Should I charge clients for travel?

Yes. Travel is a real business cost. Most photographers include travel within a certain radius (e.g. 20 miles) in their package price, then charge per mile or a flat fee beyond that. Be transparent about travel costs in your pricing.

What is the HMRC mileage rate?

HMRC allows 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles and 25p per mile thereafter for business use of a personal vehicle. This covers fuel, wear and tear, insurance and depreciation. You can use this simplified rate instead of calculating actual fuel costs.

Should I charge for my travel time?

Many photographers factor travel time into their overall day rate rather than itemising it. However, for distant locations requiring significant travel (1+ hours each way), it is reasonable to charge for your time. Some charge 50% of their hourly rate for travel time.

What about accommodation for distant jobs?

For locations requiring an overnight stay, add accommodation costs to your quote. This should include a reasonable hotel, evening meal and breakfast. Many photographers add 10-20% to cover inconvenience. Always discuss these costs with the client before accepting the booking.

Travel Cost Calculator — Photography Job Travel Expenses

Calculate travel costs for on-location photography including fuel, parking, tolls and your time.

Distance (one way)

Fuel Cost

Current price per litre

Fuel Efficiency

Your vehicle's miles per gallon

Parking Cost

Tolls / Congestion

Average Speed

Include return journey

Double the distance for a round trip

Include travel time cost

Charge for your time on the road

Hourly Rate for Travel Time

How We Calculate This

Travel costs combine fuel, fixed expenses and optionally your time:

Fuel cost = (distance / MPG) × 4.546 × fuel price per litre

This converts miles per gallon to litres per mile (1 UK gallon = 4.546 litres), then multiplies by the fuel price.

Time cost = (distance / average speed) × hourly rate

Total = fuel + parking + tolls + time cost

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard optical and photographic formulas. Results may vary with specific equipment.