Dropping off at Edinburgh Airport is not free at the forecourt. The zone on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park charges £8.50 for the first 10 minutes, then £1 per additional minute, up to a 2-hour maximum. The free alternative is the Long Stay car park, which gives you 30 minutes at no charge before you walk or ride one stop in. Prices checked August 2026.
The forecourt drop-off charge
The drop-off and pick-up zone is on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park, directly opposite the terminal. As of 18 May 2026 it costs £8.50 for the first 10 minutes, up from £6, then £1 per additional minute, with a maximum stay of 2 hours. Local residents in nearby postcodes can claim a 50 percent discount, bringing the first-10-minute charge down to £4.25. The previous discount for electric vehicles was removed in May 2026, so EVs now pay the standard rate.
| Stay | Charge |
|---|---|
| First 10 minutes | £8.50 |
| Each additional minute | £1 |
| Maximum stay | 2 hours |
| Local resident rate (first 10 min) | £4.25 |
The free alternative
To avoid the forecourt fee entirely, use the Long Stay car park, which is free for the first 30 minutes. From there it is about a 10-minute walk to the terminal, or you can catch the tram or Airlink 100 bus one stop in. This is the standard way regular travellers dodge the £8.50 charge, and 30 minutes is plenty for a quick handover.
Picking someone up
Pick-ups use the same forecourt zone and the same charges, so the same tactics apply. If a flight is delayed or you expect to wait, the Long Stay car park is the sensible choice, since 30 minutes is free and the paid forecourt meter runs at £1 per minute after the first 10. Ask the person you are collecting to text you once they have their bags, so you only pull in when they are ready. Uber and Bolt passengers are collected from the Rideshare zone in the same multi-storey car park, as covered on the taxis page.
Drop-off FAQs
How much is drop-off at Edinburgh Airport? It is £8.50 for the first 10 minutes at the forecourt zone, then £1 per additional minute, up to a 2-hour maximum.
Is there free drop-off at Edinburgh Airport? Yes, indirectly. The Long Stay car park is free for the first 30 minutes, so you can drop off there and walk or ride one stop in rather than pay the forecourt fee.
Where is the drop-off zone at Edinburgh Airport? On the ground floor of the multi-storey car park, directly opposite the terminal.
Can I get a discount on the drop-off charge? Local residents in nearby postcodes can claim a 50 percent discount, cutting the first-10-minute charge to £4.25. The former electric-vehicle discount was removed in May 2026.
More: Overview, Taxis, Public transport, Parking, Routes, FAQs.
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Last verified August 2026 by the Edinburgh Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official Edinburgh Airport website before you travel.