Edinburgh Airport Parking and Drop Off Charges

The May 2026 rise and what drove it

Edinburgh Airport lifted its drop off and pick up charge from £6 to £8.50 for the first 10 minutes on 18 May 2026, an increase of more than 40 percent, with each additional minute charged at £1, a maximum stay of two hours and a 2.2 metre height restriction. The rise was explicitly attributed to business rates: the airport's bill jumped 142 percent, from £5 million to more than £12 million a year, and its chief executive described the cost as one the airport could not absorb. The change made Edinburgh the most expensive Scottish airport for a terminal-side drop off. The charged zone sits on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park directly opposite the terminal, recorded by ANPR with barrier controls, and the whole parking estate went cashless from 1 July 2025: payment is by card, contactless, Apple Pay or Google Pay at pay stations or the exit terminals, so unlike the pay-later London systems there is no post-visit deadline to forget, only the escalating meter while the vehicle is inside.

The free 30 minutes, and the walk that comes with it

Edinburgh's free alternative is a 30-minute window in the Long Stay car park, and it comes with a condition the other big airports do not impose: there is no shuttle bus between the Long Stay and the terminal. A marked walking route runs from the north end of the car park, and the airport advises allowing around 10 minutes on foot. That combination changes the calculation. At Gatwick or Luton the free option suits almost everyone with time to spare; at Edinburgh it suits passengers travelling light who can comfortably walk, and works poorly for heavy luggage, poor weather or reduced mobility. Beyond the free half hour, Long Stay tariffs apply. Passengers needing assistance can book it in advance through their airline, and the accessibility concession in the charged zone is comparatively generous: Blue Badge holders can use the drop off and pick up area free for up to one hour, validated at the Blue Badge scanner on the ground floor of the multi-storey or at the customer services office.

Discounts kept, discounts removed

Two concessions survived the May 2026 restructure and one did not. Local residents in the postcode districts EH4 6, EH4 8, EH12 0, EH12 9, EH28, EH29 and EH52 5 can apply for a 50 percent discount on the first 10 minutes in the charged zone, registering with proof of address through the airport's resident support process, which halves the standard visit to £4.25. The Blue Badge hour remains as described. What went was the electric vehicle concession: the previous 50 percent EV discount on the first 10 minutes was removed from May 2026, ending a differential that had aligned drop off pricing with emissions policy. For everyone else, the practical levers are the same three everywhere: keep the stop inside the base window, use the free Long Stay half hour if the walk is workable, or route around the car entirely, which in Edinburgh's case is easier than at most airports, with the tram running from directly outside the terminal to the city centre and the Airlink 100 bus providing the same corridor around the clock.

Parking for a trip at Edinburgh

For travellers leaving a car, Edinburgh's official estate spans terminal-adjacent multi-storey parking through mid and long stay tiers, with the airport advertising savings of up to 65 percent for pre-booking against turn-up rates, and a night-before bag drop service that gives any customer with a parking booking free access to the one-hour parking area while checking luggage in early with participating airlines. The national pattern holds: the drive-up tariff is the ceiling price, the same space costs materially less booked ahead, and the earliest bookings take the lowest published rates. The off-airport market around Edinburgh competes on weekly price with shuttle transfers, and the standard operator checks apply before any booking. How Edinburgh's charges rank against every other major UK airport after the 2026 wave of drop off rises, and the full framework for pre-booking and hidden extras, is set out in the guide to getting cheap airport parking in the UK, with wider guidance in the global travel and before you sections and household costs in the bills section.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the drop off charge at Edinburgh Airport?

The charged drop off and pick up zone costs £8.50 for up to 10 minutes, then £1 per additional minute, with a two-hour maximum stay. The price rose from £6 on 18 May 2026.

Is there a free drop off at Edinburgh Airport?

Yes. The Long Stay car park allows up to 30 minutes free, but there is no shuttle bus: a marked walking route to the terminal takes around 10 minutes, so the option suits passengers travelling light.

Do Blue Badge holders pay the Edinburgh Airport drop off charge?

Blue Badge holders can use the charged zone free for up to one hour, validating at the Blue Badge scanner on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park or at the customer services office.

Is there still an electric vehicle discount at Edinburgh Airport's drop off?

No. The previous 50 percent discount for electric vehicles on the first 10 minutes was removed in May 2026. The 50 percent local resident discount for listed postcode districts remains available with registration.

Why did Edinburgh Airport raise its drop off charge in 2026?

The airport said its business rates bill rose 142 percent, from £5 million to more than £12 million a year, a cost it said it could not absorb without passing part of it on through charges.