Rideshare & Delivery Driver Profit Calculator
Find what Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and other gig driving really pays per hour after gas, maintenance and self-employment tax.
A rideshare driver profit calculator shows what gig driving pays once the car and the IRS take their share. Enter hours, gross earnings per hour, miles driven and vehicle costs. The tool returns operating cost per mile, annual cash profit, self-employment tax, income tax, and your real after-tax hourly wage, using the 72.5¢ per mile standard mileage deduction.
Rideshare & Delivery Driver Profit Calculator
Earnings
Vehicle Costs
Enter earnings as paid out by the app (after the platform's commission). Miles include unpaid deadhead miles between rides.
| Annual | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross earnings | $39,000 |
| Gas, maintenance, insurance, phone | −$9,227 |
| Cash profit before tax | $29,773 |
| Self-employment tax (15.3%) | −$2,062 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,628 |
Based on your results — what to do next:
Verify your self-employment tax
Driving profit of $14,595 generates roughly $2,062 of SE tax before income tax.
Set aside quarterly estimated payments
Total tax of about $3,690/yr means roughly $922 per quarter to avoid underpayment penalties.
Check your mileage deduction
33,000 business miles a year supports a $23,925 deduction at the IRS standard rate.
How the Rideshare & Delivery Driver Profit Calculator Works
① Operating cost
Gas = Miles ÷ MPG × Price; Maintenance = Miles × $/mile; plus insurance and phone
Cost per mile = total weekly cost ÷ weekly miles
② Taxable profit
Taxable = Gross − Miles × $0.725 − Other business costs
Standard mileage replaces actual gas and maintenance
③ Self-employment tax
SE Tax = Taxable × 92.35% × 15.3%
Half of SE tax is deductible for income tax
| Variable | Meaning | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|
| Gross $/hr | Earnings paid out by the app incl. tips | $15–35 |
| Miles/hr | All miles, including unpaid deadhead | 15–30 |
| MPG | Vehicle fuel economy | 20–50 |
| Standard mileage | 2026 IRS business rate | 72.5¢ per mile |
| SE tax | Social Security + Medicare on net profit | 15.3% of 92.35% |
Worked Example — 30 hrs/week at $26/hr
- 30 hours a week at $26/hr over 50 weeks is $39,000 gross
- 22 miles an hour means 33,000 miles a year; at 28 mpg and $3.40 gas, fuel alone is about $4,000
- Standard mileage deduction: 33,000 × $0.725 = $23,925, cutting taxable profit sharply
- Real after-tax pay often lands near $17–18/hr, well below the $26 headline
💡 Pro-Tip
Track every mile from day one.The standard mileage deduction can erase more than half of a driver's taxable income, but only with a contemporaneous log that includes miles driven while waiting for or traveling to a ride. Set aside roughly 25–30% of net profit for taxes and make quarterly payments so April holds no surprises.
Rideshare & Delivery Driver Profit Calculator FAQ
How much do Uber and Lyft drivers really make per hour?
Advertised earnings are gross. After gas, maintenance, extra insurance, self-employment tax and income tax, take-home pay is commonly 55–75% of the gross hourly figure. Enter your own numbers above for a precise result.
Is the standard mileage deduction better than actual expenses?
For most gig drivers with efficient cars, the 72.5¢ per mile standard rate (2026) is larger than actual costs, so it wins. If you drive a high-cost vehicle with few miles, actual expenses can be higher. You must choose the standard method in the first year you use the car for business to keep that option.
Do gig drivers pay self-employment tax?
Yes. Net profit above $400 is subject to 15.3% self-employment tax (12.4% Social Security up to the annual wage base plus 2.9% Medicare), applied to 92.35% of profit. Half of it is deductible when computing income tax.
Are deadhead miles deductible?
Miles driven to pick up passengers or while logged in and waiting count as business miles. Commuting from home to your first ride generally does not, unless home is your principal place of business.
Next Step: Related Calculators
Self-Employment Tax Calculator
SE tax (15.3%), quarterly estimates, QBI deduction, and net take-home for 1099 income.
Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator
Safe harbor payment plan for freelancers and business owners — all 4 IRS due dates.
Mileage Reimbursement Calculator
2026 IRS rates: 72.5¢/mi business, 20.5¢ medical, 14¢ charitable — tax-free reimbursement amounts.