How much does Shopify charge per sale on the Basic plan?

On the Basic plan ($39/month), Shopify charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction when you use Shopify Payments. This fee is applied to the total transaction amount, including any shipping charged to the customer. For a $50 sale with $5 shipping, the payment processing fee works out to $1.90 — about 3.45% of the total transaction.

What is Shopify's transaction fee and when does it apply?

Shopify's transaction fee is an additional charge that applies only when you use a third-party payment processor like PayPal or Stripe instead of Shopify Payments. On the Basic plan, that's an extra 2% per sale; on the Grow plan it's 1%; on Advanced it's 0.5%. If you use Shopify Payments, this fee does not apply; you only pay the standard payment processing rate.

What are the differences in fees between Shopify plans (Basic, Grow, Advanced)?

Each plan has lower payment processing rates in exchange for a higher monthly fee. With Shopify Payments: Basic ($39/mo) charges 2.9% + $0.30; the Grow plan ($105/mo) charges 2.7% + $0.30; Advanced ($399/mo) charges 2.5% + $0.30. If you use a third-party processor, add the plan's transaction fee on top: 2% (Basic), 1% (Grow), or 0.6% (Advanced). Higher-volume sellers often save more on fees than they spend on the upgraded plan subscription.

Does Shopify charge fees if I use Shopify Payments?

Yes, but only the standard payment processing fee (2.9% + $0.30 on Basic). The separate transaction fee (the extra percentage Shopify adds for using third-party processors) does not apply when you use Shopify Payments. This is why Shopify Payments is usually the more cost-effective choice: you pay one processing rate instead of stacking a processor fee on top of a Shopify transaction fee.

How do I calculate my real profit margin after Shopify fees?

Your real profit margin after Shopify fees is: (Sale price + shipping charged) minus payment processing fee minus product cost minus actual shipping cost, divided by your sale price. The most common mistake is forgetting to account for the actual shipping cost you pay — not just what you charged the customer. Stocksmith connects to your Shopify store and tracks true cost of goods sold per product automatically.

Are Shopify fees charged on shipping costs?

Yes. Shopify's payment processing fee is calculated on the total transaction amount, which includes any shipping you charge the customer. If you sell a product for $50 and charge $5 for shipping, the processing fee applies to the full $55. This is standard across all major payment processors, not just Shopify. If you offer free shipping, the fee only applies to the product price — but your actual shipping cost still comes out of your profit.

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How Much Does Shopify Take Per Sale?

Shopify charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction on the Basic plan using Shopify Payments, with lower rates on higher plans and additional fees for third-party processors.

Calculate your exact Shopify fees, payment processing costs & profit margin.

Selling on Shopify? Stocksmith automatically tracks your fees, costs, and true profit on every sale.

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Sale Price

USD

Shipping Charged to Customer

USD

Shopify Plan

Basic ($39/mo) Grow ($105/mo) Advanced ($399/mo)

Payment Processor

Shopify Payments Third-party (PayPal, Stripe, etc.)

Product Cost (Materials + Labor)

USD

Actual Shipping Cost

USD

Results

Payment Processing Fee: $ 1.90 (2.9% + $0.30)
Shopify Transaction Fee (Third-Party): $ 1.10 (2%)
Total Shopify Takes: $ 1.90 (3.45% of sale)
Your Profit & Margin: $ 30.10 (60.20% margin)

Who is this calculator for?

This calculator is built for small-batch product businesses selling on Shopify. It's most useful if you:

Make what you sell — soap, candles, jewellery, baked goods, skincare, or any small-batch product
Want to see the real impact of Shopify fees on your profit margin, not just the percentage rate
Are deciding whether to use Shopify Payments or a third-party processor like PayPal or Stripe
Are comparing plans (Basic vs Grow vs Advanced) and want to know if upgrading saves you money

If you're also wondering what it actually costs to make each product — materials, labour, and packaging — that's a separate calculation. Stocksmith handles that side: it connects to your Shopify store and tracks your true cost of goods sold per product, so you can see both fees and COGS in one place.

Know your fees. Now know your costs.

Shopify tells you what you charged. Stocksmith tells you what it actually cost to make. Connect your Shopify store and get real COGS for every product, automatically.

See how Stocksmith works with Shopify

How Much Does Shopify Take Per Sale?

When you make a sale on Shopify, there are two main types of fees that affect how much you actually keep:

1. Payment Processing Fees

If you use Shopify Payments (Shopify's built-in payment processor), you'll pay:

Basic plan: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Grow plan: 2.7% + $0.30 per transaction
Advanced plan: 2.5% + $0.30 per transaction

2. Third-Party Transaction Fees

If you use a third-party payment provider like PayPal or Stripe instead of Shopify Payments, Shopify charges an additional transaction fee:

Basic plan: 2% additional fee
Grow plan: 1% additional fee
Advanced plan: 0.6% additional fee

This is on top of whatever fees your payment processor charges - which is why using Shopify Payments usually makes more sense for most sellers.

Real-World Example

Let's say you sell a candle for $50 with $5 shipping on the Basic plan using Shopify Payments:

Total transaction: $55
Payment processing: $55 × 2.9% + $0.30 = $1.90
That's about 3.45% of your sale going to fees

If you used PayPal instead, you'd pay the PayPal fee (~2.9% + $0.30) plus Shopify's 2% transaction fee - potentially doubling your costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

: On the Basic plan ($39/month), Shopify charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction when you use Shopify Payments. This fee is applied to the total transaction amount, including any shipping charged to the customer. For a $50 sale with $5 shipping, the payment processing fee works out to $1.90 — about 3.45% of the total transaction.
: Shopify's transaction fee is an additional charge that applies only when you use a third-party payment processor like PayPal or Stripe instead of Shopify Payments. On the Basic plan, that's an extra 2% per sale; on the Grow plan it's 1%; on Advanced it's 0.5%. If you use Shopify Payments, this fee does not apply; you only pay the standard payment processing rate.
: Each plan has lower payment processing rates in exchange for a higher monthly fee. With Shopify Payments: Basic ($39/mo) charges 2.9% + $0.30; the Grow plan ($105/mo) charges 2.7% + $0.30; Advanced ($399/mo) charges 2.5% + $0.30. If you use a third-party processor, add the plan's transaction fee on top: 2% (Basic), 1% (Grow), or 0.6% (Advanced). Higher-volume sellers often save more on fees than they spend on the upgraded plan subscription.
: Yes, but only the standard payment processing fee (2.9% + $0.30 on Basic). The separate transaction fee (the extra percentage Shopify adds for using third-party processors) does not apply when you use Shopify Payments. This is why Shopify Payments is usually the more cost-effective choice: you pay one processing rate instead of stacking a processor fee on top of a Shopify transaction fee.
: Your real profit margin after Shopify fees is: (Sale price + shipping charged) − payment processing fee − product cost − actual shipping cost, divided by your sale price. The calculator above does this automatically. The most common mistake is forgetting to account for the actual shipping cost you pay — not just what you charged the customer. If you also want to factor in your cost of goods automatically, Stocksmith connects to your Shopify store and tracks true COGS per product.
: Yes. Shopify's payment processing fee is calculated on the total transaction amount, which includes any shipping you charge the customer. If you sell a product for $50 and charge $5 for shipping, the processing fee applies to the full $55. This is standard across all major payment processors, not just Shopify. If you offer free shipping, the fee only applies to the product price — but your actual shipping cost still comes out of your profit.

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Stocksmith connects to your Shopify store and automatically imports orders, tracks fees, and calculates your true profit on every sale. Stop guessing - know exactly what you're making.

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How Much Does Shopify Take Per Sale?

Who is this calculator for?

How Much Does Shopify Take Per Sale?

1. Payment Processing Fees

2. Third-Party Transaction Fees

Real-World Example

Frequently Asked Questions

Track all your Shopify fees automatically

Stop guessing your cost per unit

Know what a batch actually costs