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CalculateTaxiFare

Philadelphia · US · verified Apr 22, 2026

Taxi Fare in Philadelphia

Real OpenStreetMap routing meets the official Philadelphia Parking Authority — Taxicab Division tariff. See the base fare, every surcharge and a min–median–max range so you know what to expect on the meter.

Base fare
$2.70
Per mile
$2.30
Per minute
$0.40
Currency
USD

01Definition

What is a taxi fare in Philadelphia?

A taxi fare in Philadelphia is the metered price of a regulated for-hire car ride within the city limits. Philadelphia taxi rates are set by Philadelphia Parking Authority — Taxicab Division and combine three components: a base fare of $2.70 (the amount on the meter when the trip begins), a distance rate of $2.30 per mile, and a slow-traffic rate of $0.40 per minute that applies when the cab is stopped or moving slowly. Surcharges, taxes and tip can shift the final amount by another 10–30%.

02Attributes

Philadelphia taxi tariff at a glance

Below is the live Philadelphia taxi tariff exactly as published by Philadelphia Parking Authority — Taxicab Division. Every figure is dated; the most recent verification was on 2026-04-22. Use the calculator above to apply these numbers to your specific trip.

Philadelphia taxi tariff attributes
Base fare
$2.70
On the meter when the ride begins
Per-mile rate
$2.30 / mile
Charged for distance travelled
Per-minute rate
$0.40 / min
Slow-traffic switch speed: 17 km/h
Minimum fare
Not specified
Floor that the meter cannot fall below
Currency
USD
Distance unit
mile
Timezone
America/New_York
Vehicle classes
1
standard

03Calculator

Calculate your fare in Philadelphia

Type any pickup and destination inside Philadelphia. We pull the real OpenStreetMap distance and apply the tariff above.

Calculate a fare in Philadelphia

Local addresses, the Philadelphia tariff applied automatically.

05Airport routes

Philadelphia airport ↔ city centre

Airport ↔ city-centre rides are the most predictable taxi trips in Philadelphia because their distance is fixed. Where the regulator imposes a flat fare, the meter is bypassed and the price is locked. Otherwise the standard tariff applies and the estimate below reflects realistic departure-hall waiting plus the metered ride.

06Vehicle classes

Philadelphia vehicle classes and rates

Philadelphia licenses 1 vehicle class (standard). Larger vehicles command higher base or per-mile rates because their fuel and licensing costs are higher. Ride-sharing apps also offer parallel categories (UberXL, Lyft XL) that compete with the licensed taxi minivan tier.

Vehicle classes and rates in Philadelphia
Vehicle classBasePer milePer minMin fare
Standard sedan
Philadelphia Parking Authority Taxicab and Limousine Division. $2.70 flag + $2.30/mi.
$2.70$2.30$0.40—

07Surcharges & taxes

Every extra charge on a Philadelphia taxi fare

On top of the base meter, Philadelphia taxi fares can include no extra surcharges or taxes. Every charge below is reproduced verbatim from Philadelphia Parking Authority — Taxicab Division, with the trigger condition (time, day, equipment) shown alongside.

Surcharges, taxes and fees on Philadelphia taxi fares
ChargeWhen it appliesAmountCategory
Flat fare PHL ↔ CENTER ↔ CITYRegulator-imposed, bypasses the meter$28.50Flat fare
Flat fare CENTER ↔ CITY ↔ PHLRegulator-imposed, bypasses the meter$28.50Flat fare

08Tipping

Tipping etiquette in Philadelphia

Basic

15%

Functional service — you got there.

Standard

18%

What most riders give for ordinary service.

Excellent

20%

Helpful with bags, smooth driving, knew the route.

Tipping is expected in Philadelphia. The conventional range is 15% (basic), 18% (standard) and 20% (excellent service). A tip line is built into card terminals; for cash, simply round up to a convenient amount.

09Side by side

Taxi vs Uber vs Lyft in Philadelphia

Rideshare apps (Uber, Lyft and local equivalents) compete with metered taxis in Philadelphia on price, but their tariffs swing with surge multipliers. A taxi’s price is fixed by the meter and the regulator — there is no surge. For routine rides our data typically shows rideshare 10–25% cheaper than taxi outside surge windows, and 20–60% more expensive at peak. Airport routes are the exception: many cities (including Philadelphia where applicable) cap airport ↔ centre as a flat fare that beats both.

Reference ride: a 8 km / 15-minute trip in Philadelphia. Numbers below combine the live tariff (taxi) and crowdsourced per-city rate sheets (rideshare). Apps surge in real time, so we surface min · median · max.

Taxi vs Uber vs Lyft fare comparison in Philadelphia
ServiceProductMedianRange
Metered taxiStandard cab$15.63$14.13$20.39
UberUberX$11.87$11.28$18.99
LyftLyft$11.82$11.23$18.91

10FAQ

Philadelphia taxi fare — frequently asked questions

How much is a taxi in Philadelphia?
Philadelphia taxis charge a $2.70 base fare plus $2.30 per mile of distance and $0.40 per minute of slow-traffic time. A typical 5-mile ride costs roughly $15.40 excluding surcharges and tip.
What is the base fare for a Philadelphia taxi?
The drop charge — the amount on the meter when your ride begins — is $2.70. This is set by Philadelphia Parking Authority — Taxicab Division and is identical for every licensed cab in the city.
Are Philadelphia taxi fares metered or negotiated?
Philadelphia taxis are metered. The regulator requires drivers to use the meter on every trip; negotiating off-meter is generally illegal and unwise. Flat fares apply only on a small list of pre-approved airport routes (see the airport routes section above).
Do I tip taxi drivers in Philadelphia?
Tipping is expected in Philadelphia. The conventional range is 15% (basic), 18% (standard) and 20% (excellent service). A tip line is built into card terminals; for cash, simply round up to a convenient amount.
How do night and weekend rates work in Philadelphia?
Philadelphia does not impose an explicit night surcharge — the meter rate is the same 24/7.
Is Uber cheaper than a taxi in Philadelphia?
In free-flow conditions, Uber and Lyft are usually 10–25% cheaper than Philadelphia taxis. During peak demand, surge pricing can push rideshare 20–60% above the metered taxi fare. For airport runs, regulated taxi flat fares often beat both. Use the rideshare comparison above to see today's typical numbers.
Can I trust the calculator above?
Yes. We compute distance and duration from real OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM) and apply the published Philadelphia tariff straight from Philadelphia Parking Authority — Taxicab Division. We always show a min–median–max range so you see how traffic affects the final price.
How long does a 5-mile taxi ride take in Philadelphia?
In free-flow traffic, a 5-mile ride in Philadelphia takes roughly 13 minutes on average city streets. Heavy traffic can double that, which is why our maximum estimate uses a 60% slow-time assumption.
Are credit cards accepted in Philadelphia taxis?
Card acceptance varies by operator. Many regulated taxis in Philadelphia accept major credit and debit cards; always carry cash as a backup, particularly for short journeys. Confirm with your driver before starting the trip, and contact Philadelphia Parking Authority — Taxicab Division for the current official requirement.
Where do I find the official Philadelphia taxi rates?
The authoritative rate sheet is published by Philadelphia Parking Authority — Taxicab Division at https://philapark.org/tld/passengers/taxicab-rates/ (last verified 2026-04-22). Every figure on this page is reproduced from that source.
Is there a flat airport taxi fare in Philadelphia?
Yes. The route PHL ↔ CENTER ↔ CITY has a regulator-mandated flat fare of $28.50 (excluding tip and tolls). Other airport pairs in Philadelphia default to the metered tariff.

11Sources & verification

Sources, last verified

Every figure on this page is reproduced from Philadelphia Parking Authority — Taxicab Division, the recognised authority that sets Philadelphia taxi rates. We re-verify each record at least every 180 days; the timestamp below confirms when this page was last reconciled with the primary source.

Primary source

Philadelphia Parking Authority — Taxicab Division

Last verified
April 22, 2026
Verification cadence
Every 180 days
Routing data
OpenStreetMap via OSRM

Editorial notes

PHL↔Center City flat fare $28.50 (plus tolls/tip).

Spotted an inaccuracy? Report it and we will reconcile within 48 hours.