Quick Summary
A taxi in Cardiff starts at a £3.50 minimum and runs at roughly £1.80–£2.20 per mile on Cardiff Council's metered tariff, so most short city trips cost £6–£15. The city centre to Cardiff Airport (about 12 miles) is typically £25–£35, or around £27 pre-booked. Cardiff uses three tariffs — daytime, evening/weekend, and a higher night and public-holiday rate from 22:00. Private-hire cars can quote a fixed price. Figures are 2026 estimates; the in-cab fare card is authoritative.
What a Cardiff Taxi Costs
A licensed taxi in Cardiff begins at a £3.50 minimum charge and then runs at roughly £1.80–£2.20 per mile on the meter, depending on the time of day. In practice, most short journeys around the city centre cost between £6 and £15. Fares are set by Cardiff Council, and hackney cabs must use the meter for any trip that starts and ends within Cardiff.
The headline route for many visitors is the city centre to Cardiff Airport at Rhoose, about 12 miles away, which typically costs £25–£35 — or around £27 if you pre-book a fixed price. The final total depends on distance, waiting time, and which of Cardiff's three tariffs applies. You can estimate any journey with a taxi fare calculator before you travel.
How Cardiff Taxi Fares Work
Cardiff Council sets the maximum hackney carriage fares, and every licensed black cab carries a calibrated meter. The fare starts with a minimum charge of £3.50 for the first 250 yards, then adds a set amount for each additional distance unit plus a charge for waiting time. These are mandatory caps, so a metered cab can't charge above the approved rate.
Cardiff's hackney carriages are black with a white bonnet, or London-style black cabs. Drivers must use the meter for any journey starting and ending in Cardiff. Private-hire cars (booked in advance) are licensed by the council too, but can offer a fixed-price quote agreed before you travel — useful for longer trips and airport runs where a meter could creep in traffic.
Example Cardiff Taxi Fares
The table shows approximate daytime metered fares for common Cardiff journeys. Evening, night, and public-holiday tariffs are higher, and longer airport runs are usually pre-booked at a fixed price. These are estimates — the in-cab fare card is authoritative.
| Journey | Approx distance | Approx daytime fare |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiff Central to Principality Stadium | ~0.5 mile | £5–£7 |
| Short city-centre hop | ~1 mile | £6–£8 |
| City centre to Cardiff Bay | ~2 miles | £7–£11 |
| City centre to Cardiff Airport (pre-book) | ~12 miles | £25–£35 |
| Cardiff to Bristol Airport (pre-book) | ~35 miles | £70–£80 |
For very short trips the £3.50 minimum charge applies, so the shortest journeys cost that baseline regardless of distance.
Cardiff's Three Tariffs: Day, Evening and Night
Unlike many cities, Cardiff uses three meter tariffs rather than two. Tariff 1 is the standard daytime rate (Monday to Friday, roughly 5am to 8pm) and the cheapest. Tariff 2 covers evenings and weekends (Monday to Friday 8pm–10pm, and all day Saturday and Sunday from 5am to 10pm). Tariff 3 is the highest, applying overnight from 10pm to 5am any day, and at any time on public holidays.
The £3.50 minimum charge stays the same across all three, but the running rate rises as the tariff steps up, so the same journey costs progressively more in the evening, overnight, and on bank holidays. Christmas and New Year fall under the top tariff. The fare card inside the cab shows exactly which tariff applies.
Cardiff Airport Taxis
Cardiff Airport (CWL) sits near Rhoose, about 12–14 miles south-west of the city centre, a drive of around 20–30 minutes via the A4232 and A48. A taxi from the city centre typically costs £25–£35 on the meter, or about £27 as a pre-booked fixed fare. Early-morning or late-night flights fall under the higher tariffs, so a fixed price often works out cheaper and more predictable.
For airport trips it's worth pre-booking: you get a guaranteed car and a known price, with luggage space and no meter creep if traffic is heavy. Sharing between a group also brings the per-person cost down compared with separate fares.
Hackney Cab vs Private Hire in Cardiff
A hackney carriage can be hailed on the street or picked up at a rank — outside Cardiff Central, around St Mary Street, and at the bay — and runs on the regulated council meter. Drivers can't refuse a metered fare that starts and ends within Cardiff, so it's the simplest option for getting around the city.
A private-hire car (minicab) must be pre-booked and can offer a fixed-price quote agreed before you set off. That's a real advantage on longer journeys and airport runs, where it protects you from a meter rising in traffic. For nights out, early flights, and trips leaving the city, pre-booking a fixed fare is usually the better-value choice.
Cardiff to Bristol, Heathrow and Long-Distance Trips
Longer journeys out of the city are quoted as fixed fares rather than metered. As a rough guide, Cardiff to Bristol Airport (about 35 miles) is around £70–£80, and Cardiff to Heathrow (roughly 150 miles) is in the region of £150–£160. LondonAirport‑Taxi.com arranges fixed-fare long-distance transfers to London's airports — a Cardiff to Heathrow taxi is a door-to-door option for travellers connecting to long-haul flights.
See our long-distance taxi service for how these journeys work, our UK long-distance taxi prices for guide costs across Britain, and our guide to how much taxis cost in London for fares in the capital.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a taxi in Cardiff cost?
A Cardiff taxi starts at a £3.50 minimum and runs at roughly £1.80–£2.20 per mile on the meter.
Most short city-centre journeys come to between £6 and £15, while the city centre to Cardiff Airport is typically £25–£35. Fares are set by Cardiff Council and charged on calibrated meters, so a hackney cab can't exceed the approved rate. Cardiff uses three tariffs, with evenings, nights, and public holidays costing more. These are 2026 estimates — the in-cab fare card shows the exact rates, and private hire can quote a fixed price.
How much is a taxi from Cardiff to Cardiff Airport?
A taxi from Cardiff city centre to Cardiff Airport is typically £25–£35, or around £27 pre-booked.
The airport is near Rhoose, about 12–14 miles south-west of the centre, a drive of roughly 20–30 minutes via the A4232 and A48. Early-morning and late-night flights fall under Cardiff's higher tariffs, so a pre-booked fixed fare is often cheaper and more predictable than the meter. Pre-booking also guarantees a car with luggage space — handy for an early departure or a group with bags.
How are Cardiff taxi fares set?
Cardiff Council sets the maximum hackney carriage tariff, charged on calibrated meters.
The fare starts with a £3.50 minimum for the first 250 yards, then adds a set amount per distance unit plus a waiting-time charge. These are mandatory caps, so a metered cab can't charge above the approved rate. Hackney carriages must use the meter for journeys starting and ending within Cardiff. Private-hire cars are licensed by the same council but can offer a fixed-price quote agreed before the journey begins.
What are Cardiff's three taxi tariffs?
Cardiff uses three meter tariffs: daytime, evening/weekend, and night/public-holiday.
Tariff 1 is the standard daytime rate (Monday to Friday, about 5am to 8pm). Tariff 2 covers evenings and weekends (weekday 8pm–10pm and all day Saturday and Sunday to 10pm). Tariff 3 is the highest, applying overnight from 10pm to 5am and at any time on public holidays. The £3.50 minimum is the same across all three, but the running rate rises as the tariff steps up.
Are Cardiff taxis more expensive at night and on bank holidays?
Yes — the top tariff applies overnight from 10pm to 5am and all day on public holidays.
Under Tariff 3 the per-mile rate is higher, so the same journey costs more late at night and on bank holidays. Christmas and New Year fall under this rate too. If you're travelling in the early hours or on a holiday, a pre-booked fixed price removes any uncertainty about which tariff applies and what the final fare will be before you set off.
What is the difference between a hackney cab and private hire in Cardiff?
A hackney cab can be hailed or taken from a rank on the meter; private hire must be pre-booked and can offer a fixed price.
Cardiff hackney carriages are black with a white bonnet, or London-style cabs, and run on the regulated council meter for journeys within the city. Private-hire minicabs can't be flagged down or wait at a rank — you book ahead and can agree a fixed fare in advance, which often works out better for longer trips and airport runs where the meter could rise in traffic.
How much is a taxi from Cardiff to Bristol Airport or Heathrow?
Cardiff to Bristol Airport is around £70–£80, and Cardiff to Heathrow roughly £150–£160, as fixed pre-booked fares.
These longer journeys aren't charged on the city meter — you agree a price in advance based on distance and vehicle. Bristol Airport is about 35 miles away and Heathrow roughly 150 miles. A pre-booked car gives door-to-door service with luggage help and a known cost before you travel, which suits early flights with a group or extra bags heading to a London airport.
How much is a taxi from Cardiff to London?
A Cardiff-to-London taxi is a long-distance journey of around 150 miles, quoted as a fixed fare rather than metered.
Long-distance runs are agreed in advance based on distance and vehicle, not charged on the city meter. LondonAirport‑Taxi.com offers pre-booked fixed-fare transfers between Cardiff and London's airports, a door-to-door option for travellers with luggage or in a group. Get an instant quote for the exact fare, or compare guide prices on our UK long-distance taxi prices page before booking your journey.
Summary
A taxi in Cardiff starts at a £3.50 minimum and runs at about £1.80–£2.20 per mile on Cardiff Council's meter, so short city trips cost £6–£15 and the city centre to Cardiff Airport is typically £25–£35. The city uses three tariffs — daytime, evening/weekend, and a higher night and public-holiday rate — with the £3.50 minimum constant across all three.
Private-hire cars can offer a fixed price, which is often better value for airport runs and longer trips, and journeys out of the city — to Bristol, Heathrow, or London — are agreed in advance rather than metered. LondonAirport‑Taxi.com provides fixed-fare long-distance and airport transfers from Cardiff. Get an instant quote for any airport or long-distance journey.
