We recommend tipping a New York City taxi driver 15–20% of the metered fare, before surcharges and tolls.
Total fare before tip
Base tip percentage before adjustments
Quick presets
Tip Amount
$4.50
Total
$29.50
Effective tip
18%
Enter the metered fare in the calculator above. It starts at 18%, which sits inside our range. You can also open the Taxi & rideshare tip calculator on its own page.
How much to tip a taxi in NYC
Our recommendation for a normal yellow cab ride is 15–20% of the metered fare. Use the low end when the ride was fine and nothing more. Move toward the top when the driver helps you out.
The tip is your call. This range is the guide we use, and the sections below show how to work it out fast.
What to calculate the tip on
A New York City taxi fare has several parts. The meter starts with a $3.00 initial charge (NYC TLC: Taxi Fare, checked October 24, 2026). It then adds 70 cents per 1/5 mile above 12mph, or per 60 seconds in slow traffic or when stopped (NYC TLC: Taxi Fare, checked October 24, 2026).
The TLC fare page lists these surcharges on top of the meter (NYC TLC: Taxi Fare, checked October 24, 2026):
- 50 cents MTA State Surcharge for all trips that end in New York City or Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Dutchess, Orange or Putnam Counties
- $1.00 Improvement Surcharge
- $1.00 overnight surcharge, 8pm to 6am
- $2.50 rush hour surcharge, 4pm to 8pm on weekdays, excluding holidays
- $2.50 New York State Congestion Surcharge (yellow taxi) for trips that begin, end or pass through Manhattan south of 96th Street
- MTA Congestion Pricing toll of 75 cents for Yellow and Green Taxi for the area of Manhattan south of and including 60th Street, excluding the FDR Drive, West Side Highway/Route 9A, and the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel connections to West Street
The same page ends the fare list with "Plus tips and any tolls." (NYC TLC: Taxi Fare, checked October 24, 2026)
We recommend tipping on the metered fare only. Leave the surcharges and tolls out of the tip math. This keeps the math simple and ties the tip to the ride itself.
For airport runs, TLC lists a flat fare: "Trips between Manhattan and John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) in either direction: $70" (NYC TLC: Taxi Fare, checked October 24, 2026). We recommend tipping on that $70.
Worked examples
| Metered fare | Tip at 15% | Tip at 18% | Tip at 20% |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $1.50 | $1.80 | $2.00 |
| $20.00 | $3.00 | $3.60 | $4.00 |
| $35.00 | $5.25 | $6.30 | $7.00 |
| $50.00 | $7.50 | $9.00 | $10.00 |
| $70.00 (JFK flat fare) | $10.50 | $12.60 | $14.00 |
Quick math without a phone
Take a $20 metered fare. Move the decimal one place left to get $2.00. Add half of that, $1.00, for a $3.00 tip. That is 15%.
For 20%, double the $2.00. That gives a $4.00 tip.
Paying the tip by cash or card
TLC says: "There is no charge for extra passengers, luggage or bags, or paying by credit card." (NYC TLC: Taxi Fare, checked October 24, 2026)
Cash or card is your choice. If you pay by card, work out the tip first. Then enter that amount when you pay.
If you want to tip in cash, carry small bills. Hand the tip to the driver with the fare, so the amount is clear.
When to tip more
We recommend moving toward 20% when:
- The driver loads or unloads heavy bags
- You ride in heavy rain, snow, or heat
- The driver waits while you load a stroller, a wheelchair, or a lot of shopping
- The driver gets you through heavy traffic safely and calmly
- The trip is a long airport run
Stay at 15% when the ride was fine but nothing more.
Splitting a cab fare
We recommend one tip on the full metered fare, split evenly between riders. Agree on the tip before you get out, so one person can pay the driver.
Example: four friends share a cab with a $40.00 metered fare. At 18%, the tip is $7.20.
| Per person | Amount |
|---|---|
| Share of the metered fare ($40.00 ÷ 4) | $10.00 |
| Share of the tip ($7.20 ÷ 4) | $1.80 |
| Subtotal per person | $11.80 |
Each person also pays a quarter of any surcharges and tolls.
Yellow cabs, e-hail apps, and ride-hailing
Our range is for a yellow cab you hail on the street or book through an app. For e-hail apps, TLC says: "Each app will have an option to tip the driver. As always, you can tip your driver in cash." (NYC TLC: Taxi Fare, checked October 24, 2026)
For a car service you book ahead, we recommend the same range on the price of the ride.
Riding with Uber or Lyft instead? See How much to tip an Uber driver.