TikTok Shop US fees: what the 6% rate does — and does not — cover
Start with your category’s referral fee, then add the costs of your actual selling setup. A creator payout, a shipping label and an advertising bill are different deductions. Treating all of them as “TikTok takes 6%” is how a promising product ends up with a disappointing payout.
The short version
- 6% is a US standard-category starting point, not an all-in cost.
- Seller-funded and platform-funded discounts have different effects.
- Review programme charges before locking a price.
Which referral rate applies?
TikTok’s US schedule lists 6% for most categories and 5% for selected fine-jewellery and pre-owned categories. Listed collectibles and pre-owned categories use 3% on the portion above $10,000. Check the exact subcategory; “jewellery” alone is not enough to choose 5%. The official schedule below was checked on September 19, 2026.
How to read the fee base
The official formula uses customer payment plus platform discount, less tax. For a $40 tax-exclusive item with no shipping income or vouchers, 6% is $2.40. A seller-funded $4 discount reduces this example’s selling amount to $36. A platform-funded voucher should not be deducted from the seller’s proceeds a second time.
| Scenario | Seller item proceeds | 6% fee |
|---|---|---|
| $40 list price, no voucher | $40.00 | $2.40 |
| $4 seller-funded discount | $36.00 | $2.16 |
| $4 platform voucher reimbursed to seller | $40.00 | $2.40 |
Reconcile individual settlement lines rather than treating every displayed total as the same revenue base. Buyer payment, seller revenue and advertising-attributed revenue can differ. If the fee does not match your forecast, check discount funding, shipping treatment, category and order status before changing the percentage.
The rest of the order cost
| Cost | Where it comes from | What to enter |
|---|---|---|
| Creator payout | Affiliate arrangement | Your standard or Shop Ads commission |
| Advertising | Campaign spend | Spend per order in the same reporting scope |
| Product and packaging | Supplier and operations | Landed cost; packaging in fulfilment or other cost |
| Shipping / fulfilment | Carrier, warehouse or FBT | Expense you bear, separately from shipping income |
| Optional programmes | Enrolment terms | Applicable charges allocated to other cost per order |
For example, the official US Smart Promotion FAQ lists charges for enrolled shops. Review your enrolments instead of adding a charge to every shop. Do not add a generic processing percentage borrowed from another platform unless your own applicable terms require it.
What happens on a refund?
The US policy retains a refund administration charge: 20% of the refunded referral fee, capped at $5 per SKU type per refund, with specified exceptions. On a fully refunded ordinary $40 item with a $2.40 referral fee, this is $0.48. Our returns guide combines it with costs that do not come back.
A five-minute settlement check
- Choose one completed and one refunded order for the same SKU. Keep the settlement details and date.
- Confirm the subcategory and any account promotion. Record when a temporary rate expires.
- Separate seller-funded and platform-funded vouchers. Check whether shipping income actually reaches you.
- Compare referral, creator and programme charges individually. Do not force a match with an unexplained blended rate.
- Update the forecast. Recheck after a category, programme or pricing change.
Combine the charges with COGS and CPA in the free TikTok Shop calculator. Read our methodology for what it includes and leaves out.
Questions sellers ask
Is 6% everything I pay?
No. It is a referral-fee assumption for standard US categories. Product costs, creators, ads, fulfilment, returns and applicable programmes still affect profit.
Can I use US fees for Malaysia or the UK?
No. Select the actual selling market and confirm its category and account terms. The same platform brand does not mean the same fees.
Sources & verification
Platform rules can change. Examples use stated assumptions; your current Seller Center terms take precedence.
- TikTok Shop US: category referral ratesChecked
- TikTok Shop US: referral fee policy and refund rulesChecked
- TikTok Shop US: Smart Promotion programme FAQChecked
Put the guide into numbersModel your own product economics.
The marqflow profit calculator includes platform fees, creator commission, ads, fulfilment, returns and break-even analysis.
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