PDQ Machine Costs 2026 UK: Typical Prices, Fees & What You’ll Pay Quick answer
PDQ machine costs in the UK usually depend on the type of machine, transaction fees, monthly rental, provider, contract length and your monthly card turnover.
A simple card reader or mobile PDQ-style device may cost around £19 to £69 upfront with no monthly fee and transaction fees around 1.69% to 1.75%.
A countertop, portable or mobile PDQ machine from a traditional provider may cost around £10 to £40+ per month in terminal rental, plus transaction fees, PCI fees, authorisation fees and possible contract charges.
Higher-turnover businesses may be able to get lower transaction rates through quote-based merchant account providers, but they should compare total monthly cost carefully.
Typical PDQ machine costs in 2026:
Cost type Typical UK cost
Basic card reader
£19-£69 upfront
Smart terminal
£149-£399+ upfront or monthly rental
Countertop PDQ rental
Portable PDQ rental
Mobile PDQ rental
Flat-rate transaction fees
Custom merchant rates
Quote-based
Setup fee
£0-£150
PCI/compliance fee
Chargeback fee
Compare PDQ machine quotes and see whether your business could save up to 40%.
Contents
How Much Does a PDQ Machine Cost
What is a PDQ Machine?
Buying vs. Renting a PDQ Machine
Choosing the Right PDQ Machine
Additional Costs to Consider
How do we work?
Transparent, impartial, and data‑driven reviews made by a team of expert humans, never AI generated – here’s exactly how Compare Your Business Costs helps you find the best deals from trusted UK providers: click here
Authored by: Ally Cox (Business Technology & B2B Services Specialist 10+ Years’ Experience)
Reviewed by: James Ward (Telecoms Specialist, 12+ Years Experience)
Last Updated: July 2026
PDQ Machine Cost Calculator UK
Estimate your monthly PDQ machine costs, transaction fees, total contract cost and potential savings from switching provider.
PDQ machine type
Mobile card reader Portable PDQ machine Countertop PDQ machine Smart terminal / EPOS terminal Custom merchant account Changing this updates suggested default fees
Contract length
No contract / pay monthly 12 months 18 months 24 months 36 months Used to estimate total contract cost
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Estimated monthly cost
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Estimated annual cost
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Effective processing rate
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Enter your figures to estimate your PDQ machine costs.
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This calculator is an estimate only. Actual PDQ machine costs vary by provider, card mix, business type, transaction volume, card type, contract length, equipment, PCI fees and payment method.
Key Takeaways
PDQ stands for “Process Data Quickly”.
A PDQ machine is another name for a card machine or payment terminal.
Basic PDQ-style card readers may cost around £19 to £69 upfront.
Dedicated countertop, portable and mobile PDQ machines often involve monthly rental.
Square lists 1.75% for UK in-person card payments.
SumUp lists 1.69% for in-person card payments on its standard £0/month option.
PayPal POS lists 1.75% for card and contactless payments.
Tyl by NatWest lists terminal hire from £13.99 + VAT/month for the PAX A80.
Renting may suit businesses that need support, replacement terminals and professional hardware.
Buying may suit low-volume sellers that want low commitment.
Hidden costs can include PCI fees, chargebacks, authorisation fees, minimum monthly charges and cancellation fees.
The best way to compare PDQ machine costs is to calculate your effective monthly rate.
Compare PDQ machine prices based on your turnover, terminal type and contract terms.
PDQ machine costs at a glance
Business type Likely best PDQ option
Sole trader
Card reader or Tap to Pay
Low upfront cost, no monthly fee, flat transaction rate
Market trader
Mobile card reader
Reader cost plus transaction fees
Tradesperson
Mobile PDQ or Tap to Pay
Low hardware cost or monthly mobile terminal
Small shop
Countertop PDQ
Monthly rental plus transaction fees
Café
Countertop or portable PDQ
Rental, transaction fees and possible receipt printer
Restaurant
Portable PDQ with tipping
Monthly rental, transaction fees and EPOS costs
Salon
Portable PDQ or mobile reader
£0–£30+ per month plus transaction fees
Pub or bar
Portable and countertop PDQ machines
Multiple terminals and monthly rental
Medium SME
Merchant account PDQ
Custom quote and contract terms
High-volume business
Integrated PDQ and merchant account
Negotiated rates and monthly service costs
Want to know how much a PDQ machine will cost your business? This quote service is best for UK businesses that want to take in-person payments using:
a PDQ machine
card machine
card reader
countertop terminal
portable card machine
mobile card machine
Chip and PIN machine
contactless payment terminal
EPOS-integrated payment terminal
merchant account
What is a PDQ Machine? A PDQ (Process Data Quickly) machine is a device that allows businesses to accept card payments from customer and they process transactions swiftly and securely, making them essential for modern businesses.
Buying vs. Renting a PDQ Machine Deciding whether to buy or rent your PDQ machine will depend on your personal business needs and factors, but we’ve created a handy little table breaking down some features of each:
Feature
Buying
Renting
Upfront Cost
Lower (one-time purchase)
Higher (monthly lease fees)
Monthly Cost
Transaction fees only
Transaction fees + monthly lease fees
Maintenance/Repair
Your responsibility after warranty
Covered by rental agreement (usually)
Flexibility
Sell or switch anytime
Locked into contract term
Upgrades
You manage upgrades
May have upgrade options
Technology
Risk of becoming outdated
May benefit from newer models
Best for
Businesses with predictable transaction volume, comfortable managing device
Businesses needing immediate access, want service and potential upgrades
Not sure if your PDQ quote is competitive?
Compare your PDQ machine quote against leading UK card payment providers before signing a contract.
PDQ machine costs can vary widely PDQ machine costs vary depending on the provider and type of machine.
Most UK businesses pay one of these cost structures:
Pricing model Typical cost Best for
Pay-as-you-go card reader
Upfront reader cost plus flat transaction fee
Sole traders, pop-ups and low-volume businesses
Monthly rental PDQ
Monthly terminal rental plus transaction fees
Shops, cafés, restaurants and salons
Merchant account PDQ
Custom pricing plus rental/package costs
Higher-turnover and established businesses
Smart terminal
Upfront or monthly cost plus transaction fees
Businesses needing apps, reporting or receipts
EPOS-integrated PDQ
Hardware, software and payment fees
Retail, hospitality and multi-staff businesses
A very small business may pay no monthly fee and only transaction fees, but a regular retail or hospitality business may pay monthly rental plus lower or custom transaction rates.
PDQ machine cost breakdown
Cost type Typical range What it means
Basic reader
£19-£69
Low-cost reader for simple payments
Smart terminal
£149-£399+
Standalone terminal with more features
Countertop PDQ
£10-£30+ per month
Fixed terminal at till or reception
Portable PDQ
£15-£40+ per month
Terminal carried around premises
Mobile PDQ
£15-£40+ per month
Terminal for mobile and field payments
Transaction fee
Around 1.69%-1.75% on common flat-rate providers
Percentage charged per payment
Custom transaction fee
Quote-based
Often based on turnover, card mix and sector
Setup fee
£0-£150
One-off provider or account setup charge
PCI fee
£0-£10+ per month
Compliance or security-related fee
Authorisation fee
1p-5p
Small fee per authorised transaction
Chargeback fee
£10-£25
Fee when a customer disputes a payment
Cancellation fee
Varies
Applies if you leave a contract early
PDQ machine costs by type
PDQ type Typical cost pattern Best for
Countertop PDQ machine
Monthly rental plus transaction fees
Fixed tills, shops and receptions
Portable PDQ machine
Monthly rental plus transaction fees
Restaurants, pubs, cafés and salons
Mobile PDQ machine
Monthly rental or device cost plus fees
Tradespeople, events and field teams
Smart PDQ terminal
Higher upfront cost or monthly rental
Businesses needing reporting and receipts
EPOS-integrated PDQ
Monthly software, hardware and payment fees
App-based card reader
Upfront reader cost plus flat fee
Sole traders and market sellers
Tap to Pay
No separate device, transaction fees apply
Low-volume mobile sellers
PDQ machine costs by business size
Business size
Typical monthly cost pattern
Sole trader
£0 monthly plus around 1.69%-1.75% transaction fee
Micro-business
Low-cost reader or Tap to Pay
Small business
£0-£25/month plus transaction fees
Growing SME
£15-£40/month plus custom or blended transaction fees
Medium business
Multiple terminals plus merchant account pricing
Large business
Custom pricing, negotiated rates and integrated systems
Seasonal business
Low-commitment card reader or rolling contract
High-volume business
Merchant account quote and lower effective rate
PDQ machine costs by provider
Provider Example cost or fee Best for
Square
1.75% UK in-person card payments
Small businesses wanting simple pricing
SumUp
1.69% in-person fee on £0/month option
Sole traders and low-volume sellers
PayPal POS
1.75% card/contactless payments
PayPal users and small sellers
Tyl by NatWest
Terminal hire from £13.99 + VAT/month
SMEs wanting bank-backed payments
Dojo
Blended or custom pricing
Hospitality, retail and growing SMEs
Worldpay
Quote-based or package pricing
Barclaycard
Reader or monthly terminal options
Bank-backed card machine route
Elavon
Quote-based merchant services
Retail, hospitality and SMEs
TakePayments
Tailored card machine quotes
SMEs wanting guided setup
Clover
POS terminal and software costs
Retail and hospitality POS
Lloyds Cardnet
Merchant services pricing
Lloyds customers and established SMEs
Buying vs renting a PDQ machine
Feature Buying a PDQ/card reader
Upfront cost
Usually higher upfront, unless using cheap reader
Monthly cost
Often £0 for basic readers
Monthly terminal rental applies
Transaction fees
Usually flat rate
May be custom or lower at scale
Maintenance
You may be responsible after warranty
Usually covered by provider
Replacement device
You may need to buy another
Replacement may be included
Flexibility
Easier to switch
Best for
Sole traders, pop-ups, low-volume sellers
Regular businesses needing reliable terminals
Long-term cost
Can be cheaper at low volume
Can be cheaper at higher volume
PDQ machine transaction fees Transaction fees are charged every time a customer pays by card.
They can depend on:
card type
debit vs credit card
UK vs international card
personal vs commercial card
in-person vs online payment
transaction value
monthly turnover
business sector
pricing model
provider contract
Common transaction pricing models
Pricing type How it works Best for
Flat-rate
One simple percentage
Small businesses and low-volume sellers
Blended pricing
One agreed percentage across card types
SMEs wanting predictability
Interchange++
Card costs and provider margin shown separately
Custom quote
Rates based on business profile
Established and growing businesses
Hidden PDQ machine fees Before signing a PDQ machine contract, check for:
terminal rental
transaction fees
PCI fees
PCI non-compliance fees
authorisation fees
refund fees
chargeback fees
minimum monthly service charge
setup fee
installation fee
statement fee
paper invoice fee
settlement fee
next-day payout fee
replacement terminal fee
cancellation fee
early termination fee
online payment gateway fee
virtual terminal fee
EPOS software fee
additional terminal fee
international card fees
commercial card fees
Ask for all fees in writing before signing.
PDQ machine vs card reader costs
Feature PDQ machine Card reader
Hardware
Countertop, portable or mobile terminal
Small reader paired with app or phone
Upfront cost
Often rental or higher upfront cost
Monthly fee
Often applies
Often £0
Transaction fees
May be custom or quote-based
Usually flat rate
Best for
Regular in-person payments
Low-volume and mobile payments
Contract
Often applies
Support
Usually stronger
Usually app-based support
Professional feel
Strong
Good for small businesses
Receipts
Often printed or digital
Usually digital unless printer added
PDQ machine vs Tap to Pay costs
Feature PDQ machine Tap to Pay
Hardware cost
Reader, terminal or monthly rental
No separate reader needed
Monthly cost
£0–£40+ depending on provider
Often £0 for basic app use
Transaction fee
Around 1.69%–1.75% on flat-rate plans; custom rates available
Usually provider’s card-present rate
Chip and PIN
Usually yes
Usually no
Receipts
Printed or digital
Usually digital
Best for
Shops, cafés, restaurants and regular payments
Low-volume mobile contactless payments
Customer experience
Traditional and familiar
Reliability
Dedicated device
Depends on phone battery and app
How to calculate your effective PDQ cost
Do not compare providers by transaction rate alone – use your effective rate.
Formula :
Total monthly PDQ costs ÷ monthly card turnover × 100
Example:
Cost item Amount
Monthly card turnover
£10,000
Transaction fees
£140
Terminal rental
£25
PCI fee
£5
Other fees
£5
Total monthly cost
£175
Effective rate:
£175 ÷ £10,000 × 100 = 1.75%
A lower transaction fee may not save money if the monthly rental is high.
What features do you need?
Check whether you need:
contactless payments
Chip and PIN
Apple Pay and Google Pay
receipt printing
tipping
split bills
refunds
staff accounts
reporting
EPOS integration
accounting integration
4G connectivity
battery life
offline mode
virtual terminal
online payment gateway
payment links
Choosing the Right PDQ Machine Ask yourself the following questions when deciding whether to buy, rent, and which type of machine and provider are right for you:
What cards do my customers use? This will determine what you should be offering, as while most PDQ machines accept credit and debit cards, certain providers may have limitations, especially with less common cards like American Express.
Where is my point of sale? For mobile businesses or events held in remote locations, a portable PDQ machine is essential for accepting payments on the go. For businesses with a fixed location, a countertop POS may be a better option!
What’s my budget? Evaluate your budgetary constraints when selecting a PDQ machine, and if you can afford the initial investment, we think that purchasing the terminal outright may be more economical in the long term – but either way, we think you should consider the total cost of ownership and weigh it against your financial capabilities before making a decision.
What support does the provider offer? You should always choose as provider known for reliable customer service and a transparent fee structure.
In addition, we think you should:
Always understand all fees associated with a PDQ machine (transaction fees, monthly fees, etc.) before signing a contract – i.e. READ THE FINE PRINT!
Choose a provider with reliable customer support to answer any questions you might have.
Ensure the PDQ machine you choose offers secure payment processing to protect your customers’ information.
How to reduce PDQ costs To reduce your PDQ machine costs:
compare multiple providers
calculate your effective rate
use monthly turnover to negotiate
avoid unnecessary terminals
avoid long contracts if your needs may change
check hidden fees
compare rental vs buying
compare card-present and online fees separately
ask your current provider to match a better quote
review your contract before renewal
choose Tap to Pay if you only take occasional contactless payments
switch from flat-rate pricing when turnover grows
When to compare PDQ machine quotes You should compare quotes if:
you process regular card payments
you take more than £5,000 per month by card
your current fees feel high
your business has grown
you need a countertop, portable or mobile terminal
you need multiple machines
your contract is ending
support is poor
you pay PCI or authorisation fees you do not understand
you want faster settlement
you need EPOS integration
you are switching from cash or bank transfer
Compare PDQ machine quotes before signing or renewing a contract.
FAQs What is the average cost of a PDQ machine?
A basic card reader may cost around £19 to £69 upfront. A dedicated countertop, portable or mobile PDQ machine may cost around £10 to £40+ per month in rental, plus transaction fees.
What does PDQ stand for?
PDQ stands for “Process Data Quickly”. It is an older term for a card machine or payment terminal.
Is a PDQ machine the same as a card machine?
Yes. In most UK business contexts, a PDQ machine is the same as a card machine or payment terminal.
Are PDQ machines cheaper with contracts?
They can be cheaper for businesses with regular card turnover because the transaction rate may be lower. However, contracts may include monthly rental, PCI fees and cancellation charges.
Can I get a PDQ machine without a contract?
Yes. Providers such as SumUp, Square and PayPal POS offer low-commitment card readers or payment options. Traditional PDQ machine providers may require contracts.
Do PDQ machines need broadband?
Most PDQ machines need connectivity through broadband, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, mobile data or 4G.
Are portable PDQ machines more expensive?
Portable and mobile PDQ machines can cost more than basic countertop terminals because they need battery power, wireless connectivity and extra flexibility.
What is the cheapest PDQ machine ?
The cheapest option for low-volume businesses is usually a simple card reader or Tap to Pay app. For higher turnover, a rented PDQ machine with lower transaction fees may be cheaper overall.
Can I buy a PDQ machine outright?
Some providers let you buy card readers or terminals outright. Traditional merchant providers often rent or lease terminals instead.
Is it better to buy or rent a PDQ machine?
Buying is often better for low-volume sellers. Renting can be better for businesses needing support, replacement hardware, professional terminals or lower rates.
What transaction fees do PDQ machines charge?
Flat-rate providers often charge around 1.69% to 1.75% for in-person payments. Merchant account providers may offer custom pricing based on turnover and card mix.
What hidden fees should I check?
Check PCI fees, authorisation fees, chargeback fees, refund fees, settlement fees, setup fees, terminal rental, cancellation fees and minimum monthly charges.
Is Tap to Pay cheaper than a PDQ machine?
Tap to Pay can be cheaper upfront because it does not need a separate machine. However, it may not suit businesses needing Chip and PIN, printed receipts or multiple terminals.
Which PDQ machine is best for small businesses?
Small businesses should compare SumUp, Square, PayPal POS, Dojo, Tyl, Worldpay, TakePayments, Clover and Barclaycard depending on turnover and payment needs.
When should I switch PDQ provider?
Compare providers if your turnover has grown, fees are too high, support is poor, your contract is ending or you need a better terminal setup.
Find the right PDQ machine deal
PDQ machine pricing is rarely one-size-fits-all. Compare quotes from trusted UK providers and find the best option for your business size, turnover and payment needs.
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Hi, I’m Ally Cox , a senior copywriter and blogger at CompareYourBusinessCosts.co.uk, the UK’s trusted platform for comparing business services.over a decade of experience in the B2B sector, I specialise in simplifying complex topics like leased lines, VoIP, business energy, HR and payroll solutions, accounting software, and EPOS systems .HR, copywriting, and business operations- from clocking-in systems to card machines and office technology .informed, confident decisions when choosing products and services that improve efficiency and save money.
