Commute calculator

Your commute in hours a year, plus the activity it could add.

Your details

45 minutes each way, 5 days a week

345

hours a year getting to and from work

Whole days a year14.4
ONS 2014, by train for over 30 minuteshigher anxiety on average
Walking or cycling a week100 min, 67% of the 150 minute weekly guide
With one of those days at home276 hours a year
To reach 150 minutes from the commute aloneabout 5 more minutes walking each way, such as getting off a stop early

In ONS research, longer commutes went with slightly lower wellbeing on average. Your walking or cycling counts towards the UK activity guide.

If travel is wearing you down or affecting your mood or sleep, talk to your GP, or to your employer about flexible options.

The working

45 minutes each way, 5 days, 46 weeks

90 minutes a day x 5 days x 46 weeks is 345 hours, about 14 whole days a year. Ten minutes of walking each way is 100 minutes a week, two thirds of the UK 150 minute guide. One home working day a week would bring it down to 276 hours.

Pick how you travel to see what the ONS found for your mode and travel time, against people commuting 15 minutes or less by any mode. Over 30 minutes by train went with higher anxiety on average; over 30 minutes by bus or coach was the least positive option on all four wellbeing measures; by car, happiness was lower and anxiety higher at both 16 to 30 and over 30 minutes. These are small average differences across thousands of people, not a forecast for you.

Wellbeing

What the ONS found

In ONS research from 2014, commuters had slightly lower wellbeing on average than people who did not commute, with those travelling 61 to 90 minutes faring worst on life satisfaction. The differences were small.

Home days and cost

Hybrid weeks, fares and the 150

Add your home working days and they come off the travel: 2 home days out of 5 brings 345 hours down to 207, saving 138 hours a year. Add the cost each way, a fare or fuel and parking, and we show the year's bill and what each hour of travel costs: £8.50 each way on 5 days for 46 weeks is £3,910, about £11.33 an hour. And if the walking or cycling in your commute is under 150 minutes a week, we show how many more minutes each way would get there: from 10 minutes each way on 5 days, 5 more minutes each way does it.

Making it better

Ideas

Get off a stop early and walk the rest
Use the time for a podcast, book or a call
Ask about flexible hours to dodge the busiest times
Cycle part of the way

Read with care

What this cannot tell you

Measure stressIt does not score how you feel.
Know delaysIt uses your usual times.
Plan your routeCheck local travel planners.

Questions

Common questions

How many hours a year do I spend commuting?

Minutes each way x 2 x days a week x working weeks / 60. 45 minutes each way is 345 hours a year at 46 weeks.

Do long commutes affect wellbeing?

ONS research found slightly lower wellbeing on average with longer commutes, but the effect was small.

Does walking to the station count as exercise?

Yes, brisk walking counts towards the 150 minutes a week the UK guidelines suggest.

What if I work from home?

Set days to the number you travel; the tool shows the time one fewer day saves.

Sources

Last checked 21 October 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.

If stress is building

If commuting or work stress is affecting your sleep, mood or health, talk to your GP. You can call Samaritans free on 116 123 or text SHOUT to 85258 any time.