How much does a London black cab cost?
A London black cab is metered by law. The taximeter combines the distance travelled with a time-based charge for when the cab is stopped or moving slowly, so the same route can cost different amounts depending on traffic. That is why Transport for London publishes typical fare ranges for a given distance rather than single prices, and why this calculator shows a range too.
Three tariffs apply depending on when you travel. Tariff 1 (Monday to Friday, 05:00 to 20:00) is the cheapest, Tariff 2 covers weekday evenings from 20:00 to 22:00 and all day at weekends from 05:00 to 22:00, and Tariff 3, the most expensive, applies every night from 22:00 to 05:00 and on public holidays.
Why this shows a range, not a price
A London black cab is metered by law. The taximeter combines distance travelled with a time-based charge for when the cab is stopped or moving slowly, so the same route can cost different amounts depending on traffic. Because of this, even Transport for London's own published fare guide only gives typical ranges for a given distance, not single figures - and that's exactly what this calculator is built from, rather than a guessed meter formula.
There's a minimum fare of £4 at all times, regardless of how short the journey is.
Tariff 1, 2 and 3
London taxi meters use three rate bands depending on the day and time. Tariff 1 (Monday to Friday, 05:00-20:00) is the cheapest. Tariff 2 covers weekday evenings (20:00-22:00) and all day Saturday and Sunday (05:00-22:00). Tariff 3, the most expensive, applies every night from 22:00 to 05:00, and on public holidays.
Example fare estimates
The examples compare typical metered fares for journeys of different lengths and times, including the relevant tariff and any selected extras.
Short daytime hop
1.5 miles · Mon-Fri 05:00-20:00
- Estimated fare
- £11 - £17
Cross-town, weekday evening
4 miles · Mon-Fri 20:00-22:00, Sat-Sun 05:00-22:00
- Estimated fare
- £23 - £32
Late-night ride, booked by app
3 miles · Every night 22:00-05:00 and public holidays
- Estimated fare
- £20 - £30
Longer weekend journey
6 miles · Mon-Fri 20:00-22:00, Sat-Sun 05:00-22:00
- Estimated fare
- £41 - £45
Frequently asked questions
01Why does this show a range instead of an exact fare?
Because a London black cab fare genuinely can't be predicted exactly in advance. The taximeter combines distance travelled with a time-based charge for when the cab is stopped or moving slowly, so the same route can cost different amounts depending on traffic. Transport for London's own published fare guide only gives typical ranges for this reason, not single figures, and this calculator is built directly from that same published data.
02What are Tariff 1, 2 and 3?
They're the three rate bands London taxi meters use, based on the day and time of your journey. Tariff 1 applies Monday to Friday, 05:00 to 20:00 (the cheapest). Tariff 2 applies weekday evenings (20:00-22:00) and all day Saturday and Sunday (05:00-22:00). Tariff 3, the most expensive, applies every night from 22:00 to 05:00, and on public holidays.
03Is there a minimum taxi fare in London?
Yes, £4.40 at all times, regardless of how short the journey is.
04Do I pay extra for booking by phone or app?
You can be charged up to £2.00 extra for a journey booked by phone, app or online, on top of the metered fare. Hailing a cab on the street or picking one up at a taxi rank doesn't carry this extra charge.
05Are there extra charges for luggage or extra passengers?
No. TfL's rules specifically state there are no extra charges for luggage, additional passengers (up to the vehicle's licensed capacity), or for paying by credit or debit card. Extra charges do apply for airport terminal drop-offs at Heathrow and London City, and a higher fixed fare applies over the Christmas and New Year period.
06Why does the estimate get less reliable for longer journeys?
TfL's published typical-fare table only goes up to 6 miles in detail, and states that the fare rate changes for journeys beyond that distance. This calculator extrapolates beyond 6 miles using the closest available rate, but flags the result as less reliable, since it's estimating beyond TfL's own detailed published data. For a long journey, agree a price with the driver before setting off, or rely on the meter directly.
07Does this cover minicabs or ride-hailing apps like Uber?
No. This calculator is based specifically on the metered fare rules for licensed London black cabs (Hackney Carriages). Minicabs and ride-hailing services set their own prices, often with dynamic "surge" pricing that isn't published as a fixed rate table, so they can't be estimated the same way.
Fare estimate assumptions
The fare range is based on:
- A licensed London black cab (Hackney Carriage) journey, not a minicab or ride-hailing app, which set their own prices.
- Fares are interpolated between TfL's own published typical-fare data points (at 1, 2, 4 and 6 miles for each tariff), not calculated from a from-scratch meter formula.
- Estimates beyond 6 miles are extrapolated and explicitly flagged as less reliable, since TfL's detailed published data doesn't extend that far.
- Doesn't include airport terminal drop-off charges, the Christmas/New Year fixed fare, or soiling charges, all of which are separate, situational extras.
- All figures are rounded to the nearest penny.
Sources
Fare figures are taken directly from: