For a UK business selling through Shopify, the percentage taken per sale depends on the Shopify plan, the payment processor used, and whether the order is online or in person. Shopify does not take one single flat percentage from every sale; instead, merchants usually pay a combination of payment processing fees, possible transaction fees, and a monthly subscription.
TLDR: In the UK, Shopify’s percentage per sale is usually lowest when a merchant uses Shopify Payments, because Shopify does not add a separate transaction fee on top. Typical online card rates start at around 2% + 25p per transaction on the Basic plan and can decrease on higher plans. If a merchant uses a third-party payment provider instead, Shopify may charge an additional transaction fee, commonly around 2%, 1%, or 0.6% depending on the plan. The true cost per sale also depends on monthly plan fees, apps, currency conversion, refunds, and VAT.
How Shopify Fees Work in the UK
Shopify’s pricing structure can appear confusing because several different charges may apply at the same time. A merchant may pay a monthly subscription for access to the platform, a payment processing fee whenever a customer pays by card, and an extra transaction fee if they choose not to use Shopify Payments.
For most UK online stores, the most important cost is the card processing fee. This is the percentage and fixed amount taken from each successful card transaction. For example, a fee of 2% + 25p means Shopify takes 2% of the order value plus a fixed 25p charge.
There is also a major difference between Shopify Payments and third-party payment gateways. Shopify Payments is Shopify’s built-in payment solution, available to eligible UK merchants. When it is used, Shopify generally does not apply an additional platform transaction fee. When another payment provider is used, Shopify may add its own transaction fee on top of the provider’s processing charges.
Shopify Payments UK Fees by Plan
The exact rates can change, so merchants should always confirm the current figures inside Shopify’s official pricing page or their admin dashboard. However, UK Shopify Payments online card rates are commonly structured as follows:
| Shopify Plan | Typical Online Card Fee | Typical In-Person Fee | Extra Shopify Transaction Fee with Shopify Payments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | About 2% + 25p | About 1.7% | 0% |
| Shopify | About 1.7% + 25p | About 1.6% | 0% |
| Advanced | About 1.5% + 25p | About 1.5% | 0% |
This means that a merchant on the Basic plan selling a £50 product online may pay approximately:
- 2% of £50 = £1.00
- Fixed fee = £0.25
- Total Shopify Payments fee = £1.25
In this example, the effective percentage is not exactly 2%, because the fixed 25p fee increases the total cost. On a £50 order, £1.25 is equal to 2.5% of the sale. On a smaller £10 order, the same 25p fixed fee has a bigger impact, making the effective percentage higher.
Does Shopify Take a Percentage if Shopify Payments Is Used?
Yes, Shopify still takes a payment processing fee when Shopify Payments is used, but it usually does not add a separate Shopify transaction fee. This distinction is important. The payment processing percentage covers the cost of handling the card payment, fraud checks, settlement, and related payment infrastructure.
For many UK merchants, Shopify Payments is the simplest and most cost-effective option because the fees are predictable and integrated directly into Shopify. Payouts, chargebacks, fraud analysis, refunds, and payment records can all be managed from the Shopify admin.
However, eligibility rules apply. Some business types, products, or industries may not qualify for Shopify Payments. If the store cannot use it, or if the merchant prefers another provider such as PayPal, Worldpay, Stripe outside Shopify Payments, Klarna, or another gateway, additional costs may apply.
Third-Party Payment Provider Fees
If a UK merchant does not use Shopify Payments, Shopify may charge an additional transaction fee on each order. This is separate from whatever the third-party provider charges. Typical additional Shopify transaction fees are often:
- Basic plan: about 2% per transaction
- Shopify plan: about 1% per transaction
- Advanced plan: about 0.6% per transaction
For example, if a merchant on the Basic plan uses an external gateway that charges 1.9% + 20p, Shopify may also charge an additional 2%. On a £100 order, the costs could look like this:
- External gateway fee: £1.90 + £0.20 = £2.10
- Shopify transaction fee: 2% of £100 = £2.00
- Total payment-related cost: £4.10
In that example, the store effectively pays 4.1% of the order value in payment-related fees. This is why many eligible UK merchants choose Shopify Payments unless they have a strong reason to use an alternative provider.
Monthly Shopify Subscription Costs
The per-sale fee is only one part of the total cost. Shopify also charges a monthly subscription. UK plan prices can vary depending on billing cycle, promotions, and changes to Shopify’s pricing, but the core plans are usually:
- Basic: suitable for new or smaller stores
- Shopify: suitable for growing businesses that need better rates and more features
- Advanced: suitable for larger stores needing advanced reporting and lower payment rates
- Shopify Plus: enterprise pricing, usually negotiated separately
Although a higher plan costs more per month, it can reduce the percentage paid per transaction. This matters when sales volume increases. A store with low monthly revenue may be better off on Basic, while a store processing thousands of pounds per month may save money by upgrading to Shopify or Advanced.
Example: Comparing Basic and Shopify Plans
Consider a UK store processing £10,000 per month in online card sales through Shopify Payments. If all orders were processed at approximate standard card rates, the comparison might look like this:
- Basic at 2% + 25p: higher percentage fee but lower monthly subscription
- Shopify at 1.7% + 25p: lower percentage fee but higher monthly subscription
If the store has many transactions, the fixed 25p fee also becomes significant. For example, 500 orders per month would create £125 in fixed transaction charges alone. The percentage fee would then be added on top.
The decision should be based on the store’s average order value, number of monthly orders, payment method mix, and required features. A merchant should not upgrade purely for lower card rates unless the savings exceed the extra subscription cost.
What Percentage Does Shopify Take on PayPal Orders?
PayPal is commonly used by UK customers, and many Shopify stores offer it as an alternative payment method. If PayPal is enabled alongside Shopify Payments, the exact cost depends on how PayPal is configured and the merchant’s PayPal fee agreement.
In many cases, PayPal charges its own processing fee. Shopify’s additional transaction fee may depend on whether Shopify Payments is active and how the payment is routed. Because PayPal pricing can vary by account, merchant type, and location, the store owner should check both the Shopify admin and PayPal merchant account for the exact rate.
Other Costs That Affect the True Percentage
A merchant calculating how much Shopify takes per sale should also consider several less obvious costs:
- VAT: UK businesses may need to account for VAT on Shopify subscriptions and services. VAT rules depend on registration status and billing details.
- Currency conversion: If the store sells internationally, currency conversion fees may apply.
- Chargebacks: Disputed card payments can create chargeback fees and lost revenue.
- Refunds: Processing fee refunds may not always work exactly as merchants expect, depending on payment method and current Shopify policy.
- Apps: Paid Shopify apps can increase the monthly cost of running the store.
- POS fees: Stores selling in person may need Shopify POS hardware or POS Pro features.
- Premium themes: A paid theme is usually a one-off cost, but it still affects setup budget.
How to Calculate Shopify’s Cost Per Sale
The simplest formula for a Shopify Payments order is:
Order value × percentage fee + fixed fee = processing cost
For example, on a £75 sale with a 2% + 25p fee:
- £75 × 2% = £1.50
- £1.50 + £0.25 = £1.75
The effective percentage is:
£1.75 ÷ £75 × 100 = 2.33%
If a third-party gateway is used, the formula becomes:
Provider fee + Shopify transaction fee = total transaction cost
This calculation gives a clearer picture than looking only at the headline percentage. Small orders are more affected by fixed fees, while high-value orders are more affected by percentage fees.
Which Shopify Plan Has the Lowest Fees?
The Advanced plan generally has the lowest standard Shopify Payments card rates among the main non-enterprise plans. Shopify Plus may offer custom or lower rates for very large merchants, but pricing is usually negotiated.
However, the lowest rate is not always the cheapest option overall. A small UK business with modest sales may pay less total cost on Basic, even with a higher per-sale percentage. A larger business may benefit from upgrading because the reduced processing fee can outweigh the higher monthly cost.
Practical Ways to Reduce Shopify Fees
A UK merchant can reduce or manage Shopify selling costs by taking several practical steps:
- Use Shopify Payments where possible to avoid extra third-party transaction fees.
- Monitor average order value, because fixed fees have a bigger impact on low-value orders.
- Review plan profitability regularly, especially as monthly sales grow.
- Limit unnecessary paid apps and remove tools that do not improve revenue or efficiency.
- Check international payment costs before targeting overseas markets.
- Compare payment methods such as card, PayPal, Klarna, and manual payments.
Final Thoughts
In the UK, Shopify usually takes a per-sale payment processing fee rather than a single universal percentage. With Shopify Payments, an online order may cost around 2% + 25p on Basic, with lower percentage rates on higher plans. If a third-party gateway is used, Shopify may add another transaction fee, which can significantly increase the total cost per sale.
The best plan depends on sales volume, average order value, payment methods, and the value of extra features. A merchant should calculate the total monthly cost rather than focusing only on the headline percentage. For many UK stores, the most cost-effective setup is Shopify Payments on the plan that matches their current sales level.
FAQ
How much percentage does Shopify take per sale in the UK?
With Shopify Payments, UK online card fees commonly start at around 2% + 25p on the Basic plan and decrease on higher plans. If a third-party payment gateway is used, Shopify may charge an additional transaction fee.
Does Shopify charge transaction fees in the UK?
Shopify generally does not charge an extra transaction fee when Shopify Payments is used. If an external payment provider is used, additional Shopify transaction fees may apply.
What is the Shopify Basic transaction fee in the UK?
For Shopify Payments, the Basic online card fee is often around 2% + 25p. If a third-party gateway is used, Shopify may add around 2% as an additional transaction fee.
Is Shopify Payments cheaper than PayPal?
It can be cheaper, especially because Shopify Payments usually avoids Shopify’s extra transaction fee. However, PayPal fees vary, so the merchant should compare the exact rates in both accounts.
Does Shopify take a percentage of shipping?
If the customer pays for shipping as part of the checkout total, payment processing fees usually apply to the full amount charged, including shipping.
Are Shopify fees subject to VAT in the UK?
VAT treatment can depend on the merchant’s business details, VAT registration, and Shopify billing setup. A UK merchant should check invoices and consult an accountant if unsure.
Can Shopify fees be reduced?
Yes. A merchant may reduce costs by using Shopify Payments, choosing the right plan, increasing average order value, avoiding unnecessary apps, and reviewing payment methods regularly.
