Parking Cost Calculator
Compare hourly, daily-max, and monthly parking to find the cheapest for your usage
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Quick summary
Enter how often and how long you park, plus the hourly rate, daily maximum, and monthly pass price, to see which option costs least per month. Parking 9 hours a day, 22 days a month, where hourly caps at a $20 daily max ($440/month) but a monthly pass is $250, the pass wins and saves $190. Daily commuters usually come out ahead with a monthly pass; occasional parkers do better paying hourly.
Reviewed by Simple Calculators TeamLast reviewed
How to use this calculator
- Enter the inputs requested by the calculator.
- Choose the units or options that match your situation and review the assumptions.
- Run or update the calculation to see the result.
- Review the result, breakdown, and formulas shown on the page.
- Check the inputs, units, dates, and limitations before saving or sharing the result.
Frequently asked questions
Is a monthly parking pass worth it?
It depends on how often you park. Divide the monthly pass price by your daily parking cost to find the break-even number of days. If you park more days than that, the pass wins. For a daily commuter it almost always does; for a few days a month, paying hourly or the daily max is cheaper. This calculator compares all three.
How do I find the cheapest parking option?
Compare the monthly total of each approach: hourly (hours × rate, capped by any daily max) times days, the daily maximum times days, and the flat monthly pass. The lowest total wins. Small changes in how long you stay or how many days you park can flip which option is cheapest.
What is a parking daily maximum?
Many garages cap the hourly rate at a daily maximum, so a long stay never exceeds that flat amount. If you park all day, you effectively pay the daily max, not hours × rate. Entering the daily max lets the calculator model long stays accurately.
Does this include street or event parking?
It compares standard garage/lot pricing structures — hourly, daily max, and monthly pass. Metered street parking behaves like hourly (often with time limits), and special event pricing is usually a flat rate you'd enter as the daily max. Adapt the inputs to whatever rate structure you face.
Key terms
- Daily Maximum
- A cap on the hourly rate so a full day never exceeds a set amount.
- Monthly Pass
- A flat monthly fee for unlimited parking; best for frequent parkers.
- Break-Even Days
- The number of parking days where a monthly pass matches pay-as-you-go.
Methodology, sources & limitations
This page shows the formula, assumptions, and limitations used for this estimate. Rates, thresholds, and other time-sensitive inputs can change, so verify them against the relevant official source before relying on a result.
For our review approach and the primary sources we consult, see the methodology and source policy. If you spot an outdated figure or formula, please contact us with a correction.