Metered fares suit you better than apps? Swan Taxis is the Perth option.
Swan Taxis runs classic metered cabs from Perth Airport’s T1–T4, with ranks directly outside the arrivals areas at each terminal. You walk out of baggage claim at T1 or T3, follow the yellow “Taxis” signs, and you’re usually at the rank in under 3 minutes. Cars run 24/7, including late-night arrivals after 23:00 and early-morning departures before 05:00.
Fares use a government-regulated meter, so you pay a flagfall plus distance and time; a typical run from T1 or T2 to Perth CBD is around 20–25 minutes and often lands near AUD $35–$50 depending on traffic. There is an airport surcharge added at the airport ranks, so your starting amount on the meter will be a bit higher than a street pickup in the city. You pay the driver directly by card or cash, and many cabs accept tap-and-go.
Pickup is simple: follow signage to the taxi rank at T1/T2 (international and regional) or T3/T4 (Qantas and some domestic), join the queue, and airport staff usually direct you to a bay. In busy peaks like weekday mornings around 07:00–09:00 or Sunday evenings after 18:00, you might wait 5–15 minutes as flights land in banks. Outside those peaks, cabs often roll through every few minutes.
Swan Taxis works well if you prefer a set process instead of watching an app map. You get a printed or on-screen meter readout at the end, and the driver can give a rough estimate to suburbs like Fremantle, Victoria Park, or Joondalup before you hop in. For longer trips over 30 km, ask the driver before departure if they expect tolls or unusual routing due to traffic.
Quick tip: if you’re landing at night after 22:00 and heading to the CBD, have your hotel’s exact street address ready; giving the driver the number and street (for example, “300 Murray Street, Perth”) speeds things up and keeps the meter from running while you look it up on your phone.