The MetroCard is the payment method on all MTA New York City Transit subways, NYC Transit local buses, and express buses. Today, more than 90 percent of trips taken on New York City Subways and Buses are made with MetroCard.
Tokens are no longer used to enter the subway platform. You must buy a MetroCard to ride the New York Subway system. MetroCards can be purchased from MetroCard vending machines or staffed sales booths at MTA New York City Transit subway stations, at any MTA Metro-North Railroad station ticket vending machine or staffed ticket window and many neighborhood stores and news stands.
MetroCard Vending Machines located at subway stations will issue new cards and refill old ones. These vending machines will accept cash, debit, and credit cards. Your MetroCard can be used interchangeably on both subways and buses.
MetroCards cost $1. All cards except for the Single Ride card are refillable.
You pay the fare at turnstiles before you board the train. You don’t have to do anything after.
Up to three children under 44 inches tall ride for free when they’re with a fare-paying adult.
Some Unlimited MetroCards are protected against loss or theft.
MetroCards can be used with our regional transit partners: PATH, AirTrain JFK, NICE Bus (Nassau Inter-County Express), Westchester Bee-Line Buses, and the Roosevelt Island Tram.
Tap to ride with OMNY. When you tap to ride with your contactless credit or debit card, smartphone, or wearable device, you don’t have to worry about reloading a MetroCard. Learn more.
Get free rides with OMNY! If you take 12 paid OMNY trips using the same device or card starting Monday, you’ll automatically ride free for the rest of the week.
Cost per swipe: $2.90
Pay-Per-Ride allows you put a dollar value on the MetroCard and pay $2.90 at the beginning of each trip. The minimum balance for new cards is $5.80, the cost of two swipes.
You can combine time and value on the same MetroCard. Time will always be used first. Value will become available the time on your card runs out. PATH, AirTrain, and Express buses will always deduct from the value on your card.
There is also an EasyPay option for pay-per-ride MetroCards, which automatically refills your MetroCard when the balance is low. Learn more.
Cost: $34 (7-day) or $132 (30-day).
This MetroCard pass offers you unlimited swipes on the subway and local buses for either 7 or 30 days. Your MetroCard can only hold one Unlimited Ride refill at a time. You cannot pause an unlimited ride card once you’ve started using it.
You can combine time and value on the same MetroCard. Time will always be used first. Value will become available when the time on your card runs out. PATH, AirTrain, and Express buses will always deduct from the value on your card.
There is also an EasyPay option for 30-day Unlimited MetroCards, which automatically refills your card. Learn more.
Cost: $64.
A 7-Day Unlimited Express Bus Plus gives you have unlimited swipes on express buses, local buses, and the subway for 7 days.
Note: Your MetroCard can only hold one Unlimited Ride refill at a time. You cannot pause an unlimited ride card once you’ve started using it.
Cost: $3
Single Ride MetroCards are only available at ticket vending machines. This is a one-time use card and ARE NOT refillable. This the card you need if you don’t want to put the $5.80 minimum on a pay-per-ride card.
Limitations: You cannot transfer between the subway and the bus with this fare. If you’re transferring between buses, ask the driver for a paper transfer when you board the first bus.
Student MetroCards are good for one semester and can only be used for three rides each school day, between 5:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m.
These MetroCards are distributed by the Schools and let eligible students get to and from school and school-related activities. As with regular MetroCards, Student MetroCards allow for a free transfer between the subway and local/limited/Select Bus services, or a free transfer between buses. More about Student MetroCards.Cost: 50% of the base fare.
Seniors 65 or older and riders with qualifying disabilities can apply for a reduced fare card.
Cost: $40
Good for unlimited JFK-AirTrain trips until midnight, 30 days from first use.
Note: Your MetroCard can only hold one Unlimited Ride refill at a time. You can’t pause an unlimited ride card once you’ve started using it.
Cost: $25
These are good for 10 JFK AirTrain trips until midnight, 30 days from first use.
JFK-AirTrain 10-Trip MetroCards can only be purchased at MetroCard Vending Machines in Howard Beach and Jamaica Air Train stations.
The AAR MetroCard are for Paratransit customers and gives them four free trips a day using the subways, local buses, Select Bus Service (SBS), and Staten Island Railway (SIR).
A day is a 24-hour calendar day, from midnight to 11:59 p.m. Like any other MetroCard, they get an automatic free transfer between the subway and a local bus route, SIR and a local bus, or between two local bus routes
A MetroCard must be purchased for access to a subway station platform. MetroCards can be purchased with cash from any subway station with a manned booth or at an ATM style vending machine located in nearly every subway station with cash, debit or credit card. They are also sold at newstands, and convinent stores throughout the city.
MetroCard is accepted by all MTA New York City Transit trains which include subways and Staten Island Railway and on all local buses, including Limited-Stop and +SelectBusService buses.
Free Transfers
Unlimited-Ride MetroCard permits free transfers to all but the express buses (between subway and local bus, local bus and local bus etc.)
Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard allows one free transfer of equal or lesser value if you complete your transfer within 2 hours of the time you pay your full fare with the same MetroCard.
If you pay your local bus fare with coins, ask for a free electronic paper transfer to use on another local bus.
Children
Up to three children, 44 inches tall and under can ride free on the subway, SIR, local, Limited-Stop, and +SelectBusService when accompanied by an adult paying full fare.
Reduced-Fare for Seniors and the Disabled
Seniors 65 years of age or riders with qualifying disability are eligible for reduced-fare benefits. Benefits are available (except on peak-hour express buses) with proper identification, including
Reduced-Fare MetroCard or Medicare card (Medicaid cards do not qualify).
Note: Smoking is banned in public places throughout the City, including bars, restaurants, subways and taxis.
Note: Your MetroCard can hold any combination of unlimited rides and dollar value.
Do you know?
The New York City Subway, is the largest subway system in the world by track mileage and the largest by number of stations.
With an Unlimited Ride MetroCard, you can hop-on hop-off New York city transit subways and local buses as many times as you like, all day long. It's the fastest, least expensive way to see all the attractions.
Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North fare calculator
With an Unlimited Ride MetroCard, you can hop-on hop-off New York city transit subways and local buses as many times as you like, all day long. It's the fastest, least expensive way to see all the attractions.
