Published 1 November 2026 | Updated 1 November 2026 by Kate Acaster
Edinburgh airport drop off costs £8.50 for up to 10 minutes in the charged zone outside the terminal, then £1 a minute. The free zone is in the Long Stay car park, a 10-minute walk away with no shuttle bus. For longer stops, the airport recommends 1 Hour Parking, at £10 for up to 15 minutes.
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What Edinburgh airport drop off costs
The airport has three places to leave or collect a passenger. They trade price against distance, and the cheapest is the furthest away.
| Where | What it costs | Walk to the terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Charged Pickup & Dropoff | £8.50 up to 10 minutes, then £1 a minute | In the multi-storey car park outside the terminal |
| 1 Hour Parking | £10 to 15 minutes, £19 to 30 minutes, £26 to 1 hour | Short walk (Terminal Parking: 2 minutes) |
| Free zone at Long Stay | Free to 30 minutes, then £14 to 1 hour | 10 minutes, no shuttle bus |
All of the airport’s car parks are cashless. You can pay by card, contactless, Apple Pay or Google Pay, at a pay station before you return to your car or at the exit barrier. If you need help, press the intercom at the exit.
The charged zone: £8.50 for ten minutes
The charged Pickup & Dropoff zone is on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park outside the terminal. Barriers control entry and exit, and cars, motorbikes and minibuses can use it. Local residents can apply for 50 percent off the first 10 minutes in the postcode districts EH4 6, EH4 8, EH12 0, EH12 9, EH28, EH29 and EH52 5.
Coming from the A8 Glasgow Road, drive along Eastfield Road and follow the signs for Edinburgh Airport. At the roundabout by the Moxy and DoubleTree by Hilton, take the second exit. Take the first exit at the next roundabout and drive past the control tower into the zone.
“£8.50 buys ten minutes at the kerb. If you’ll be longer, I’d pay for 1 Hour Parking, or take the free zone and the walk if you’re travelling light.”
Kate Acaster, Chief Editor, Flight Tribe
1 Hour Parking: the airport’s pick for longer stops
1 Hour Parking sits inside Terminal Parking, near the coach park, a short walk from the terminal. The airport gives two minutes for Terminal Parking as a whole. It costs £10 for up to 15 minutes, £19 for up to 30 minutes and £26 for up to an hour. The airport says it works out better value than the charged zone for stops over ten minutes. Passengers with a car parking booking made directly with the airport can use it free the evening before a flight to leave bags at Twilight bag drop.
The free zone: 30 minutes free, a 10-minute walk
The free zone is in the Long Stay car park. You can stay up to 30 minutes without paying. There’s no shuttle bus, and the airport tells passengers to allow a 10-minute walk to the terminal along a walking route at the north end of the car park.
| How long you stay | What you pay |
|---|---|
| Up to 30 minutes | Free |
| 30 minutes to 1 hour | £14 |
| 1 to 3 hours | £22 |
| 3 to 24 hours | £60 |
| Each day or part day after that | £40 |
After 30 minutes it costs £14, so the free zone suits a quick unload with light bags. The airport says to allow a 10-minute walk, which heavy cases or a child will make feel longer.
Blue Badge holders and special assistance
Vehicles carrying passengers with Blue Badges have free access to the airport’s car parks for one hour. Press the intercom at the exit barrier and give your 16-character code. Passengers who need special assistance should book it in advance through their airline.
Twilight bag drop: leave the bags the night before
Four airlines let passengers on early flights check in luggage the evening before. The airport says the service is free and runs every day, summer and winter.
| Airline | Bag drop the night before | For flights departing |
|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 17:00 to 21:00 | Before 08:00 |
| easyJet | 16:00 to 20:00 | Before 12:00 |
| Jet2 | 16:30 to 21:00 | Before 12:00 |
| British Airways | 16:00 to 20:00 | Before 12:00 |
You need a boarding pass, so check in online first. Jet2 passengers must check in at least 24 hours before the flight. A member of the booking can hand in up to six bags for the others, with everyone’s passports and boarding passes. Ryanair requires every passenger to be present when a bag is handed in.
The tram: 30 minutes to the city centre
The tram stop is outside the main terminal, next to the plaza and the Edinburgh sign. Trams run every 7 minutes between 06:30 and 19:00, with a less frequent service early and late. The first leaves the airport at 06:30 and the last at 22:52.
| Ticket | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Airport single | £7.90 | £4.00 |
| Airport open return | £9.50 | £5.00 |
The journey to the city centre takes 30 minutes. Buy your ticket before you board, from a machine at any stop. The tram page calls airport returns completely open-ended.
Taxis and buses
The official airport taxi company is Capital Cars, and its rank is in the East Terminus, across the plaza from the terminal. You need a booking, online or at the rank, to meet the council’s private hire rules. The City of Edinburgh Council sets the fares. Other taxi firms can still use the charged or free zones. Buses leave from stops outside the terminal: the Airlink 100, Service 17 and Service 18 serve the city, and Citylink runs to Glasgow. See the airport’s taxi page and bus page.
More airport guides
Our guides to how early to arrive at the airport and booking airport parking in advance cover timing and long stays. For other airports, see our Birmingham drop-off guide, Luton drop-off guide and Manchester Terminal 2 guide. Prices, times and rules come from Edinburgh Airport’s own pages and Edinburgh Trams, read on 1 November 2026. The comparisons are our own.
Edinburgh Airport Drop Off FAQs
How much is drop-off at Edinburgh Airport?
The charged zone outside the terminal costs £8.50 for up to 10 minutes, then £1 a minute. 1 Hour Parking costs £10 for up to 15 minutes, and the free zone in Long Stay costs nothing for the first 30 minutes.
Is there free drop-off at Edinburgh Airport?
Yes. The free zone is in the Long Stay car park and covers the first 30 minutes. It’s a 10-minute walk to the terminal, and no shuttle bus runs.
Is 1 Hour Parking better value than the charged drop-off zone?
The airport says it is for stops over ten minutes. It costs £10 for up to 15 minutes, £19 for up to 30 minutes and £26 for up to an hour.
How do I pay for drop-off at Edinburgh Airport?
Every car park is cashless. Pay by card, contactless, Apple Pay or Google Pay, at a pay station or at the exit barrier. The intercom at the exit connects you to staff.
Where do I pick someone up at Edinburgh Airport?
Use the charged zone or the free zone in Long Stay. The airport also points to 1 Hour Parking for stops over ten minutes. Taxis collect from the East Terminus rank across the plaza from the terminal.
How much is the tram from Edinburgh Airport?
An adult airport single costs £7.90 and an open return costs £9.50. Child tickets cost £4.00 and £5.00. The journey to the city centre takes 30 minutes.
Can I drop my bags at Edinburgh Airport the night before?
Yes, with Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2 or British Airways, free of charge. Ryanair takes bags from 17:00 to 21:00 for flights before 08:00, and the other three take them from 16:00 or 16:30 for flights before 12:00.
Kate Acaster is Chief Editor at Flight Tribe. She writes about practical travel planning, budget airlines, baggage rules, city breaks, beach holidays and good hotels that do not cost daft money.
Kate has travelled through Europe, South America and beyond, usually with a notebook, a half-formed plan and a strong opinion on airport snacks. At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on helping UK travellers understand what is included, what costs extra, and whether a trip is worth booking at the price shown.
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