Short answer: a London black cab costs at least £4.40. A typical 2-mile daytime trip is £12.60–£20.20, and Heathrow to central London is usually £70–£120. Those are Transport for London's own figures for the tariffs that took effect on Saturday 25 April 2026, and they are what this guide is based on (checked 25 October 2026).
Black cab fares are set by TfL, not by the driver. The meter works out the fare from the time of day, the distance and the time taken. Below is how the tariffs work, the extras that can be added, and when a pre-booked minicab with a price agreed in advance is the better choice.
The four tariffs, and when each one applies
The meter shows a tariff number, and that number sets how quickly the fare goes up. TfL's Notice 04/26 sets the times:
| Tariff | When it applies |
|---|---|
| 1 | Monday to Friday, 05:00–20:00 |
| 2 | Monday to Friday, 20:00–22:00, and Saturday and Sunday, 05:00–22:00 |
| 3 | Every night, 22:00–05:00, and public holidays |
| 4 | At all times, once a journey goes past six miles |
Tariff 4 is the one most people miss. Past about six miles, every journey switches to a different rate, whatever the time of day. Since April 2026, Tariff 4 uses the same rates as Tariff 2. That is why the longer rows in the table below rise faster than the short ones.
A quick check you can do from the back seat: look at the tariff number on the meter. At 3pm on a Tuesday it should say 1. If it says 2 or 3 in the daytime on a weekday, ask the driver about it before you get to your destination, not after.
Typical fares by distance
These ranges come from TfL's taxi fare card for 2026. TfL says fares and times can be higher when there are delays or heavy traffic.
| Distance | Journey time | Weekday daytime (Tariff 1) | Evenings and weekends (Tariff 2) | Nights and public holidays (Tariff 3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mile | 6–13 min | £8.40–£13.00 | £8.40–£13.20 | £9.00–£13.20 |
| 2 miles | 10–20 min | £12.60–£20.20 | £13.40–£20.40 | £13.60–£20.40 |
| 4 miles | 16–30 min | £21.00–£31.00 | £23.00–£32.00 | £23.00–£35.00 |
| 6 miles | 28–40 min | £33.00–£42.00 | £41.00–£45.00 | £41.00–£45.00 |
| Heathrow to central London | 30–60 min | £70.00–£120.00 | £70.00–£120.00 | £70.00–£120.00 |
The ranges are wide because the meter charges for time as well as distance. The same 2-mile trip can cost £12.60 or £20.20 depending on how long you're stuck at junctions. That uncertainty is the main reason people pre-book for longer journeys. Our black cab vs minicab comparison covers the other differences, such as hailing and booking rules.
Extras that can be added to the meter
TfL's fare card lists every extra a driver can add. Nothing else is allowed:
- Booking by phone, app or online: up to £2.00. Hailing in the street or taking one from a rank doesn't carry this charge.
- Christmas and New Year: £4.00 for journeys between 20:00 on 24 December and 06:00 on 27 December, and between 20:00 on 31 December and 06:00 on 2 January 2027.
- Heathrow: £1.60 for journeys that start from the airport taxi ranks, and £6.00 for dropping off in a terminal drop-off zone.
- London City Airport: nothing extra for journeys from the rank, and £6.00 for dropping off at the terminal forecourt. This drop-off extra is new in 2026.
- Soiling: up to £60.00 if the cab has to be taken out of service.
Blue Badge holders who have an exemption from Heathrow or London City's drop-off charges must not be charged the £6.00 extra.
The card also says what can't be charged. There are no extra charges for luggage, for extra passengers, or for paying by card. Every black cab has to have an approved card reader in the back that takes Visa, Mastercard, American Express and contactless. Our payment and tipping guide covers receipts and tipping.
Journeys a driver must accept, and when you can agree a price
Unless they have a good reason not to, a London black cab driver has to accept a hiring of up to 12 miles (20 miles from Heathrow), or up to one hour, if the destination is in Greater London.
For a destination outside Greater London, you and the driver can agree a fare before you set off. If you don't agree one, the fare can't be more than the meter shows. If you're heading out to Surrey, Kent or Hertfordshire, agree the price before the cab moves.
Heathrow: black cab rank or pre-booked minicab?
Heathrow to central London is where the comparison matters most. TfL's typical range for a black cab is £70–£120, plus the £1.60 rank extra. Each terminal at Heathrow Airport has a black cab rank in the arrivals area.
A pre-booked minicab works differently. Many London postcode districts have a fixed fare from Heathrow. For a saloon from Heathrow to the West End (W1) it's currently £74, and to Westminster (SW1) £74. We confirm the price when we accept the booking, and a slow M4 doesn't change it. If you want a driver waiting in arrivals with a name board, meet and greet is an optional £10 extra. Our fixed-price airport transfer guide explains what a fixed fare covers.
Neither option is cheaper every time. On a clear road late at night, a black cab may come in at the bottom of TfL's range. In weekday traffic it can reach the top. The minicab fare is the same in both cases. That predictability matters most if you're arriving with a family, a lot of luggage, or a budget to stick to.
Short trips across town
For a 1–2 mile hop in central London, a black cab is hard to beat. You can hail one, the minimum fare is low, and black cabs can use most bus lanes. A pre-booked car makes more sense for longer journeys, early-morning airport runs, outer London, or anywhere hailing is unreliable. Our article on the London black cab shortage explains why hailing has got harder in some areas.
For London journeys that aren't on the fixed airport list, our booking form gives an estimated fare for your exact route before you commit. Our London minicab guide covers how booking works. For London City Airport and the other airports, check whether the airport drop-off charge is included when your booking is confirmed. Our airport drop-off charges guide lists each airport's fee.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How much is a black cab from Heathrow to central London? A: TfL's 2026 fare card gives a typical range of £70 to £120, with a journey time of 30 to 60 minutes. A £1.60 extra applies to journeys that start from the Heathrow taxi ranks.
Q: What is the minimum black cab fare in London? A: £4.40 at all times, up from £4.20 on 25 April 2026.
Q: Do London black cabs charge extra for card payments, luggage or extra passengers? A: No. TfL's fare card says there are no extra charges for luggage, extra passengers or paying by credit or debit card.
Q: Why is my black cab fare higher at night or at the weekend? A: The meter switches tariff by time. Tariff 1 covers weekdays 05:00 to 20:00, Tariff 2 covers weekday evenings and weekend daytimes, and Tariff 3 covers every night from 22:00 to 05:00 and public holidays.
Q: Can I agree a fixed price with a London black cab? A: Only for a destination outside Greater London, and only if you agree it before the journey starts. Inside Greater London the meter fare applies.
Q: Is a pre-booked minicab cheaper than a black cab? A: Not always. For short trips across central London a black cab is often good value. For airport runs and longer journeys, a pre-booked minicab gives you a price before you travel, so traffic doesn't change what you pay.
Planning a longer journey or an airport run? Get an estimated fare for your exact route before you book.