Estimate a Canberra taxi meter fare using road distance, selected travel time, ACT maximum fare rates and optional approved charges. This independent informational tool does not book a taxi or guarantee the final meter fare.
Multiple hiring is a shared trip involving separate hirers. A normal group travelling together should use single hire unless 5 or more passengers trigger a high-occupancy rate.
Add only charges that genuinely apply. The ordinary radio booking fee is $0.00. The premium-service fee has strict eligibility conditions, and the wheelchair lift fee is paid by the ACT Government rather than the passenger.
Compare Canberra’s standard weekday daytime taxi fare with representative taxi tariffs across Australia using the same example distance and waiting time. Actual fares vary between states and territories because each jurisdiction uses different flagfall charges, distance rates, waiting fees, tariffs and surcharges
| State or Territory | Representative Day Tariff | Base Fare | 8 km Distance | 5 min Waiting | Example Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Sydney taxi fare / NSW urban day — $2.61/km | $5.17 | $20.88 | $5.65 | $31.70 |
| Victoria | Melbourne day, Fare Structure 1 — $2.10/km | $5.40 | $16.80 | $3.50 | $25.70 |
| Queensland | Brisbane / South East Queensland day — $2.77/km | $3.80 | $22.16 | $5.20 | $31.16 |
| South Australia | Adelaide metropolitan Tariff 1 — $2.30/km | $4.00 | $18.40 | $3.95 | $26.35 |
| Western Australia | Perth metropolitan Tariff 1 — $2.13/km | $5.40 | $17.04 | $5.08 | $27.52 |
| Tasmania | Hobart Tariff 1 — $2.47/km | $5.40 | $19.76 | $3.74 | $28.90 |
| Australian Capital Territory | Canberra standard weekday day — $2.55/km | $6.15 | $20.40 | $5.32 | $31.87 |
| Northern Territory | Darwin Tariff 1 — $1.95/km | $5.90 | $15.60 | $5.77 | $27.27 |
| Queensland | Cairns / Regional Queensland day — $2.88/km | $3.80 | $23.04 | $5.20 | $32.04 |
A Canberra taxi fare normally starts with a flagfall charge. The meter then adds a distance charge based on the tariff that applies when the journey begins. Waiting time and approved additional charges may also be included.
Estimated taxi fare = flagfall + distance charge + waiting time + applicable fees and surcharges
For standard single-hire taxis, the ACT maximum flagfall is $6.15. Journeys beginning between 6:00 am and 9:00 pm from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays, use the weekday daytime rate of $2.55 per kilometre. Journeys beginning outside these hours, or at any time on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, use the $2.90 per kilometre rate.
The Canberra taxi fare calculator uses the pickup location, destination, estimated road distance, expected journey duration, travel date, travel time and selected vehicle type to provide an informational fare range. The calculator does not book a taxi or guarantee the final meter fare.
The following maximum taxi fare inputs apply from 1 July 2026 under the ACT taxi fare determination.
| Fare component | Standard taxi rate | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Flagfall | $6.15 | Charged at the beginning of a standard single hiring |
| Weekday daytime distance rate | $2.55 per km | 6:00 am–9:00 pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays |
| Night, weekend and public holiday rate | $2.90 per km | Before 6:00 am or after 9:00 pm Monday to Friday, plus all day Saturday, Sunday and public holidays |
| Waiting time | $63.85 per hour | May apply while the taxi is waiting or travelling slowly enough for the meter to calculate time |
| Radio booking | $0.00 | No standard radio-booking fee under the maximum-fare schedule |
The tariff is selected according to the time and day when the taxi journey starts. A trip beginning before 9:00 pm on a weekday generally remains a daytime-tariff journey even if it finishes later. Enter the correct pickup date and time in the calculator for a more relevant estimate.
high-occupancy taxi rate can apply when a larger group travels together. Selecting the correct passenger group is important because the flagfall and kilometre rate are higher than the standard taxi rate.
| Vehicle or hiring type | Flagfall | Weekday daytime rate | Other-time rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard taxi, single hiring | $6.15 | $2.55 per km | $2.90 per km |
| Standard taxi, multiple hiring | $4.60 | $1.90 per km | $2.15 per km |
| High-occupancy taxi for 5–7 passengers | $9.25 | $3.80 per km | $4.40 per km |
| High-occupancy taxi for 8 or more passengers | $9.25 | $4.80 per km | $5.55 per km |
A high-occupancy fare applies to a group travelling together in an appropriate taxi. A multiple hiring is a separate regulated fare arrangement and should not be selected simply because members of one group plan to divide the final payment.
The examples below use the standard single-hire flagfall and distance rate effective from 1 July 2026. They are distance-only illustrations and do not include waiting time, airport charges, a baby capsule, premium service fees, route changes or other applicable costs.
| Example distance | Weekday daytime illustration | Night, weekend or public holiday illustration |
|---|---|---|
| 5 km | $18.90 | $20.65 |
| 8 km | $26.55 | $29.35 |
| 10 km | $31.65 | $35.15 |
| 15 km | $44.40 | $49.65 |
| 20 km | $57.15 | $64.15 |
For example, a 10 km standard taxi journey beginning at 2:00 pm on a normal weekday has a distance-only illustration of $31.65:
$6.15 flagfall + 10 km × $2.55 = $31.65
If five minutes of waiting time is included, approximately $5.32 would be added. If the same journey starts from the designated Canberra Airport taxi rank and both airport charges apply, another $4.20 may be added.
Enter a complete Canberra address, suburb, landmark, hotel or Canberra Airport terminal. Selecting a precise address generally produces a more useful road-distance estimate than entering only a suburb name.
Add the complete destination address. The calculator uses the pickup and destination points to estimate the likely road distance and journey duration.
Choose when the taxi journey is expected to begin. The calculator checks whether the weekday daytime rate or the night, weekend and public-holiday rate is likely to apply.
Select a standard taxi for a normal passenger journey. Choose the relevant high-occupancy option when five or more passengers will travel together in a suitable larger taxi.
Select waiting time, an airport pickup, a premium service, a baby capsule or another displayed option only when it is relevant to the planned journey.
Check the estimated fare range, route distance and journey duration. Use the result as a planning guide rather than a fixed quote, confirmed booking or guaranteed meter fare.
The calculator can be used to plan taxi journeys between Canberra Airport, the city centre and suburbs across the ACT. Common journeys include:
Enter the exact pickup and destination instead of relying on a general suburb-to-suburb estimate. Different streets within the same Canberra district can change the road distance and expected travel time.
The final fare shown on the taxi meter may be higher or lower than an online estimate. Important factors include:
Taxi meter fares and booked fixed-price services are not always calculated in the same way. Confirm the pricing arrangement with the taxi provider before travelling when a fixed or guaranteed price is offered.
