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CalculateTaxiFare

Toronto · CA · verified Apr 8, 2026

Taxi Fare in Toronto

Real OpenStreetMap routing meets the official City of Toronto Municipal Licensing & Standards tariff. See the base fare, every surcharge and a min–median–max range so you know what to expect on the meter.

Base fare
CA$4.25
Per km
CA$1.97
Per minute
CA$0.50
Currency
CAD

01Definition

What is a taxi fare in Toronto?

A taxi fare in Toronto is the metered price of a regulated for-hire car ride within the city limits. Toronto taxi rates are set by City of Toronto Municipal Licensing & Standards and combine three components: a base fare of CA$4.25 (the amount on the meter when the trip begins), a distance rate of CA$1.97 per km, and a slow-traffic rate of CA$0.50 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

Toronto taxi tariff at a glance

Below is the live Toronto taxi tariff exactly as published by City of Toronto Municipal Licensing & Standards. Every figure is dated; the most recent verification was on 2026-04-08. Use the calculator above to apply these numbers to your specific trip.

Toronto taxi tariff attributes
Base fare
CA$4.25
On the meter when the ride begins
Per-km rate
CA$1.97 / km
Charged for distance travelled
Per-minute rate
CA$0.50 / min
Slow-traffic switch speed: 17 km/h
Minimum fare
Not specified
Floor that the meter cannot fall below
Currency
CAD
Distance unit
km
Timezone
America/Toronto
Vehicle classes
1
standard

03Calculator

Calculate your fare in Toronto

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

Calculate a fare in Toronto

Local addresses, the Toronto tariff applied automatically.

05Airport routes

Toronto airport ↔ city centre

Airport ↔ city-centre rides are the most predictable taxi trips in Toronto 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

Toronto vehicle classes and rates

Toronto licenses 1 vehicle class (standard). Larger vehicles command higher base or per-km 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 Toronto
Vehicle classBasePer kmPer minMin fare
Standard sedan
Toronto Municipal Licensing & Standards (Bylaw 546). C$4.25 drop + C$0.25 per 143 m (~C$1.97/km).
CA$4.25CA$1.97CA$0.50—

07Surcharges & taxes

Every extra charge on a Toronto taxi fare

On top of the base meter, Toronto taxi fares can include city or state taxes. Every charge below is reproduced verbatim from City of Toronto Municipal Licensing & Standards, with the trigger condition (time, day, equipment) shown alongside.

Surcharges, taxes and fees on Toronto taxi fares
ChargeWhen it appliesAmountCategory
HST (13%)Applied to total fare+13%Tax
Flat fare YYZ ↔ DOWNTOWNRegulator-imposed, bypasses the meterCA$65.00Flat fare

08Tipping

Tipping etiquette in Toronto

Basic

10%

Functional service — you got there.

Standard

15%

What most riders give for ordinary service.

Excellent

20%

Helpful with bags, smooth driving, knew the route.

Tipping is expected in Toronto. The conventional range is 10% (basic), 15% (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 Toronto

Rideshare apps (Uber, Lyft and local equivalents) compete with metered taxis in Toronto 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 Toronto where applicable) cap airport ↔ centre as a flat fare that beats both.

Reference ride: a 8 km / 15-minute trip in Toronto. 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 Toronto
ServiceProductMedianRange
Metered taxiStandard cabCA$24.73CA$22.61CA$31.85
UberUberXCA$12.68CA$12.05CA$20.29
LyftLyftCA$12.60CA$11.97CA$20.16

10FAQ

Toronto taxi fare — frequently asked questions

How much is a taxi in Toronto?
Toronto taxis charge a CA$4.25 base fare plus CA$1.97 per km of distance and CA$0.50 per minute of slow-traffic time. A typical 8-km ride costs roughly CA$21.51 excluding surcharges and tip.
What is the base fare for a Toronto taxi?
The drop charge — the amount on the meter when your ride begins — is CA$4.25. This is set by City of Toronto Municipal Licensing & Standards and is identical for every licensed cab in the city.
Are Toronto taxi fares metered or negotiated?
Toronto 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 Toronto?
Tipping is expected in Toronto. The conventional range is 10% (basic), 15% (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 Toronto?
Toronto does not impose an explicit night surcharge — the meter rate is the same 24/7.
Is Uber cheaper than a taxi in Toronto?
In free-flow conditions, Uber and Lyft are usually 10–25% cheaper than Toronto 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 Toronto tariff straight from City of Toronto Municipal Licensing & Standards. We always show a min–median–max range so you see how traffic affects the final price.
How long does a 8-km taxi ride take in Toronto?
In free-flow traffic, a 8-km ride in Toronto 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 Toronto taxis?
Card acceptance varies by operator. Many regulated taxis in Toronto 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 City of Toronto Municipal Licensing & Standards for the current official requirement.
Where do I find the official Toronto taxi rates?
The authoritative rate sheet is published by City of Toronto Municipal Licensing & Standards at https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/permits-licences-bylaws/taxis-and-limousines/ (last verified 2026-04-08). Every figure on this page is reproduced from that source.
Is there a flat airport taxi fare in Toronto?
Yes. The route YYZ ↔ DOWNTOWN has a regulator-mandated flat fare of CA$65.00 (excluding tip and tolls). Other airport pairs in Toronto default to the metered tariff.

11Sources & verification

Sources, last verified

Every figure on this page is reproduced from City of Toronto Municipal Licensing & Standards, the recognised authority that sets Toronto 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

City of Toronto Municipal Licensing & Standards

Last verified
April 8, 2026
Verification cadence
Every 180 days
Routing data
OpenStreetMap via OSRM

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