Owner-Operator Cost Per Mile Calculator
Nine numbers, split into fixed and variable costs. Monthly fixed costs are spread over all your miles, loaded and empty; fuel, maintenance and tires make up the variable cost per mile. The diesel price below is the latest verified EIA U.S. average, for the survey period 2026-10-19.
How this is calculated
fixed per mile = monthly fixed costs ÷ miles per month
variable per mile = (diesel ÷ MPG) + maintenance + tires
total = fixed + variable
Price source: EIA Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update. EIA normally releases prices around 10 a.m. Eastern on Tuesdays, or Wednesdays after a Monday federal holiday.
Why fewer miles raise your cost per mile
The four monthly fixed costs above add up to $4,190 at their starting values: $2,500 for the truck payment, $1,200 for insurance, $150 for permits and plates, and $340 for other fixed costs. Spread those bills over 10,000 miles and the fixed portion is $0.42 per mile. At 6,000 miles, the same bills cost $0.70 per mile.
For a worked example, keep those four fixed costs and enter $4.50 per gallon, 6.5 MPG, $0.18 per mile for maintenance and $0.04 for tires. The calculator returns $1.33 per mile at 10,000 monthly miles and $1.61 at 6,000. Fuel, maintenance and tires cost the same per mile in both cases; you are spreading the fixed bills over fewer miles. The $4.50 diesel price is an example input.
What this number includes
The result covers the costs you enter in the nine fields above. There are no separate fields for owner pay, tolls or DEF, so those expenses are not added automatically. Include each expense only once and account for any remaining costs before setting a quote.
Use the break-even rate calculator to adjust your cost per mile for empty miles, or the load profit calculator to check a particular load. Both tools use the cost per mile you enter. They do not fill in unentered expenses; the load profit calculator also deducts the factoring fee you specify.
FAQ
What is the average cost per mile for owner-operators?
An industry average cannot account for your truck's expenses or monthly mileage. The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) publishes an annual operational-cost benchmark report. Use your own expense and mileage records in this calculator, and account for costs and owner pay the inputs do not cover before evaluating a rate.
Why split fixed and variable costs?
Fixed costs — your truck payment, insurance, permits — hit every month whether you drive one mile or ten thousand. A parked truck still burns fixed costs. Variable costs only show up when the wheels turn. Splitting them matters because the more miles you run, the thinner your fixed costs spread per mile, which is why utilization drives your cost per mile as much as your rate does.
What MPG should I use?
Use your real fleet average, calculated from your own fuel receipts and odometer readings — not the number on a spec sheet or a dealer's quote. A loaded Class 8 truck typically runs 6-7 MPG in real-world conditions, but terrain, load weight, idling habits, and truck age all move that number. Your receipts are always more accurate than a brochure.
How do I use my cost per mile?
This result covers the expenses you enter. Account for any costs and owner pay those inputs do not cover before using it to evaluate a rate. Use the break-even rate calculator to adjust your cost per mile for deadhead miles, and the load profit calculator to check a specific load using that cost figure.
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Survey week of: 2026-10-19 · Source: EIA weekly diesel