How much does it cost to sell on TikTok Shop UK? In short: there’s no monthly subscription, most orders attract a 9% commission, and your fulfillment choice drives the rest of the cost picture. If you self-ship, factor in postage and a new £0.50 per-order platform fee, and if you use Fulfilled by TikTok, plan for pick, pack, ship, and storage.
But there’s a lot more to it than that, and a lot to consider. So, if you’re starting out with selling on TikTok Shop, look no further. In this guide we’ll break down each type of cost, then walk you through simple ways to stay profitable.
TikTok Shop commission
Most categories pay a 9% commission on the total order value. That total usually includes the item price, buyer paid shipping, and platform discounts. New sellers sometimes see reduced commission for a short introductory period, and a few categories run lower than 9%. (Tip: Always sanity-check your rate in Seller Center.)
In mixed baskets, commission is usually calculated per item at that item’s category rate, then rolled up, so a single order can carry more than one rate. If an order’s refunded in full or in part, the commission line typically adjusts with it, so you’re not paying fees on revenue you didn’t keep.
For a quick sense check, if you sell a £20 item with £2.99 buyer shipping at 9% then you’re looking at roughly £2.07 in commission before any fulfillment or packaging costs.
Pro tip: Keep an eye on temporary rate programs for new sellers because they expire, and make sure your pricing still works once the standard rate kicks in. For accuracy, pull the payout report each week and reconcile a few orders so your calculator matches what TikTok shows.
TikTok Live sessions shot up 64% in the year to Nov 2024, and daily sales jumped 93%.
FBT vs self-fulfillment: what changes the math?
Your biggest lever after commission is how you get orders to customers, so how do the options stack up?
Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT)
With FBT, TikTok or its partners store your stock and handle pick, pack, and ship. Fees scale by size and weight: for small parcels, the per-item fulfillment fee typically starts under £1, with higher bands for larger items, plus storage and optional packaging add-ons.
Sellers often treat FBT as a time-saver that helps with speed, next-day options, and customer experience. It can also cut “where’s my order?” tickets because tracking’s consistent and fast. You’ll need to keep inventory topped up and watch size bands to make sure that a tiny packaging change doesn’t bump up your fee.
Self-fulfillment
If you ship yourself, your costs are postage, packaging, your team’s time, and the £0.50 per-order fee (introduced July 2025).
Self-ship can be cheaper if you have strong carrier rates, lightweight SKUs, or localized delivery. But the trade-off is the operational load and the need to keep shipping metrics high. You keep full control of packaging, inserts, and unboxing, which is great for brand building. You’ll also need tight cutoffs, clean tracking, and clear comms so performance scores stay healthy.
The truth? A balanced approach often wins
Many of the savviest brands put fast-moving SKUs with nationwide demand into FBT, and keep niche, bulky, or very low-margin items in self-ship. That way, you get speed where it matters and cost control where it counts. It’s worth re-running the numbers each quarter and moving SKUs if rates or fees shift.
131% more UK TikTok Shop shoppers and 180% higher revenue closed out 2024.
How to budget for returns, and promotions
Of course, the costs don’t end at commission and fulfillment. So, how do you account for shipping incentives, returns, and seasonal surcharges to stay in the black?
Shipping benefits
TikTok’s shipping incentives are constantly evolving. Free-shipping schemes have moved from full subsidies to structured benefits and changing co-funding, with program details updated in Seller Center. Always check current rules before a campaign so you know what you fund vs what the platform funds.
Returns
UK buyers generally have at least a 14-day window to request a return. If you refund an order, platform commission is usually adjusted so you’re not stuck paying fees on sales that unwind. You may choose to cover return postage as a customer-friendly policy, in which case don’t forget to budget for it.
Seasonal surcharges
Carriers add peak fees during October to January and big sale periods. Things like fuel, residential delivery, additional handling, and oversize charges can nudge up label costs. Add a small per-parcel uplift in your calculator for these windows and tweak handling time to keep “where’s my order?” messages low.
Promotions and co-funding
Promotions move units, but they also move margin, so budget for your share before you switch them on. Model the discount against your 9% commission, fulfillment, postage, and the £0.50 self-ship fee if it applies. Check current co-funding rules in Seller Center and cap promos by SKU so you don’t discount the lines that can’t carry it.
Lost, damaged, and INR claims
Plan a small claims allowance so the odd lost, damaged, or “item not received” (INR) order doesn’t derail payout. Use tracked services, sturdy packaging, and photo-on-dispatch where possible to cut risk. Set a clear reship or refund rule and log outcomes so you can spot carrier patterns and adjust quickly.
Over 200,000 UK businesses now sell on TikTok Shop.
Operating costs sellers often overlook
TikTok’s superpower is being both a sales channel and a content engine, so plan for both.
Paid ads and boosting
Ads are optional, and many sellers grow with organic content and live shopping alone. If you do run ads, treat spend like any other cost-per-acquisition (CPA) input and start with a small test. With UK shopper numbers rising on TikTok, it’s worth backing creative that’s already converting with paid spend.
Creators and affiliates
You can seed products, pay a flat fee for content, or switch on TikTok’s affiliate program with a % commission on sales. Affiliate costs only land when creators sell, which helps cash flow. Set a rate that motivates them and still protects your margin.
Content production
No need to go nuts with new gear: a phone, a tripod, and a ring light will get you far. Many brands block out a few hours weekly to record product demos, quick UGC snippets, and live-ready setups. Keep the workload realistic as it’s better to get two great videos a week than overwhelm yourself with unsustainable goals.
Tools to keep ops lean
Use a centralized inbox so the team handles TikTok Shop, Amazon, and site messages in one place so you can reply faster with order context and fewer errors. Layer in AI-powered automations to handle first replies, “where’s my order” checks, simple returns, and after-hours messages while agents focus on the tricky stuff.
TikTok Shop UK sees one beauty sale every second.
What it all adds up to
Remember:
- Your margin picture starts with a simple formula that bakes in 9% commission, your chosen fulfillment costs, packaging, and a sensible return allowance.
- Fee programs and shipping incentives keep moving, and carrier rates do too, so a quarterly refresh stops surprises.
- A connected support and order stack turns Where’s my order into a two-minute fix instead of a twenty-minute hunt.
Things to do next
- Build a simple margin calculator that covers everything in your setup.
- Set a recurring quarterly review to update fees, incentives, and carrier rates before they dent margin.
- Connect TikTok Shop to your helpdesk and order system so agents answer Where’s my order with order context at their fingertips.
Ready to centralize TikTok Shop messages, speed up replies, and keep customers happy as you scale? Book a free demo and see how a smart, centralized inbox and AI workflows make your team faster, your customers happier, and your costs more predictable.
FAQs
Do I pay to list products on TikTok Shop UK?
No. Listing is free and there’s no monthly shop subscription. You simply pay fees when you sell.
What’s the current commission rate in the UK?
Most categories pay 9% on the total order value. Some categories run lower rates at times, and new sellers can access temporary rate reductions. Always confirm your rate in Seller Center.
What is the £0.50 fee and when does it apply?
TikTok deducts £0.50 on each order you fulfill yourself in the UK. It doesn’t apply to orders fulfilled through FBT, but make sure you budget for it on self-fulfilled parcels.
How do FBT fees work?
FBT fees include pick, pack, ship by size and weight, storage by volume and days in warehouse, and optional packaging or labeling services. For small parcels, the per-item fee starts under £1 and scales up with size.
Does TikTok still subsidize shipping?
Shipping benefits and co-funding have changed over time. Check the current Free Shipping Benefits or promotional rules in Seller Center to see what the platform funds and what you fund.
What should I plan for returns?
UK buyers generally have at least 14 days to request a return. Commission is typically adjusted on refunded orders. Decide whether you will cover return postage as a customer-friendly policy.
How does TikTok compare to Amazon on fixed costs?
TikTok has no monthly seller subscription in the UK, which many sellers like. Amazon’s Pro plan carries a monthly fee, but it may deliver higher baseline volume. Many teams use both and route SKUs where each channel wins.
