New York Subway: What’s the child fare?

Traveling to New York with children? Here’s something unique about the city’s transportation system: whether your child pays full fare on the New York subway and buses depends on either their height or age, depending on the service.

Child fares on the subway and local buses

• Children ride free on the subway and local buses if they are under 44 inches tall, or 1.12 m (3 ft 8 in). Taller children pay the full adult fare.
• If your child is taller than 1.12 m (3 ft 8 in) and you’re staying in New York for at least a week, consider an OMNY transit card. It offers unlimited subway and bus travel for a week at the cost of just 12 single rides.
• Children under 1.12 m (3 ft 8 in) must travel with a paying adult.
• One adult can travel with up to 3 free children. If you’re a couple, you can travel with 6 free children. A seventh child pays full fare.

Child fares on Express buses

• New York also has Express buses that stop every 10 blocks or cover longer routes. Child fares work differently here: age, not height, determines the fare.
• Children age 2 and under ride free on Express buses if they sit on an adult’s lap.