The short answer
TikTok's own US fee table still lists a 6% referral fee for most categories, with 5% for certain jewelry and all pre-owned categories. The 8% figure you keep seeing comes from two places: a 2024 announcement that was never applied as written, and August 2026 reports from seller blogs that don't cite any TikTok notice. Until TikTok publishes a change, 6% is the official rate. Your own settlement statement is the only place to see what you actually pay.
Where the 8% figure comes from
1. The 2024 announcement
In early 2024, TikTok told US sellers it would raise the referral fee in two steps: to 6% from April 1, 2024, then to 8% from July 1, 2024, with a few categories (electronics, collectibles, pre-owned) held lower. The first step happened. The second didn't appear in the published fee table: TikTok's Seller University kept listing 6% for most categories, and it still does. Many articles written in 2024 repeated the planned 8% as fact, and they still rank in search results today.
2. The August 2026 reports
Since August 2026, several seller blogs have reported that the standard US rate rose from 6% to 8% on August 4, 2026, with some beauty and electronics sub-categories higher still. None of the reports we found links to a TikTok announcement, Seller Center notice or updated fee table. Independent checks of TikTok's referral fee table as late as October 30, 2026 still showed 6%. That doesn't prove no seller anywhere pays more (rates already differ by category, and promotional rates exist), but it means 8% is not the published standard.
How to check the rate you actually pay
- Open Seller Center → Finance and pick a recent settled order (statements or order transactions, depending on your account).
- Find the referral fee line for that order.
- Work out the fee base: what the customer paid, plus any TikTok-funded discount, minus tax.
- Divide the referral fee by that base. If you get 0.06, you're on 6%; 0.08 means 8%.
Check two or three orders from different categories. If they disagree, your categories are on different rates.
How the referral fee is calculated
Referral fee = Rate × (Customer payment + Platform discount − Tax)
Three details catch sellers out:
- TikTok-funded discounts don't lower your fee. TikTok adds its own discount back into the base, and pays that discount to you, so the fee is worked out as if the buyer paid full price.
- Your own coupons do lower it. A seller-funded discount reduces the customer payment and so reduces the fee.
- Payment processing is included. In the US there's no separate card-processing charge on top of the referral fee.
What 6% versus 8% does to your profit
Two percentage points sounds small. Here's what it is in dollars per order:
| Order value | Fee at 6% | Fee at 8% | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15 | $0.90 | $1.20 | $0.30 |
| $25 | $1.50 | $2.00 | $0.50 |
| $50 | $3.00 | $4.00 | $1.00 |
| $100 | $6.00 | $8.00 | $2.00 |
Now compare that with the cost most TikTok sellers set themselves: creator commission. On a $25 order with a 15% affiliate commission, the creator earns $3.75: nearly twice the fee at 8%, and two and a half times the fee at 6%. If you're worried about margins, the commission rate you offer creators is usually the bigger lever.
The other TikTok Shop fees to include
| Fee | US rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Referral fee | 6% (5% select jewelry, pre-owned) | Includes payment processing |
| New-seller rate | 3% for 30 days | After an eligible first sale; don't price on it |
| Creator commission | You set it, often 10–20% | Charged on top of the referral fee |
| Refund administration fee | 20% of the referral fee, max $5 per SKU | TikTok refunds the rest of the referral fee on returns |
| Listing or monthly fee | None |
Example: a returned $25 order at 6% had a $1.50 referral fee. TikTok refunds it but keeps a 20% admin fee, so the return costs you $0.30 in fees, plus whatever the return itself costs.
How to price while the rate is unclear
- Check your statements first. It takes five minutes and settles the question for your shop.
- If you're on 6%, price as if it were 8%. The extra two points become a buffer against a future increase, returns and discount events, not profit you've already spent.
- Model the creator order, not the organic one. If most of your sales come through affiliates, the commission belongs in every price calculation.
- Re-check after each TikTok policy email. When TikTok does change its fee table, we'll update this post and our calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the TikTok Shop referral fee in 2026?
TikTok's published US fee table lists a 6% referral fee for most categories and 5% for certain jewelry and all pre-owned categories. Reports of an 8% standard rate from August 2026 have not been confirmed by TikTok, so check the rate on your own settlement statements.
Did TikTok Shop raise its fee to 8% in July 2024?
TikTok announced in early 2024 that the referral fee would rise to 6% on April 1, 2024 and to 8% on July 1, 2024. The 6% step took effect, but TikTok's published fee table has continued to list 6% for most categories.
Does the TikTok Shop referral fee include payment processing?
Yes. In the US the referral fee covers payment processing, so there is no separate card-processing charge on top of it.
Do I get the TikTok Shop referral fee back on returns?
Mostly. TikTok refunds the referral fee on returned orders but keeps a refund administration fee of 20% of it, capped at $5 per SKU.
Sources
- Value Added Resource: TikTok Shop announces major fee hike in 2024
- Lilach Bullock: How much does TikTok Shop take? (citing TikTok Seller University)
- Marginory: TikTok Shop seller fees, US breakdown
- Mike Begg: TikTok Shop fees 2026 (fee table checked Oct 30, 2026)
- Delzonic: TikTok Shop fee increase 2026 (the 8% report)
- Webgility: TikTok Shop fees and margins (fee formula)
Fees and policies change. Figures were checked against the sources above on November 11, 2026; always confirm your own rate in your seller account.