Insights
TikTok Shop commission rates 2026: UK and US guide
Updated 1 November 2026. Scope: public UK and US platform policies, not a worldwide tariff.
TikTok Shop commission rates depend on market, product category and eligible incentives. The UK policy checked on 1 November 2026 states a 9% standard rate before reductions. The US category table checked on the same date lists 6% for most categories, with specified 5% categories and special treatment for qualifying high-value sales. Affiliate commission is separate.
Our earlier US 8% generalisation was not supported by the public category table reviewed for this update. Use the applicable category row and any later account-specific notice rather than assuming either market has one exception-free rate.
The decision summary:
Identify the market and the exact product category before selecting a platform rate.
Separate the platform fee from creator commission, advertising, fulfilment and returns.
Record incentive eligibility and expiry. A temporary reduction is not a permanent tariff.
Reconcile the percentage and calculation base against an actual order statement.
What are the UK and US platform rates?
These are the public policy positions retrieved on 1 November 2026. Their source dates and effective rules are not the same thing as the retrieval date.
Market | Public policy position | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
UK | 9% standard commission before eligible reductions | Specified category reductions can produce an effective 5% rate; other incentives depend on their terms |
US | 6% in most rows of the published category table | Specified jewellery and pre-owned categories are 5%; qualifying collectibles and pre-owned sales have a 3% rate on the portion above $10,000 |
UK source: Commission Rate Policy, dated 18 September 2025, checked 1 November 2026. The policy limits a product to one commission reduction incentive at a time and makes eligibility dependent on product categorisation.
US source: Referral fees by category, displayed date 8 October 2026, checked 1 November 2026. Its title still refers to 2024 and its jewellery change is effective 31 October 2024. That is not evidence of a new universal 2026 rate change.
The US 5% jewellery rows specify Diamond, Gold, Jade, Platinum/Carat Gold and Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald. Do not expand that to all jewellery: other rows, including Silver, show 6% in the table reviewed.
How is the commission calculation base different?
For the UK, the published formula is ((net sales + customer-paid shipping fee + platform discount) - (net sales refund + platform discount refund)) x commission rate.
For the US, the public category table gives referral fee rate x (customer payment + platform discount - tax), and says the base includes customer-paid shipping.
These are not interchangeable with an informal price-times-rate shortcut. Identify seller discounts, platform discounts, shipping and tax before reproducing an example in a forecast. Ask the business's finance owner to reconcile the model to settlement records, not merely to the product page price.
Is creator commission included in platform commission?
No. Platform commission is paid to the platform. Affiliate commission is the separate amount earned by a creator under the applicable collaboration and attribution terms.
Choose a creator offer from the product's contribution headroom and the work expected, not from an unsupported industry average. Separate commission-only arrangements from retained content work, usage rights and advertising permissions. A higher creator rate can be commercially sensible, but only if the resulting sales cover the incremental cost.
Our UK fee guide explains the wider cost stack and tax treatment. The break-even framework is a starting point for scenario modelling, not a substitute for current rates.
What happens to platform commission after a refund?
The UK policy says the full platform commission is refunded for a fully returned order and the commission on refunded items is refunded for a partial return.
US rules differ. The US Referral Fee Updates policy, displayed date 5 August 2025, checked 1 November 2026, describes a refund administration fee of 20% of the referral fee, capped at $5 per SKU from 15 May 2025, with specified exceptions.
Do not use the UK refund explanation for a US order. Neither policy means fulfilment, return handling, advertising and product losses are automatically recovered.
How should you model an order before choosing a creator rate?
Start with revenue on the correct tax basis. Deduct product cost, the verified platform charge, fulfilment, packaging, advertising allocation and expected unrecovered return costs. The remaining contribution must cover creator costs and the business's required contribution.
Illustrative US example, not a current provider quote or customer result: assume a $50 referral-fee base and a category rate of 6%. Platform commission is $3. Assume separately a $7.50 creator payment, $10 product cost, $5 fulfilment and $4 advertising allocation, on a consistent tax basis. Contribution before overheads and further return losses is $20.50.
The $7.50 creator cost is an assumption, not a recommended benchmark. Replace each input with the actual contract, invoice and order record before making an offer. Do not deduct the same advertising or creator cost twice because reports attribute the order differently.
Can you use a UK or US rate in another market?
No. This guide does not verify current EU or Southeast Asian tariffs. Obtain the local policy for each market, the exact category and the seller's active terms. Avoid publishing a worldwide table assembled from unrelated effective dates.
For a cross-border decision, model compliance, inventory location, returns and local operating costs as well as the referral fee. A lower headline percentage does not establish a lower total cost or an eligible selling route.
Frequently asked questions
Does TikTok Shop US charge 8% on most categories?
The public category table checked on 1 November 2026 lists 6% for most categories, not a universal 8%. Check the exact category row and any later notice applying to your account before pricing.
Is the UK fee always 9%?
No. The UK public policy states 9% before eligible reductions and describes specified category reductions and other incentives. Verify eligibility and the effective rate for each product, rather than applying a blanket exception or blanket standard rate.
Is all US jewellery charged at 5%?
No. The reviewed table lists specific jewellery subcategories at 5%, while other jewellery rows remain at 6%. Use the precise category rather than a broad jewellery label.
Do high-value US orders have a different rate?
The reviewed category table specifies a 3% rate on the portion above $10,000 for qualifying collectibles and pre-owned sales. It is not a universal 3% rate on every high-value order or the whole sale.
Does platform commission include affiliate payments?
No. Keep the creator's agreed commission and any additional contracted work separate. Reconcile actual earned amounts against the relevant order and collaboration terms.
Are refunds treated the same in the UK and US?
No. The reviewed UK policy describes commission refunds, while the US policy includes a refund administration fee with a cap and exceptions. Check the market-specific policy and the actual refund record.
Speak to Z Media about building a contribution model around the products, creators and markets you actually operate.
