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How are prices determined?

Riders want a reliable and affordable way to get from A to B. Drivers want dependable earnings. Our pricing technology is designed to meet the needs of riders and drivers—so Uber can be the first choice for both.

Rider price and driver fare

How much a rider pays for a trip is distinct from how much a driver earns for that trip. Here’s why.

Riders pay

In the United States, riders are offered an upfront price on every trip so they can make an informed choice. Upfront rider prices are based on the estimated length and duration of the trip. This estimate can vary as we predict real-world factors like traffic.

The upfront price you're shown may change due to a number of circumstances, which may include adding stops, updating your destination, significant changes to the route or duration of the trip, or you pass through a toll that was not factored into your upfront price. In addition, you may incur wait time fees for the time you take to get to the car at the pickup or multi-stop fees for time spent at an on-trip stop.

Rider payments may also include:

Base fares

Tolls and surcharges

Tips

UberX Share discounts

Surge pricing

Booking fee¹

Rider promotions and subscriptions

Route-based adjustments

Drivers earn

Drivers' earnings are distinct from the price provided to riders at the beginning of the trip.

Driver earnings can also include:

Base fares

Surcharges and reimbursement for tolls¹

Tips

Long pickup/wait time/UberX Share pickup fees

Surge pricing

Miscellaneous fees²

Driver promotions

¹Learn more

²Such as cancellations and cleanups

Uber service fee

The service fee is the fee drivers pay Uber, and it varies from trip to trip. It’s the difference between what a rider pays and what a driver earns on a trip, excluding tips, tolls, and certain fees, taxes, and surcharges.*

*Uber charges a service fee on certain fees and surcharges, including but not limited to wait time fees and cancellation fees.

The history of pricing

From the start, pricing innovations have evolved to make mobility more reliable and affordable for everyone

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Learn more about pricing

Take a closer look at the elements that contribute to Uber’s pricing.

Surge pricing

Surge pricing is designed to balance the market during our busiest times so that a reliable ride is always within reach.

Upfront pricing

Upfront pricing gives riders the information they need to choose the ride that best meets their needs and budget.

Route-based pricing

The price of a ride can vary by route and time of day, which helps make transportation more affordable to more riders at more times in more places.

Driver promotions

Promotions encourage drivers to meet rider demand at the busiest times and places.

Uber service fee

Uber's service fee helps fund our platform's operations and driver promotions. It also supports innovation that enables us to serve more riders and drivers.

Some of the features described on this page do not apply or are not available in all US markets, including California, and in markets outside of the US. As we work to improve the marketplace, we may test functionality and pricing in ways not described on this page.

In August 2021, Uber began piloting a new driver earnings structure in several cities that differs from the way the driver earnings experience is described on this site. In this pilot, drivers earn based on an upfront fare that is based on several factors, including base fare, estimated trip length and duration, pickup distance and destination. As of February 17, 2022, this pilot has been expanded to additional cities. See more details about this pilot here.