We recommend tipping a Las Vegas taxi driver 15–20% of the fare, including on a short ride along the Strip.
Do you tip a taxi driver in Las Vegas?
Yes. We recommend a tip on a Las Vegas taxi ride, including a short ride on the Strip.
How much to tip a Las Vegas taxi driver
A two-minute hop and a ride in from the airport use the same percentage. The dollar tip is smaller when the fare is smaller.
Total fare before tip
Base tip percentage before adjustments
Quick presets
Tip Amount
$4.50
Total
$29.50
Effective tip
18%
The calculator starts at 18%. Leave Luggage on None and Traffic Conditions on Normal, because the other settings change the rate. Some luggage multiplies the tip by 1.05, heavy luggage by 1.15, light traffic by 0.95, and heavy traffic by 1.10. Enter the fare. These rows are examples for the math only. They are not Las Vegas taxi rates.
| Example fare | Tip at 15% | Tip at 18% | Tip at 20% |
|---|---|---|---|
| $9 | $1.35 | $1.62 | $1.80 |
| $18 | $2.70 | $3.24 | $3.60 |
| $35 | $5.25 | $6.30 | $7.00 |
| $55 | $8.25 | $9.90 | $11.00 |
A $9 hop at 18% is a $1.62 tip. A $35 ride at 18% is $6.30. Same percentage, different dollars.
What to leave off this tip
Tip on the taxi fare. A valet who parks the car, a dealer at a table, and a server at dinner are different tips on different pages. Do not fold them into the cab.
For any other metered cab, see how much to tip a taxi driver. For Uber and Lyft, see How much to tip an Uber driver.
Airport to the Strip: a flat zone fare
The Nevada Taxicab Authority lists flat zone fares between Harry Reid International Airport and the Strip: Zone 1 (Sunset north to Tropicana) $22.25, Zone 2 (Tropicana north to Flamingo) $26.25, Zone 3 (Flamingo north to Stratosphere) $30.25. It also lists a $2.40 airport pickup fee and a $3.00 credit or debit card fee, and adds 3% excise tax to all rates and fees. (Nevada Taxicab Authority: Approximate Fare Information, checked October 24, 2026) Tip 15–20% of the zone fare. The fees are not the ride, so do not tip on them.
Cash or card
Pay the tip with the fare. Cash is a few bills on top of the meter. On a card reader, choose a percentage inside 15–20% or type the dollar amount. A short hop still gets the percentage. Do not drop it because the ride was brief.
Bags at the curb
A hotel pickup with bags still uses 15–20% of the fare. The bags are a reason to choose 20%. We do not add a separate per-bag amount on top of the percentage.
When to use 15% or 20% in Las Vegas
Use 20% when the driver loads bags at the airport or at a hotel door, or when you asked for an extra stop. Use 15% for a direct hop. Skip the tip if the driver is rude or takes a route you did not agree to.
The Taxi & rideshare tip calculator starts at the same 18%.