How the weekly comparison works
The uncapped daily charge is the fare per journey times the number of charged journeys. If a daily cap applies and the uncapped charge is higher, the cap replaces it. The weekly pay as you go total is that daily charge times your travel days, and it is compared with the 7 Day Travelcard quote.
A positive difference means pay as you go costs more than the Travelcard over the week. The daily cap only helps on days when your uncapped fares exceed it, so a week of short trips may never reach the cap.
Worked example
Four charged journeys at 2.80 give 11.20 a day. With a daily cap of 8.90 the charge falls to 8.90. Over five travel days that is 44.50 in pay as you go, against a 7 Day Travelcard quoted at 40.70, so the Travelcard costs 3.80 less for the week.
These figures are illustrative. Enter the fare, cap and Travelcard price that apply to your zones, modes and time of travel.
Why the fare is entered, not looked up
A London fare depends on the origin and destination stations, the route taken, the time band, the mode and any discounts applied to the card. Two journeys between the same pair of zones can cost different amounts, and a zone number alone cannot determine a fare.
This page therefore asks for the fare you were quoted or charged. It does not infer a price from a zone pair and it does not query the TfL unified API. Check the fare with TfL's fare finder before relying on the comparison.
Caps, modes and travel days
Daily capping applies within a set of zones and modes, and a cap that covers buses does not necessarily cover rail. Enter the cap that matches the travel you are actually paying for. If no cap applies to your journey, enter zero and the uncapped daily charge is used.
A 7 Day Travelcard covers a defined set of zones for seven consecutive days. It is not the same as a weekly cap, and it may not cover travel outside its zones. Enter the Travelcard price for the zones you need, and count only days on which you would pay separately under pay as you go.
Limits of this comparison
The calculator compares one week of entered fares with one Travelcard quote. It does not model monthly or annual products, contactless weekly capping, Railcard discounts, children's fares or the Hopper transfer rule for buses.
For a National Rail season ticket instead, use the season ticket calculator. For a single taxi or rideshare trip, use the Uber tariff calculator.
For a National Rail pass rather than a London Travelcard, use the UK season ticket calculator.
For a door to door alternative, estimate the trip with the UK Uber tariff calculator.
Inputs for the TfL fare calculator
Pay as you go fare per journey
Enter the quoted fare for one journey in your time band, not an average across the day.
Chargeable journeys per travel day
Count each charged journey, including a change of mode or operator that is charged again.
Travel days per week
Enter the days you would pay for travel in a week, from zero to seven.
Daily cap
The cap covering your zones and modes. Enter zero when no cap applies to your travel.
7 Day Travelcard price
Enter the quoted price for the zones and validity you need, not a longer or wider product.
CALCULATOR QUESTIONS
TfL fare calculator UK questions
Does this look up TfL fares?
No. A fare depends on the stations, route, time and discounts, so you enter the fare and cap that apply to your travel.
Is a weekly cap the same as a 7 Day Travelcard?
No. A cap limits what you pay on contactless or Oyster, while a Travelcard is a product covering defined zones for seven days.
Why did the daily cap not reduce my charge?
The cap only applies when your uncapped daily fares exceed it. A day of short or few journeys can cost less than the cap.
Can I compare a monthly Travelcard?
This page compares one week. For longer products, multiply the weekly comparison or use the season ticket calculator.