The short answer
- US: a referral fee of 6% for most categories (5% for some fine-jewelry and pre-owned categories). TikTok says this fee covers all TikTok Shop fees except shipping and tax.
- UK: a commission of 9% including VAT (some categories, such as computers in TikTok’s own example, are 5%), plus £0.50 per package if you ship orders yourself.
- Other costs you control: creator (affiliate) commission, shipping, samples, ads and refunds.
- No listing fee is mentioned on these fee pages: the fees are charged on completed orders.
Some seller blogs report that the US referral fee rose to 8% for many categories on August 4, 2026. TikTok’s public US fee pages still showed 6% when we checked on 19 October 2026, so we use 6% as the default. Check the fee line on your own settlement statement in Seller Center and type your real rate into the calculator.
How the US referral fee is calculated
TikTok’s formula: Referral fee = rate × (customer payment + platform discount − tax). Customer payment includes the shipping the buyer paid. Platform discounts (ones TikTok funds) are added back, so you pay the fee on them too, and sales tax is taken out.
TikTok’s own example: the buyer pays $102, there is a $5 platform discount and $2 of sales tax. The referral fee is 6% × ($102 + $5 − $2) = $6.30.
Sources (checked 19 October 2026): TikTok Shop Academy (US): Referral Fee Updates · Referral fees by category
Refunds and the Refund Administration Fee
If an order is refunded, returned or canceled after it was placed, TikTok refunds the referral fee but keeps a Refund Administration Fee of 20% of the referral fee. Since May 15, 2025 this is capped at $5 per SKU. No admin fee is charged on “buy now, refund later” creator sample orders, or on eligible buyer cancellations before shipping.
TikTok’s example: a fully refunded order with a $6.30 referral fee has a $1.26 admin fee ($6.30 × 20%). A $500 item would be $6, reduced to the $5 cap.
UK: 9% commission and the £0.50 fee
TikTok Shop UK’s commission is 9%, and TikTok says the rate already includes VAT. Its formula: ((net sales + customer-paid shipping + platform discount) − (net sales refund + platform discount refund)) × rate.
TikTok’s example: shoes priced £100, £10 seller discount, £10 platform discount and £5 shipping paid by the buyer. The base is £80 + £5 + £10 = £95, so the commission is 9% × £95 = £8.55. If the whole order is returned, the full commission is refunded.
From 15 July 2025, TikTok introduced a Shipped by Seller service fee of £0.50 per package (VAT included) for orders you ship yourself. Fulfilled by TikTok and Shipped via Platform orders don’t pay it.
Sources (checked 19 October 2026): TikTok Shop Academy (UK): Platform Commission Fee · ChannelX: Shipped by Seller fee notice
Creator (affiliate) commission
If creators promote your products, you pay them a commission that you set. TikTok Shop lets you set it from 1% to 80%, per product, for a group of products or for all products. This is often the biggest cost after the product itself, so put it in the calculator before you agree a rate.
Sources (checked 19 October 2026): TikTok Shop Academy (US): Setting Up Affiliate Collaborations
When you get paid (US)
TikTok’s US fee page says it settles an order after the order has been delivered to the customer and there is no refund or return request in progress. Payouts go to your bank account automatically once the settlement rules are met, with a $1 minimum. See the Finance section of Seller Center for your own schedule.
New-seller offers
TikTok’s business site advertises reduced commission for new sellers for a limited time, with conditions. Offers change, so check what applies to your shop in Seller Center, then enter that rate in the calculator. Don’t base long-term prices on an introductory rate.
Sources (checked 19 October 2026): TikTok Shop: sell on TikTok
Worked example (US)
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Selling price | $24.99 |
| Referral fee (6% of $24.99) | −$1.50 |
| Creator commission (10%) | −$2.50 |
| Product cost | −$7.00 |
| Shipping label | −$4.50 |
| Packaging | −$0.50 |
| Profit before ads and refunds | $8.99 |
Example numbers only (your costs will differ). The calculator adds refunds and ad spend for you.
From our Etsy shop: Etsy Seller Profit & Expense Tracker. Google Sheets & Excel: log orders, Etsy fees and expenses, with a profit & loss dashboard and tax summary.
Run your own numbers
Enter your price, costs, creator commission and ads to see your profit per order.
Open the calculatorFrequently asked questions
What is the TikTok Shop referral fee?
It is the fee TikTok Shop US charges on completed orders: 6% for most categories, 5% for some fine-jewelry and pre-owned categories, on what the buyer pays plus platform discounts, minus tax.
Does TikTok Shop charge VAT on fees in the UK?
TikTok says its 9% UK commission rate already includes applicable taxes such as VAT.
Is shipping included in the fee base?
Yes. In both the US and UK formulas, shipping paid by the buyer is part of the amount the fee is charged on.
Are TikTok Shop fees the same in every country?
No. TikTok Shop has a separate fee schedule in each market. Use the rates in your own Seller Center.
Is the TikTok Shop fee 8% now?
Some seller blogs report that the US referral fee rose to 8% for many categories on August 4, 2026. TikTok’s public US fee pages still showed 6% when we checked on 19 October 2026, so we use 6% as the default. Check the fee line on your own settlement statement in Seller Center and type your real rate into the calculator.
Last reviewed: October 2026. General information only — check providers' official sites for current features and pricing.