2026 Official Hong Kong Taxi Fare Standard｜Red · Green

Why does this page exist?

Hong Kong's taxi trade is often second-guessed over whether a fare was inflated, especially on long airport or border-crossing runs, where passengers only discover the reading doesn't match their expectation after getting out. We think the better fix isn't asking you to "trust us" — it's laying the statutory tariff out in full so you can check it yourself, any time.

This is not marketing copy; it's a reference tool. Every figure here is the official tariff published by the Transport Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government under the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations, and it applies to every licensed taxi in Hong Kong — not just ours. Hold this page up against any taxi's in-cab fare card, or against the fixed fare or 15%-off-meter price we quote you, and check the numbers line up.

Who it applies to: every licensed urban red, New Territories green, and Lantau blue taxi in Hong Kong — this is not a rate exclusive to us

Source: the current taxi tariff gazetted by the Transport Department, cross-checked against our own published pages including Tung Chung Taxi, Types of Hong Kong Taxis, and Yuen Long/Tin Shui Wai to Airport

Update frequency: updated whenever the Transport Department issues a new notice; otherwise the current standard stands

What's deliberately left out: we won't guess at toll amounts for tunnels this site hasn't independently confirmed (e.g. Lion Rock, Shing Mun), nor assume a future increase the Department hasn't announced

One-Minute Summary

Effective date	Since 14 July 2024; still the current standard through 2026
Red (urban) flag fall	$29 (first 2km)
Green (New Territories) flag fall	$25.5 (first 2km)
Blue (Lantau) flag fall	$24 (first 2km, lowest of the three)
Statutory surcharges	$6 per piece of luggage, $5 per animal/bird, $5 per phone booking, wheelchair and crutches free
Cross-harbour tunnel (taxi)	Flat $25 per trip all day; plus $25 return fee if not boarded at a cross-harbour rank
Issuing authority	Transport Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR (via gazette notice)
What this page is for	Checking our quotes yourself, and seeing exactly how much a fixed fare or 15% off actually saves

The statutory tariff is the Transport Department's official standard, and every figure on this page is consistent with what's already published on our Tung Chung Taxi, Types of Hong Kong Taxis, and Yuen Long/Tin Shui Wai to Airport pages. If the Transport Department announces a revision, this page will be updated to match.

Full Statutory Fare Table: All Three Taxi Colours

Red, green and blue taxis side by side — flag fall, jump rates and surcharges at a glance

Fare item	Urban taxi (Red)	New Territories taxi (Green)	Lantau taxi (Blue)
First 2km or part thereof (flag fall)	$29.0	$25.5	$24.0 (lowest of the three)
Each subsequent 200m or 60 seconds waiting (first stage)	$2.1	$1.9	$1.9
First-stage rate applies until the reading reaches	$102.5	$82.5	$195.0 (highest of the three)
Beyond the threshold, per 200m or 60 seconds (second stage)	$1.4	$1.4	$1.6
Per piece of luggage	$6	$6	$6
Per animal or bird	$5	$5	$5
Per phone/electronic booking	$5	$5	$5
Wheelchair and crutches (disabled passenger)	Free	Free	Free

"Every 200m or 60 seconds waiting" means the meter jumps once per 200m driven, or once every 60 seconds while the vehicle is stuck or moving slowly — whichever comes first. So sitting in traffic costs you money too, not just distance covered.

The 140cm luggage rule, explained

The statutory luggage surcharge is $6 per piece, and applies in two ways:

Anything placed in the boot: charged at $6 per piece regardless of size

Anything carried in the passenger cabin: only charged if its combined length, width and height exceeds 140cm — an ordinary handbag or small backpack is not charged

Strollers: generally treated under the luggage rule depending on size; a small folded stroller is usually not charged separately

A wheelchair or crutches used by a disabled passenger: free by law — they cannot be billed as ordinary luggage

Animals or birds: $5 each, charged separately from luggage; an appropriate carrier is recommended

There is no cap on the number of pieces — multiple bags are charged cumulatively. Our fixed fare already includes luggage (unlimited pieces); under the 15%-off-meter model, luggage is charged at the statutory rate and stated clearly in the quote.

Why does the blue taxi's low flag fall not always win on long trips?

The Lantau blue taxi's first-2km flag fall of $24 is the lowest of the three, but its first-stage rate holds until the reading reaches $195 before switching to the cheaper $1.6 rate — a threshold nearly double the red taxi's $102.5 and the green taxi's $82.5. So short trips (a run within Tung Chung, or Tung Chung to the airport) are usually cheapest on a blue taxi, but on a trip of ten-plus kilometres, red and green taxis catch up because they switch to the cheaper rate much earlier.

Red vs green: how does the long-trip gap actually work out?

A red taxi's flag fall is $3.5 higher and its first-stage rate $0.2 higher — so shouldn't it always cost more? Not necessarily, because the two switch to the cheaper second-stage rate at different thresholds: green switches at $82.5, red only at $102.5, so the two accumulate at different speeds over a longer trip.

Stage	Red	Green
Flag fall	$29 (first 2km)	$25.5 (first 2km)
First-stage jump	$2.1 per 200m, until $102.5	$1.9 per 200m, until $82.5
Second-stage jump	$1.4 per 200m	$1.4 per 200m
Long-trip effect	Stays on the pricier first stage longer, so it accumulates faster early on	Switches to the cheap rate sooner, so the long-trip increase is slower

Both taxis share the same second-stage rate ($1.4), so the gap doesn't keep widening indefinitely — it's most pronounced around the 8-10km mark and narrows gradually after that.

For the full colour classification, definitions and how to tell them apart, see Types of Hong Kong Taxis: Red, Green and Blue Explained; for a real-world example of the Lantau blue taxi in action, see Tung Chung Taxi Fixed Fare.

How the Meter Actually Jumps

Most fare disputes come from not understanding how the meter works — here it is in plain terms

Meter element	How it works	What to watch for
Flag fall	The moment the taxi starts moving, the meter begins at the flag fall, covering the first 2km or any part of it	Even a 500m ride still costs the full flag fall
Distance increment	Beyond the first 2km, the meter jumps once every 200m driven	Based on the actual route driven, not straight-line distance
Waiting-time increment	While the vehicle is stationary or moving slowly (traffic, red lights, loading), the meter jumps once every 60 seconds — at the same rate as the distance increment	Traffic, detours and red lights all add to the fare, not just kilometres covered
Rate threshold switch	Once the reading reaches a set amount ($102.5 for red / $82.5 for green / $195 for blue), the jump rate automatically switches to the cheaper second-stage rate	Short trips are mostly billed at the pricier first stage; only longer trips benefit from the cheaper second-stage rate
Surcharges (shown separately or stated verbally)	Luggage, animal and booking fees are not shown on the main meter display, and are collected separately by the driver	You can ask up front what surcharges will apply
Tunnel tolls	Collected directly by the driver at the toll booth, and never shown on the meter	For cross-harbour tunnels, watch the "toll plus return fee" distinction — see the next section

An easily overlooked fact: sitting in traffic costs money too

Many people assume taxi fares are purely distance-based. In fact, the waiting-time increment is written into the statutory tariff itself — while the vehicle is stationary or moving slowly, the meter jumps once every 60 seconds, at exactly the same rate as the distance increment. So during rush hour, school pick-up time, or a jam at a tunnel mouth, the reading climbs even though the distance driven hasn't changed. This isn't the driver padding the bill — it's how the law is designed.

If you'd rather avoid this variable, our fixed fare already absorbs traffic and waiting time and never rises because of road conditions; under 15% off meter, traffic still shows up in the reading (just discounted by 15%) — worth weighing when you choose a model.

Checking the in-cab fare card and the meter itself

In-cab fare card: licensed taxis must display a bilingual fare card in a visible spot in the cabin, showing the flag fall, jump rates and surcharges — it should match this page exactly
Meter position: usually mounted in front of or beside the driver, continuously displaying the running total while the trip is in progress
"HIRED" / "For Hire" indicator: the roof light typically shows "HIRED" or goes dark once a fare is picked up, confirming the meter is active
Receipt: licensed taxis carry a receipt printer; you can request a printout showing the fare, date/time and vehicle registration
If the meter appears not to be moving, or looks tampered with: keep evidence (a photo, the plate number) and report it to the Transport Department or the police

Operating Areas: Where Can Each Colour Go?

The colour doesn't just set the price — it determines where a taxi may legally pick up passengers

District/destination	Urban red	NT green	Lantau blue
Hong Kong Island, urban Kowloon	Yes	No	No
Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Tai Po, North, Ma On Shan, Sai Kung (designated areas)	Yes	Permitted area	No
Tseung Kwan O new town	Yes	Not a green-taxi permitted area	No
HK International Airport terminal	Yes	Via designated route	Yes
Tung Chung new town (station, Caribbean Coast, Yat Tung Estate, etc.)	Yes	Via designated route	Yes (core service area)
Tung Chung Road and South Lantau roads (Ngong Ping, Tai O, Mui Wo, Discovery Bay)	No	No	Yes
HZMB Hong Kong Port interchange	Yes	Route-dependent	Yes
Hong Kong Disneyland	Yes	A permitted destination	Yes

Common myth: "New Territories" doesn't mean any green taxi will do

Green (New Territories) taxi permitted areas are clearly defined — Tseung Kwan O new town is not included, for instance, and central Sha Tin is largely handled via designated pick-up points instead. Likewise, Lantau blue taxis cannot enter urban Kowloon or Hong Kong Island, and neither red nor green taxis can reach South Lantau (Ngong Ping, Tai O, Mui Wo) or Discovery Bay — only blue taxis can. When you book, we arrange a legally valid vehicle type based on your pick-up point, destination and every stop along the way — you don't need to work this out yourself, just tell us every drop-off point clearly.

For the full legal basis, designated-route list and which taxi suits which trip, see Types of Hong Kong Taxis — Complete Guide; for real examples of Lantau's three-colour operating areas, see Tung Chung Taxi Fixed Fare.

Which taxi should your trip use?

Trip	Usual assignment	Why
Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, Wan Chai hotel to airport	Red	Urban Kowloon and HK Island are red-taxi territory
Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai to airport	Green or red	A green-permitted area; red is dispatched if green supply is tight
Tseung Kwan O to airport	Red	TKO new town is not a green-permitted area
Within Tung Chung, or Tung Chung to airport	Any of the three, supply-dependent	Tung Chung is a zone where all three overlap
Airport to South Lantau (Ngong Ping, Tai O, Mui Wo)	Blue	Only blue taxis may use Tung Chung Road and South Lantau roads
Airport to Discovery Bay	Blue	Not within red or green taxis' permitted area
Airport to the HZMB Hong Kong Port	Red or blue	Both are permitted at that interchange
Multi-stop trip across districts	Usually red	A stop along the way may fall outside green or blue's permitted area

The final vehicle assignment depends on your pick-up point, destination, every stop en route, and vehicle availability at the time — you don't need to work out the vehicle colour yourself when booking, just tell us every drop-off point clearly.

Tunnels and Toll Roads: What's Payable, What's Free?

Taxi tunnel tolls never appear on the meter and are paid separately; this section lists only tolls already confirmed on this site

Tunnel/toll road	Taxi toll	Note
Lantau Link (to/from the airport, Tung Chung)	Free	Toll-free since December 2020
Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Tunnel	Free	Lets Tuen Mun and Yuen Long reach the airport without detouring via Tsuen Wan
Tseung Kwan O-Lam Tin Tunnel / Tseung Kwan O Tunnel	Free	A government tunnel; no toll for taxis
Tai Lam Tunnel	$28	An alternate route for Yuen Long/Tuen Mun when the TM-CLK Tunnel is closed
Cross-Harbour Tunnel	$25	Flat rate all day, no time bands; see the return-fee rule below
Eastern Harbour Crossing	$25	Flat rate all day, no time bands; return-fee rule applies
Western Harbour Crossing	$25	Flat rate all day, no time bands; return-fee rule applies

Other toll tunnels — Lion Rock, Shing Mun, Tate's Cairn, Aberdeen and similar — have tolls set separately by the Transport Department and subject to periodic revision; this page does not estimate a precise figure for them. If your route passes through one, please ask us for the current applicable toll at the time of booking, or check the Transport Department's latest published tariff directly.

Government tunnels: completely toll-free for taxis

Beyond Lantau Link and the Tuen Mun-CLK Tunnel, the Transport Department maintains a number of government tunnels that charge taxis no toll at all, including:

In practice, this means a trip from the airport to most of Kowloon, to Disneyland, or to Tseung Kwan O/Kwun Tong can often be done with zero tunnel tolls — it's only once the destination is on Hong Kong Island (requiring one of the three cross-harbour tunnels) that the toll and return fee described above come into play. This is why we always state clearly whether a route is "meter only" or "meter plus tunnel toll" when quoting.

Cross-harbour return fee: $25 + $25 — when does it apply?

The three cross-harbour tunnels (Cross-Harbour Tunnel, Eastern Harbour Crossing, Western Harbour Crossing) charge taxis a flat $25 per trip, all day — unlike private cars, there's no time-of-day banding. But if the taxi crosses the harbour and you did not board at a designated cross-harbour taxi rank, an additional $25 return tunnel fee applies — meaning the trip costs you $50 in total ($25 crossing + $25 return).

Scenario	Crossing toll	Return fee	Total
Boarding at a cross-harbour taxi rank (e.g. an Airport Express station rank on HK Island)	$25	Waived	$25
Hailing a taxi off the street in town to cross the harbour	$25	$25	$50
Destination isn't on the other side of the harbour (no crossing)	N/A	Waived	$0
Airport to Hong Kong Island	$25	$25	$50

What does it mean if the driver suggests taking Tai Lam Tunnel instead?

For Yuen Long or Tuen Mun to the airport, the normal fastest, cheapest route is the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Tunnel (free). Only in specific circumstances — the TM-CLK Tunnel closed, a serious incident, or severe weather — would a driver need to switch to Tai Lam Tunnel → Tsuen Wan → Lantau Link, adding a $28 toll and a higher reading due to the longer route. The reasonable approach is for the driver to explain this before making the switch, not to quietly reroute and only mention the extra charge once you're getting out.

Worked example: airport to Central

Say you hail or book a taxi from the airport to a Central hotel: first, you did not board at a cross-harbour taxi rank (you boarded at the airport); second, Central is on the other side of the harbour (a crossing is required) — neither exemption applies, so by the meter you'll pay $25 crossing toll plus $25 return fee, $50 in total, on top of the meter reading and luggage fee. This is exactly why a fixed fare is particularly good value on cross-harbour routes — our airport-to-HK-Island fixed fare already includes this $50, so you won't be surprised by it after getting out.

Actual tunnel tolls are set by the Transport Department and this page will be updated if they change. For the full breakdown of surcharges and tunnel tolls, see Complete Guide to Taxi Surcharges.

Verify Your Own Fare: 3 Worked Examples

Using the statutory table above, you can work this out yourself — the formula and figures are fully public

Method: the flag fall already covers the first 2km; every 200m after that jumps the meter once (ignoring waiting time for now). Take the New Territories green taxi: the first-stage rate is $1.9 per 200m, roughly $9.5 per kilometre; once the reading reaches $82.5 (around the 8th kilometre), it switches to $1.4 per 200m, roughly $7 per kilometre. So:

Example	Working	Estimated reading
Green taxi, 6km (e.g. a short hop within Tung Chung)	Under the 8km threshold, so entirely first-stage: $25.5 + (6−2)km × $9.5/km	≈ $25.5 + $38 ≈ $63.5
Green taxi, 15km (e.g. Tsuen Wan to the airport)	First reaches $82.5 (~8th km), then $7/km for the remaining 7km: $82.5 + 7 × $7	≈ $82.5 + $49 ≈ $131.5
Green taxi, 28km (e.g. Yuen Long town centre to the airport)	$82.5 + (28−8)km × $7	≈ $82.5 + $140 ≈ $222.5
Red taxi, 10km (e.g. Tsim Sha Tsui to Victoria Peak, a short urban trip)	First-stage $2.1 per 200m (~$10.5/km), under the $102.5 threshold (~9.9th km): $29 + (10−2) × $10.5	≈ $29 + $84 ≈ $113

The above are rough estimates excluding waiting-time increments — actual readings run higher with traffic, red lights and loading/unloading; distances are approximate driving distances, not straight lines. If the destination requires crossing the harbour, add $25 (or $50) in tunnel charges, per the previous section. You can use this method to check the approximate fare for any trip yourself, or use the Fare Calculator or Standard Fare Calculator.

Full worked example: airport to a Central hotel — how does the reading add up?

Say the airport to Central is about 34km, using an urban red taxi (excluding waiting time):

Step 1, flag fall: $29 for the first 2km

Step 2, first-stage jump: from km 2 to roughly km 9.9 (until the reading reaches $102.5), at about $10.5/km — 7.9km × $10.5 ≈ $83

Step 3, second-stage jump: once past $102.5, the rate drops to about $7/km for the remaining 34 − 9.9 ≈ 24.1km × $7 ≈ $169

Subtotal (meter only): $29 + $83 + $169 ≈ $281

Step 4, cross-harbour toll: airport to HK Island doesn't meet either exemption, so add $25 crossing toll + $25 return fee = $50

Step 5, luggage: assuming 2 pieces, $6 × 2 = $12

Total (excluding waiting time): $281 + $50 + $12 ≈ $343

This excludes traffic-related waiting time, so the actual reading is usually higher. This is exactly why we recommend a fixed fare on cross-harbour long trips like this one — the total is locked in before departure, so you're not caught off guard by a reading north of $300 when you arrive.

New Territories districts to the airport: green-taxi statutory estimate

Based on the New Territories green taxi statutory tariff ($25.5 for the first 2km, $1.9 per 200m thereafter, switching to $1.4 per 200m past $82.5), excluding waiting-time increments; consistent with our Yuen Long/Tin Shui Wai to Airport page

Departure area	Approx. distance	Statutory estimate	Related page
Hung Shui Kiu, Ping Shan area	~25km	~$202	Yuen Long/Tin Shui Wai
Yuen Long town centre	~28km	~$223	Yuen Long/Tin Shui Wai
Tin Shui Wai	~30km	~$237	Yuen Long/Tin Shui Wai
South Tuen Mun (near the TM-CLK Tunnel entrance)	~15–18km	~$140–$160	Tuen Mun
Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung	~20–24km	~$165–$195	Tsuen Wan
Tsing Yi, Kwai Fong	~15–18km	~$140–$160	Tsing Yi/Kwai Fong
Tung Chung (Lantau blue taxi)	~3–8km	~$40–$65	Tung Chung

Kowloon and HK Island to the airport: red-taxi statutory estimate

Based on the urban red taxi statutory tariff ($29 for the first 2km, $2.1 per 200m thereafter, switching to $1.4 per 200m past $102.5), excluding waiting-time increments and cross-harbour tunnel tolls where applicable

Departure area	Approx. distance	Statutory estimate (excl. tunnel toll)	Related page
Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei, Jordan	~33–36km	~$290–$310	Tsim Sha Tsui/Jordan
Mong Kok, Sham Shui Po	~32–35km	~$280–$300	Mong Kok/Sham Shui Po
Wong Tai Sin, Diamond Hill	~34–37km	~$295–$315	Wong Tai Sin/Diamond Hill
Kwun Tong, Kowloon Bay	~36–39km	~$310–$330	Kwun Tong
Hong Kong Island (Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay — add the cross-harbour toll)	~40–45km	~$335–$365 (excl. the $50 crossing fee)	Hong Kong Island

The tables above are statutory estimates for reference only, not a final quote; actual charges depend on pick-up point, road conditions and waiting time. See each district's page for the full fixed-fare and 15%-off table, or ask us directly on WhatsApp.

Full worked example: Tung Chung to Ngong Ping (Lantau blue taxi)

Say Tung Chung to Ngong Ping is about 8km, on a Lantau blue taxi (excluding waiting time):

Flag fall: $24 for the first 2km

First-stage jump: the blue taxi's first-stage rate holds until the reading reaches $195, and 8km is well under that threshold, so the whole trip uses $1.9 per 200m (~$9.5/km): (8−2)km × $9.5 ≈ $57

Subtotal: $24 + $57 ≈ about $81

Tunnel toll: Tung Chung Road and the South Lantau roads carry no toll tunnels, so $0

This shows how much the blue taxi's low flag fall helps on a short trip — but note this route requires a blue taxi: neither red nor green taxis may use Tung Chung Road or the South Lantau roads, and blue-taxi supply is limited, so booking ahead is recommended.

5 Steps to Check You Weren't Overcharged

Simple checks you can do before, during or after the ride

Confirm the taxi type and flag fall before boarding. Note the body colour (red/green/blue) and match it to this page's flag fall — the final reading should never come in below that starting figure.
Watch whether the meter matches a reasonable distance. If you have a rough sense of the route length, use the formula in "Verify Your Own Fare" above to estimate the expected reading and compare it against the final meter display.
Check the tunnel toll hasn't been inflated. Cross-harbour tolls are a flat $25 all day, unaffected by time of day or vehicle type; if a driver states a toll well above that, feel free to ask why.
Check the surcharge items. Only three surcharges have a legal basis — luggage ($6/piece), animals ($5/each) and booking ($5/trip) — anything else has no statutory basis, and you can ask the driver to explain it.
Ask for a receipt. Every licensed taxi carries a receipt printer; ask for one before getting out — it will show the fare, date/time and vehicle registration, useful for any follow-up query or complaint.

If you suspect overcharging, keep the receipt and note the plate number, then report it to the Transport Department or the police; for anything booked through us, any dispute is also welcome to be raised with us directly on WhatsApp and we'll check our quote records and follow up.

If the reading doesn't match your own calculation, what might explain it?

Situation	Likely explanation
Reading is a bit higher than you calculated	Most likely the waiting-time increment (traffic, red lights, loading) wasn't included in your estimate
Reading is a lot higher than you calculated	The route driven may have been longer, or passed through a toll tunnel — feel free to ask about the route taken
An extra $25 or $50 on top	Most likely the cross-harbour toll and return fee, a normal charge — see "Tunnels and Toll Roads" above
An extra amount that's a multiple of $6 or $5	Most likely the luggage fee ($6/piece) or animal fee ($5/each) — check it matches the number of pieces
An unexplained miscellaneous charge	The only legal surcharges are luggage, animals, booking and tunnel tolls — anything else should be queried

Statutory Meter vs 15% Off vs Fixed Fare: Which Wins?

How the three pricing models differ, and roughly how much each saves

Model	How it's calculated	Surcharges/tunnel tolls	Best suited to
Statutory meter (full)	The full reading per this page's tariff	Luggage, animal, booking fee and tunnel tolls billed separately	Street hails, taxi ranks
15% off meter	Statutory reading × 0.85	Surcharges billed at the actual statutory rate, clearly stated in the quote	Short trips, no harbour crossing, good traffic conditions
Fixed fare	A total locked in before departure	Already includes luggage, booking fee, and any tunnel tolls and return fee along the route	Airport, border-crossing or cross-harbour trips, or wherever budget certainty matters

Either model beats the full statutory meter

Whichever you choose, you'll pay less than the full meter reading. 15% off meter suits short trips that don't cross the harbour — with no tunnel toll to factor in, the 15% saving is straightforward; a fixed fare suits airport, border-crossing or cross-harbour long trips — because it already includes the possible $50 crossing toll and return fee, you know exactly what you'll pay before you set off, with no surprise at the end. On short, non-crossing routes (Disneyland, Tsing Yi, for example) we'll usually quote both prices so you can pick whichever works out cheaper.

Scenario: Tin Shui Wai to airport (statutory meter ~$237)	Amount payable	Saving
Statutory meter (full, street hail)	$237	—
15% off meter	~$201	~$36 saved
Fixed fare (surcharges and tolls included)	Quoted by estate, usually in the same range	Known total before departure

The above is a worked example based on the New Territories green taxi statutory tariff, consistent with our Yuen Long/Tin Shui Wai to Airport page, and is not a final quote.

Which model suits which situation?

Short, no harbour crossing → 15% off meter

Routes like Tsing Yi, Tsuen Wan or Disneyland involve no cross-harbour toll, so the 15% saving is the most direct.

Long airport or border-crossing trips → fixed fare

Already includes luggage, booking fee and tunnel tolls along the route — you know the exact total before departure, unaffected by traffic.

Crossing to Hong Kong Island → fixed fare

Already covers the possible $50 cross-harbour toll and return fee, so you're never hit with it after getting out.

Not sure → ask for both

On routes where traffic is hard to predict, we'll quote both a fixed fare and 15% off so you can pick whichever is cheaper.

Check the math yourself with the 85% Off Fare Calculator or the Fare Calculator; for a full statutory-meter simulation see the Standard Fare Calculator; for an instant quote see Instant Quote.

2026 Outlook: Will Fares Change Again?

Hong Kong's statutory taxi fares are set by the Transport Department under the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations, and reviewed periodically. The current tariff has been in effect since 14 July 2024, with no further revision as of this page's last update (September 2026). The Transport Department typically gazettes any new increase in advance, with a stated effective date — it never takes effect without notice.

Because the statutory tariff is a matter of public policy, this page is periodically checked against the Transport Department's latest notices and updated accordingly; if you're reading this and a new tariff has already been published, feel free to WhatsApp us to confirm the latest figure — the fixed fare or 15%-off quote we give you at booking always governs, and this page exists purely for your own reference and verification.

Every figure is sourced

Everything here comes from the Transport Department's published tariff, not something we've set ourselves — you can check it against any other licensed taxi's fare card at any time.

Consistent across the site

This page's figures have been cross-checked against our published Tung Chung Taxi, Types of Hong Kong Taxis, and Yuen Long/Tin Shui Wai to Airport pages, so there's no contradiction between them.

No guessing at unconfirmed figures

For tolls this site hasn't confirmed, like Lion Rock Tunnel, we'd rather tell you to ask at booking than invent a number.

Reviewed regularly

Whenever the Transport Department issues a new notice, this page is updated promptly rather than left with stale figures.

If You Suspect You Were Overcharged, What Can You Do?

Stay calm and note the key details. The plate number, pick-up and drop-off time and location, and the name and licence number on the driver's ID.
Ask for an explanation. You can politely ask the driver how a particular amount was calculated — a legitimate charge should be easy to explain.
Keep the receipt. Every licensed taxi has a receipt printer, and the receipt will show the fare and vehicle registration.
Follow up afterwards if it isn't resolved on the spot. The details above can be provided to the Transport Department or the police for further inquiry.
Contact us directly for anything booked through us. We'll check our quote records and follow up on any dispute.

This page is for general reference only and is not legal advice; for a specific complaint or enforcement matter, please go through the Transport Department's or the police's official channels.

Taxi Fare Glossary

Common terms you'll see on a quote or the meter, explained

Term	Meaning
Flag fall	The charge for the first 2km, applied the moment you board no matter how short the trip
Jump / increment	The amount the meter automatically adds every 200m driven or every 60 seconds of waiting
Rate threshold	The reading amount at which the jump rate switches to the cheaper second-stage rate
Surcharge	A fee the law separately permits on top of the meter: luggage, animal or booking fee
Tunnel toll	The road charge payable for a taxi using a toll tunnel, never shown on the meter
Cross-harbour return fee	The extra $25 payable if the taxi crosses the harbour and you didn't board at a cross-harbour rank
Fixed fare	A total locked in before departure, already including surcharges and tunnel tolls
15% off meter	A pricing model where the statutory meter reading is multiplied by 0.85; surcharges billed separately at the actual rate
Operating area	The district a taxi of that colour is legally permitted to pick up passengers in
Designated route	A route a green or blue taxi is permitted to travel beyond its normal area, to reach a specific point such as the airport

Who Sets and Enforces Taxi Fares?

Hong Kong's taxi fares are set by the Transport Department under the Road Traffic Ordinance and the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations, and take effect once gazetted. They apply to every licensed taxi in Hong Kong, and drivers are not permitted to negotiate a higher fare on their own (this doesn't apply to fixed fares or fleet-booking arrangements agreed in advance, which are themselves governed by the relevant regulations).

Item	Detail
Setting authority	Transport Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR
Legal basis	The Road Traffic Ordinance and the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations
How it takes effect	Via gazette notice, with a stated effective date — never immediate
Who it regulates	Every licensed urban (red), New Territories (green), and Lantau (blue) taxi
Consequences of overcharging	May constitute an offence; passengers can report it to the Transport Department or the police
Evidence a passenger should keep	The receipt, plate number, and the pick-up/drop-off time and location

This page is compiled purely to help passengers verify fares for themselves and is not legal advice; for any specific legal dispute or complaint, please contact the Transport Department or the relevant enforcement authority directly.

Common Misconceptions About Taxi Fares

Common belief	What's actually true
"Blue is always the cheapest, wherever you go"	It has the lowest flag fall, but also the highest threshold ($195) before switching to the cheaper rate, so it doesn't necessarily win on long trips.
"The cross-harbour toll is whatever the driver says"	Not true. All three cross-harbour tunnels charge taxis a flat $25 all day, with no time bands and no variation by vehicle type.
"15% off meter means 85% off the price"	No — it means a 15% discount off the meter reading, not an 85% discount.
"Sitting at a red light doesn't cost anything, only distance counts"	Not true. Waiting time — traffic, red lights, loading/unloading — adds a jump every 60 seconds.
"The luggage fee depends on the driver's judgement of size"	The luggage fee is a statutory $6 per piece, not negotiable by size; the 140cm rule is written into the regulations.
"A fixed fare is always cheaper than the meter"	Not necessarily — it depends on the route; for a short trip with no harbour crossing, 15% off meter can work out cheaper, which is why we quote both.
"Taxis don't accept electronic payment"	The law doesn't require taxis to accept electronic payment and cash is the only guaranteed method, but we accept Octopus, PayMe, FPS and more — see Payment Methods.
"Every tunnel costs a taxi money"	Not true. Lantau Link, the Tuen Mun-CLK Tunnel, Tseung Kwan O Tunnel and several other government tunnels charge taxis nothing.

First Time in Hong Kong: Tips for Checking Your Fare

You don't need to speak Cantonese to check your own fare

Check the body colour before boarding

Red, green and blue correspond to different flag falls on this page — identify the type first before estimating the fare.

Note the meter's starting amount

The meter should open at that colour's flag fall ($29/$25.5/$24) — if the opening figure is clearly different, feel free to ask.

Budget $50 for airport-to-HK-Island tunnel fees

This is the item most visitors get caught out by — it's a legitimate charge, not overcharging.

Ask for a receipt

Every licensed taxi has a receipt printer — ask for one before getting out, for verification or any later query.

Book in your own language

Our hotline and WhatsApp support English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean, so there's no language barrier.

Use this page as your reference

Screenshot this page's fare tables to carry with you, or compare them against the fare card displayed in the cab.

2026 Taxi Fare Standard: Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The current taxi fare tariff has been in effect since the Transport Department's gazette notice of 14 July 2024, and remains the current standard through 2026 with no further revision. The Transport Department periodically reviews taxi fares; any new increase would be gazetted with a stated effective date, and this page will be updated accordingly. Always confirm the exact figure with us at the time of booking.

The three taxi colours are classified by operating area, and each has its own independently set statutory tariff — it is not one table with a discount applied. Urban red taxis, which serve the widest area and have the largest fleet, flag at $29; New Territories green taxis flag at $25.5; Lantau blue taxis flag at $24 (the lowest flag fall, but the highest threshold before switching to the cheaper rate). The differences reflect the Transport Department's assessment of operating costs and demand in each region, not arbitrary pricing.

The fare is the amount shown on the meter, calculated from the flag fall, distance/time increments and waiting time. A surcharge is an amount the law separately permits on top of the meter: only three exist — $6 per piece of luggage, $5 per animal or bird, and $5 per phone/electronic booking — while a wheelchair and crutches used by a disabled passenger are carried free by law. Tunnel tolls and the cross-harbour return fee are actual road charges the passenger must pay; strictly speaking they aren't a "taxi service surcharge", but they are still payable.

Yes. Taxi tunnel tolls are not shown on the meter and are collected separately, unlike private cars. Many tunnels — Lantau Link, the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Tunnel, Tseung Kwan O Tunnel and others — are toll-free or already exempted for taxis; Tai Lam Tunnel charges taxis $28; the three cross-harbour tunnels (Cross-Harbour Tunnel, Eastern Harbour Crossing, Western Harbour Crossing) charge taxis a flat $25 per trip all day, with no time-of-day variation. See the "Tunnels and Toll Roads" section above for details.

If a taxi crosses the harbour and the passenger did not board at a designated cross-harbour taxi rank, an additional $25 return tunnel fee applies on top of the $25 cross-harbour toll — $50 in total. This compensates the driver for having to return across the harbour empty without an immediate return-trip passenger. The fee is waived if you board at a cross-harbour taxi rank, or if the trip doesn't cross the harbour at all. A trip from the airport to Hong Kong Island meets neither exemption, so the meter will show $25 plus $25.

Yes, a statutory $6 per piece, applying to luggage placed in the boot, or to any item carried in the passenger cabin whose combined length, width and height exceeds 140cm. There is no cap on the number of pieces — a family with several bags is charged per piece. A wheelchair or crutches used by a disabled passenger are exempt by law.

The law allows taxis to charge $5 per trip for a phone or electronic booking service. Our fixed fare already includes this charge with no extra add-on; under our 15%-off-meter service, the booking fee is also folded into the 15% discount rather than billed separately on top of the meter.

The statutory meter fare is the Transport Department's ceiling — every taxi, including ours, must charge within it and may never exceed it. We offer two models: "15% off meter", where the statutory reading is multiplied by 0.85; and a "fixed fare", locked in before departure and already including the luggage fee, booking fee and any tunnel tolls or cross-harbour return fee along the route. Either way you pay less than the full meter reading, and this page's statutory table is the benchmark you can check any quote against.

Lantau (blue) taxis mainly serve Lantau Island, Chek Lap Kok Airport, and the Hong Kong Port interchange of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge; they cannot freely pick up passengers on ordinary roads in Kowloon or Hong Kong Island. Full operating-area detail is in the "Operating Areas" section above, and on the Tung Chung Taxi and Types of Hong Kong Taxis pages.

Three steps: first, use this page's flag fall, jump rate and threshold to roughly estimate the expected meter reading yourself; second, check you weren't charged a private-car time-banded tunnel toll by mistake (taxi cross-harbour tolls are a flat $25 all day, with no time bands); third, confirm the only surcharges applied are luggage, animal and booking fee — nothing else has a legal basis. If you suspect overcharging, keep the receipt and report it to the Transport Department or the police.

Not necessarily. Green taxis do have a lower flag fall and first-stage jump rate, but they switch to the cheaper $1.4 rate once the reading reaches $82.5, while red taxis only switch at $102.5 — so the two accumulate differently over a long trip. Which is actually cheaper depends on distance and waiting time, and can't be judged from the flag fall alone.

This page presents the Transport Department's statutory fare standard for you to check quotes against; our actual fixed fare or 15%-off-meter quote is confirmed by phone or WhatsApp at the time of booking, and that quote governs. If the two differ, our quote at booking takes precedence — this page is for reference and verification only.

More questions? See our full FAQ, or contact us directly.

Airport Transfers by District: Quick Reference

Every district has its own page listing the fixed fare, 15%-off estimate and the usual vehicle type

District	Usual vehicle type	Page
Sha Tin, Tai Wai, Fo Tan	Red (green at some designated points)	Sha Tin to Airport
Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung	Red	Tsuen Wan to Airport
Tseung Kwan O	Red	Tseung Kwan O to Airport
Tuen Mun	Green or red	Tuen Mun to Airport
Kwun Tong	Red	Kwun Tong to Airport
Kowloon City	Red	Kowloon City to Airport
Tai Po	Green or red	Tai Po to Airport
Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai	Green or red	Yuen Long/Tin Shui Wai to Airport
Hong Kong Island	Red	Hong Kong Island to Airport
Ma On Shan	Green or red	Ma On Shan to Airport
Wong Tai Sin, Diamond Hill	Red	Wong Tai Sin/Diamond Hill to Airport
Mong Kok, Sham Shui Po	Red	Mong Kok/Sham Shui Po to Airport
Sai Kung	Green or red	Sai Kung to Airport
Sheung Shui, Fanling	Green or red	Sheung Shui/Fanling to Airport
Tsing Yi, Kwai Fong	Red	Tsing Yi/Kwai Fong to Airport
Tsim Sha Tsui, Jordan	Red	Tsim Sha Tsui/Jordan to Airport
Tung Chung	Any of the three (South Lantau needs blue)	Tung Chung Taxi

"Usual vehicle type" reflects a common arrangement, not a complete statement of legal limits — actual dispatch depends on pick-up point, destination and supply at the time; see Types of Hong Kong Taxis for the full rules.

Payment Methods: What Besides Cash?

The law doesn't require taxis to accept electronic payment, so cash is the only guaranteed method — carry enough cash and small notes. Our fleet also accepts the following electronic payment methods, but please mention it when booking so we can arrange a supporting vehicle:

If you need a receipt for expense claims, let the driver know when boarding; airport staff and corporate clients can apply for a monthly account. Full details at Payment Methods and the Complete Payment Methods Guide.

2026 Official Hong Kong Taxi Fare Standard｜Red · Green · Blue Compared