cost per mile, because you pay for empty miles too. The deadhead calculator then shows the rate you need per loaded mile.
What is a good cost per mile for an owner-operator?
There is no single figure. It depends on your truck, lane, fuel and insurance. This page publishes no benchmark; compare against your own past quarters instead.
Does this include taxes?
No. It stops before self-employment and income tax. The owner-operator take-home pay calculator estimates self-employment tax from your net profit.