Skip to main content
CalculateTaxiFare

Washington, D.C. · US · verified Apr 12, 2026

Taxi Fare in Washington, D.C.

Real OpenStreetMap routing meets the official DC Department of For-Hire Vehicles tariff. See the base fare, every surcharge and a min–median–max range so you know what to expect on the meter.

Base fare
$3.50
Per mile
$2.16
Per minute
$0.50
Currency
USD

01Definition

What is a taxi fare in Washington, D.C.?

A taxi fare in Washington, D.C. is the metered price of a regulated for-hire car ride within the city limits. Washington, D.C. taxi rates are set by DC Department of For-Hire Vehicles and combine three components: a base fare of $3.50 (the amount on the meter when the trip begins), a distance rate of $2.16 per mile, and a slow-traffic rate of $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

Washington, D.C. taxi tariff at a glance

Below is the live Washington, D.C. taxi tariff exactly as published by DC Department of For-Hire Vehicles. Every figure is dated; the most recent verification was on 2026-04-12. Use the calculator above to apply these numbers to your specific trip.

Washington, D.C. taxi tariff attributes
Base fare
$3.50
On the meter when the ride begins
Per-mile rate
$2.16 / mile
Charged for distance travelled
Per-minute rate
$0.50 / min
Slow-traffic switch speed: 17 km/h
Minimum fare
$3.50
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 Washington, D.C.

Type any pickup and destination inside Washington, D.C.. We pull the real OpenStreetMap distance and apply the tariff above.

Calculate a fare in Washington, D.C.

Local addresses, the Washington, D.C. tariff applied automatically.

05Airport routes

Washington, D.C. airport ↔ city centre

Airport ↔ city-centre rides are the most predictable taxi trips in Washington, D.C. 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.

No major airport is mapped to Washington, D.C. in our airport directory yet.

06Vehicle classes

Washington, D.C. vehicle classes and rates

Washington, D.C. 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 Washington, D.C.
Vehicle classBasePer milePer minMin fare
Standard sedan
DC Department of For-Hire Vehicles regulated. Flag drop $3.50 + $2.16/mi.
$3.50$2.16$0.50$3.50

07Surcharges & taxes

Every extra charge on a Washington, D.C. taxi fare

On top of the base meter, Washington, D.C. taxi fares can include rush-hour windows, a per-bag fee, an extra-passenger fee. Every charge below is reproduced verbatim from DC Department of For-Hire Vehicles, with the trigger condition (time, day, equipment) shown alongside.

Surcharges, taxes and fees on Washington, D.C. taxi fares
ChargeWhen it appliesAmountCategory
Rush-hour surcharge07:00 → 09:30, days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5$2.00Surcharge
Rush-hour surcharge16:00 → 18:30, days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5$2.00Surcharge
Luggage chargePer bag placed in trunk$0.50Fee
Extra passengerEach passenger beyond the first$1.00Fee
Phone-booking feeBooked by phone or radio dispatch$2.00Fee

08Tipping

Tipping etiquette in Washington, D.C.

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 Washington, D.C.. 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 Washington, D.C.

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

Reference ride: a 8 km / 15-minute trip in Washington, D.C.. 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 Washington, D.C.
ServiceProductMedianRange
Metered taxiStandard cab$16.11$14.24$21.55
UberUberX$12.47$11.85$19.95
LyftLyft$12.37$11.75$19.79

10Public transit

Public transit alternative in Washington, D.C.

For short city-centre trips, public transit in Washington, D.C. is consistently cheaper than a taxi — a single fare typically costs less than the taxi base alone. The trade-off is travel time: transit is slower door-to-door, runs on a fixed schedule, and may not serve every airport hour. The dedicated transit fare calculator below estimates a single-leg fare on the local subway, metro or bus network using the published zone or flat structure.

Public transit in Washington, D.C.

For trips inside the central zones, a single transit fare is typically a fraction of even the lowest taxi estimate. The trade-off is travel time and route flexibility.

See transit fares

11FAQ

Washington, D.C. taxi fare — frequently asked questions

How much is a taxi in Washington, D.C.?
Washington, D.C. taxis charge a $3.50 base fare plus $2.16 per mile of distance and $0.50 per minute of slow-traffic time. A typical 5-mile ride costs roughly $15.80 excluding surcharges and tip.
What is the base fare for a Washington, D.C. taxi?
The drop charge — the amount on the meter when your ride begins — is $3.50. This is set by DC Department of For-Hire Vehicles and is identical for every licensed cab in the city.
Are Washington, D.C. taxi fares metered or negotiated?
Washington, D.C. 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.
Do I tip taxi drivers in Washington, D.C.?
Tipping is expected in Washington, D.C.. 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 Washington, D.C.?
Washington, D.C. does not impose an explicit night surcharge — the meter rate is the same 24/7.
Is Uber cheaper than a taxi in Washington, D.C.?
In free-flow conditions, Uber and Lyft are usually 10–25% cheaper than Washington, D.C. 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 Washington, D.C. tariff straight from DC Department of For-Hire Vehicles. 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 Washington, D.C.?
In free-flow traffic, a 5-mile ride in Washington, D.C. 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 Washington, D.C. taxis?
Card acceptance varies by operator. Many regulated taxis in Washington, D.C. 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 DC Department of For-Hire Vehicles for the current official requirement.
Where do I find the official Washington, D.C. taxi rates?
The authoritative rate sheet is published by DC Department of For-Hire Vehicles at https://dfhv.dc.gov/page/dfhv-rates-fares (last verified 2026-04-12). Every figure on this page is reproduced from that source.
Is there a luggage fee for Washington, D.C. taxis?
Yes — Washington, D.C. permits a per-bag charge of $0.50. Drivers must apply it consistently and only for bags that go in the trunk; carry-on bags placed on the seat are not chargeable.

12Sources & verification

Sources, last verified

Every figure on this page is reproduced from DC Department of For-Hire Vehicles, the recognised authority that sets Washington, D.C. 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

DC Department of For-Hire Vehicles

Last verified
April 12, 2026
Verification cadence
Every 180 days
Routing data
OpenStreetMap via OSRM

Editorial notes

Telephone-dispatched rides incur a $2 surcharge. Snow-emergency declared by Mayor adds 25%.

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