How to Charge a Travel Fee for Out-of-Area Jobs
Set a free service radius — commonly 15 to 30 miles — then charge either $2–$4 per mile beyond it or a flat tier fee by distance band. Price the time, not just the fuel: an hour of driving each way is an hour you can't sell to anyone else, which on a booked Saturday costs far more than gas.
Set the radius, then price beyond it
| Distance | Common approach |
|---|---|
| Within 15–30 miles | Included in the base price |
| 20–40 miles | Flat $25–$50 |
| 40–60 miles | Flat $50–$100 |
| Beyond 60 miles | $2–$4/mile or a day-rate conversation |
Fuel is the small part
An hour each way is two hours you can’t sell. On a Saturday with six bookable slots, one distant job can cost you an entire second booking — which is far more than the fuel.
Tell them what it covers
“Travel fee” sounds like a surcharge. “Covers the 90-minute round trip to your location” sounds like a fact. The same number lands completely differently depending on whether the customer knows what they’re paying for.
Consider a minimum instead
For very distant work, a higher job minimum often works better than a travel line — it keeps the quote simple and ensures the trip is worth making at all.
Related: minimum job charge for a service business and mileage tracking for a mobile business.
Frequently asked questions
Per mile or a flat fee?
Flat tiers are easier to quote and easier for customers to accept — '$50 for 20–40 miles, $100 for 40–60'. Per-mile is more precise and better for long-haul work. Pick one and use it consistently rather than deciding per job.
Should the free radius be big or small?
Big enough to cover your core market so most jobs quote clean, small enough that outliers get priced. If more than a quarter of your jobs are triggering a travel fee, your radius is probably too tight for the market you actually serve.
What if a customer objects to the travel fee?
Explain it as time, not fuel — '90 minutes of driving is time I can't book another job in.' Customers who understand they're buying your day rather than your gas almost always accept it.