Card Machine Costs UK 2026 | Fees, Prices & How Much You’ll Pay Quick answer
Card machine costs in the UK can range from almost nothing upfront to hundreds of pounds per month once transaction fees, hardware, terminal rental and additional charges are included.
The cheapest setup depends mainly on how much you take by card each month.
Monthly card turnover What we would compare first
Under £1,000
Pay-as-you-go reader or Tap to Pay
£1,000-£3,000
Flat-rate reader vs low-cost terminal
£3,000-£10,000
Paid lower-rate plan or merchant quote
£10,000-£50,000
Dojo, Tyl, Worldpay and other negotiated quotes
£50,000+
Custom merchant-account pricing
Our view: low-volume businesses should usually prioritise avoiding fixed monthly charges.
As card turnover increases, transaction rate becomes much more important than hardware price.
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This quote service is best for UK businesses that want to take card payments in person using a card reader, countertop terminal, portable PDQ machine or merchant account.
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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: September 2026
Card Machine Fees Calculator UK Use our calculator to estimate your monthly and annual processing costs and compare your current pricing against a lower-cost alternative.
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Card Machine Fees Calculator UK Estimate your monthly and annual card processing costs in seconds. Adjust the fields below to see how much your current setup could be costing you.
Pricing model Flat rate Custom / Merchant account
Your Estimated Costs
Estimated monthly fees
£0.00
Estimated annual fees
£0.00
Estimated monthly transactions
0
Potential monthly saving
£0.00
You could save money by switching to a lower-fee provider.
This calculator is an estimate only. Actual card machine costs vary by provider, pricing structure, card mix, sector and contract terms.
Key Takeaways
Square currently charges 1.75% for UK in-person card payments.
SumUp charges 1.69% on its standard pay-as-you-go plan.
SumUp Payments Plus costs £19/month and cuts eligible domestic card fees to 0.99%.
PayPal POS currently charges 1.75% for card and contactless payments.
Tyl by NatWest charges 1.39% + 5p for eligible UK/European personal cards for businesses under £50,000 annual card turnover.
Dojo currently advertises a 1.2% blended rate for businesses below £100,000 annual card turnover.
Worldpay currently publishes a 1.50% Simplicity rate on eligible Mastercard/Visa transactions.
Hardware price matters far less than transaction fees once monthly turnover increases.
Always calculate total monthly cost rather than comparing transaction rate alone.
Ask for a full fee schedule before signing any card-machine contract.
What Does a Card Machine Actually Cost? A card machine can create several different costs, and these can include:
hardware purchase
monthly terminal rental
transaction percentage
per-transaction authorisation fee
PCI fees
software subscription
chargeback fees
refund fees
settlement fees
cancellation charges
This is why comparing “1.2% vs 1.75%” alone does not tell you which provider is cheaper.
Card Machine Costs at a Glance
Cost Typical structure
Basic card reader
£19-£69+ upfront
Smart terminal
£149-£250+ upfront or monthly payment
Terminal rental
£0-£30+ per month
Flat transaction fee
About 1.2%-1.75% on common published plans
Merchant account rate
Custom/card-type dependent
Authorisation fee
May apply per transaction
PCI fee
Provider dependent
Cancellation
Contract dependent
Our Most Important Advice: Compare Effective Cost The best way to compare card-machine pricing is to work out your effective processing cost.
Use: Total monthly payment costs ÷ monthly card turnover × 100
For example:
Card turnover: £10,000
Transaction fees: £130
Terminal/software fees: £25
Total cost: £155
Your effective cost is:
£155 ÷ £10,000 = 1.55%
This makes it much easier to compare very different pricing models.
Flat-Rate Reader vs Merchant Account
Flat-rate reader Merchant/contract pricing
Monthly fee
Often £0
Often applies
Transaction rate
Usually higher
Often lower
Pricing
Simple
More complex
Contract
Usually flexible
May have minimum term
Best for
Low volume
Higher card turnover
Our View: When Flat-Rate Pricing Stops Making Sense At low turnover, paying no monthly fee is usually attractive.
At higher turnover, the percentage fee starts to dominate.
For example:
Monthly card turnover 1.69% 1.75% 1.20%
£1,000
£17
£17.50
£12
£5,000
£85
£87.50
£60.00
£10,000
£169
£175.00
£120.00
£25,000
£422.50
£437.50
£300.00
£50,000
£845.00
£875.00
£600.00
This table compares percentage charges only and excludes terminal, authorisation, card-mix and other fees.
At £1,000/month, a £20 monthly subscription could wipe out most of the saving from a lower percentage.
At £25,000/month, shaving half a percentage point from card fees can be worth more than £100 every month.
Square Card Machine Costs Square currently has one of the simplest payment structures.
Current pricing includes:
Square Reader: £19 + VAT
UK in-person payments: 1.75%
no monthly processing fee on the standard setup
Square also currently lists:
Square Terminal: £149 + VAT
Square Stand: £99 + VAT
Square Handheld: £169 + VAT
Our View on Square
Square makes most sense where simplicity and POS software matter as much as the transaction rate, so is especially attractive for:
small retail
cafés
salons
pop-ups
businesses wanting integrated POS software
But 1.75% becomes increasingly expensive as monthly turnover grows.
Square states that customised rates are available for businesses processing more than £200,000 annually.
SumUp Card Machine Costs SumUp currently offers two main pricing approaches.
Pay As You Go
£0 monthly fee
1.69% standard in-person fee
Payments Plus
£19/month
0.99% on eligible domestic debit and credit cards
1.69% on premium, international and American Express cards
SumUp itself recommends Payments Plus once card sales reach around £3,000–£3,300 per month.
Our View on SumUp
SumUp has one of the clearest examples of when paying a monthly fee can reduce your total cost.
For a seasonal or very small business, the 1.69% pay-as-you-go model is simple.
Once regular monthly turnover moves beyond roughly £3,000, the paid option becomes worth comparing.
This is a more useful decision than simply asking:
“Which SumUp reader is cheapest?”
PayPal POS Card Machine Costs PayPal POS currently publishes:
first card reader: £29 ex VAT
additional readers: £69
terminal: £149
card/contactless transactions: 1.75%
no standard monthly or setup fee for core POS use
Our View on PayPal POS
PayPal POS is most relevant to businesses already using the PayPal ecosystem.
On headline in-person pricing alone, it sits close to Square.
We would therefore compare the wider software, settlement and existing account benefits rather than choosing between them solely on 1.75% card fees.
Tyl by NatWest Card Machine Costs Tyl takes a more traditional merchant-account approach.
For businesses with under £50,000 annual card turnover, its current published pricing includes:
1.39% + 5p for personal cards issued in the UK and Europe
1.99% + 5p for other cards
Current terminal hire includes:
Terminal Monthly rental
PAX A80
£13.99 + VAT
PAX A50
£14.99 + VAT
PAX A920 Pro
£19.99 + VAT
Businesses above £50,000 annual card turnover move into tailored pricing.
Our View on Tyl
Tyl demonstrates why a headline percentage is not enough.
A 1.39% rate looks clearly cheaper than a 1.69% flat rate, but:
there is also a 5p transaction charge
terminal rental applies
other cards have a higher rate
Businesses with a high average transaction value may benefit more than businesses processing lots of tiny payments.
Why the 5p Transaction Fee Matters Imagine two companies both process £10,000/month.
Business A
100 transactions
average transaction: £100
100 × 5p = £5
Business B
1,000 transactions
average transaction: £10
1,000 × 5p = £50
Turnover alone does not determine card-machine cost. Average transaction value matters too.
Dojo Card Machine Costs Dojo has become much more transparent about its current pricing.
For businesses with under £100,000 annual card turnover, Dojo currently advertises:
1.2% blended transaction pricing
For businesses above £100,000 annual card turnover, custom pricing is available.
Current machine prices include:
Dojo device Upfront Monthly
Dojo Go Max
£149 promotional price
£25
Dojo Pocket
£239
£20
Dojo Wired
£179.00
£15
Tap to Pay
£0 hardware
No contract
Additional transaction-related charges can still apply under the fee schedule.
Our View on Dojo
Dojo now looks much more compelling for growing businesses than a generic “quote only” description suggests.
A published 1.2% blended rate puts it in a very different position from 1.69%–1.75% flat-rate providers once turnover rises.
However, compare the total package including:
machine fees
authorisation
refund costs
software plans
rather than assuming 1.2% is the entire bill.
Worldpay Card Machine Costs Worldpay currently publishes a Simplicity pricing option with:
1.50% Mastercard/Visa transaction fee on relevant cards
no joining fee
no minimum monthly service charge
It also offers custom pricing for larger merchants.
Worldpay’s current promotional offer provides £0 terminal rental for the first 12 months of an 18-month terminal agreement for eligible new customers.
Standard terminal prices after promotional periods depend on product and tariff.
Our View on Worldpay
Worldpay is worth comparing once a business wants:
proper countertop or mobile terminals
merchant pricing
next-business-day settlement
more traditional acquiring support
But promotions can make the opening monthly cost look lower than the full-contract average.
Card Machine Provider Comparison 2026
Provider Published in-person pricing Fixed cost Our view
SumUp PAYG
1.69%
£0/month
Strong low-volume option
Square
1.75%
£0 basic processing
Strong POS ecosystem
PayPal POS
1.75%
£0 core POS
Best fit for PayPal users
SumUp Payments Plus
0.99% eligible domestic cards
£19/month
Worth comparing above ~£3k/month
Dojo
1.2% blended below £100k annual turnover
Hardware/package dependent
Strong growing-business option
Tyl
1.39% + 5p eligible personal cards
Terminal rental
Good merchant-account comparison
Worldpay
1.50% relevant cards on Simplicity
Terminal/package dependent
Established merchant option
Rates are not directly equivalent because card types, fixed fees and transaction charges vary.
Which Card Machine Is Cheapest? There is no universal cheapest provider.
Our rough approach would be:
Business profile What we would compare
Very low volume
Square, SumUp PAYG, PayPal POS, Tap to Pay
£3k-£10k/month
SumUp Plus, Dojo, Tyl and flat-rate alternatives
£10k-£50k/month
Dojo, Tyl, Worldpay and multiple quotes
High turnover
Negotiated merchant-account pricing
Best Card Machine for a Sole Trader For a sole trader with modest or irregular sales, we would usually prioritise:
no monthly minimum
no contract
cheap hardware
simple transaction pricing
Square and SumUp are obvious comparisons.
Tap to Pay can be even simpler if you do not need separate hardware.
Best Card Machine for a Café A café is different because it may process hundreds of relatively small transactions.
Compare:
per-transaction fixed charges
terminal speed
offline capability
settlement
EPOS integration
support
A lower percentage plus 5p per transaction is not necessarily cheaper for a business with a very low average basket value.
Best Card Machine for a Restaurant Restaurants may need:
portable terminals
tipping
split bills
multiple terminals
EPOS integration
rapid replacement
We would compare Dojo, Tyl, Worldpay and integrated POS providers rather than choosing purely on the cheapest reader.
Best Card Machine for Retail Retail businesses should compare:
terminal cost
card rate
EPOS integration
stock-management tools
multi-location support
refund functionality
For a busy retailer, the transaction rate usually matters much more than saving £50 on hardware.
Best Card Machine for Tradespeople For mobile businesses, portability matters more – we would compare:
Tap to Pay
mobile readers
4G-enabled terminals
payment links
If transaction volume is low, avoid paying for a premium countertop setup you will rarely use.
Card Machine Costs by Turnover
Monthly card turnover What matters most
Under £1,000
Avoid fixed monthly fees
£1,000-£3,000
Simple flat rate
£3,000-£10,000
Compare paid low-rate plans
£10,000-£25,000
Negotiate transaction rates
£25,000-£50,000
Compare several merchant quotes
£50,000+
Card mix and bespoke acquiring pricing
Card Machine Costs by Machine Type
Machine Typical cost model Best for
Basic card reader
Low upfront + flat rate
Sole traders
Countertop terminal
Rental/buy + transaction fees
Shops and fixed tills
Portable terminal
Monthly/upfront + fees
Hospitality
Mobile 4G terminal
Monthly/upfront + fees
Trades/events
Smart terminal
Higher hardware/software cost
Growing SMEs
Tap to Pay
No separate hardware
Very small/mobile sellers
Card Machine vs Tap to Pay Tap to Pay turns a compatible smartphone into a contactless payment device and it removes the need to buy a separate reader.
Tap to Pay works particularly well for:
tradespeople
mobile sellers
markets
occasional payments
A physical machine is better where:
payments are frequent
staff share terminals
you need a dedicated checkout
you need integrated printing or POS tools
Should You Rent or Buy a Card Machine?
Buy Rent/pay monthly
Lower commitment
Lower upfront cost
Usually flat transaction pricing
May unlock better rates
Good for small sellers
Better for established merchants
Hardware becomes yours
Replacement/support may be included
The cheapest hardware is not necessarily the cheapest payment setup.
Hidden Card Machine Fees to Check Ask every provider whether the quote includes:
terminal rental
authorisation fees
PCI fees
PCI non-compliance charges
refund fees
chargebacks
settlement fees
minimum monthly fees
statement fees
replacement terminal charges
online gateway fees
early termination charges
Request the full written fee schedule before signing.
Why Average Transaction Value Matters This is particularly important where a provider charges a percentage plus a fixed amount such as 5p.
A restaurant processing £50 average payments is affected very differently from a coffee shop processing £5 payments.
That is why our card-machine calculator asks for both:
monthly card revenue
average transaction size
Debit Cards vs Credit Cards vs Commercial Cards Not all transactions necessarily cost the same.
Merchant pricing can vary according to:
consumer debit
consumer credit
commercial cards
premium cards
international cards
American Express
If a large proportion of your customers pay with business or international cards, ask for an estimate based on your real card mix.
Settlement Speed Fees are not the only consideration. -cash flow can make settlement speed important.
Providers may offer:
next-business-day settlement
same-day access through linked accounts
paid instant settlement
A slightly cheaper provider may not be better if your business regularly waits longer for funds.
Should You Change Provider to Save 0.2%?
It depends on your turnover.
Monthly card turnover 0.2% saving
£2,000
£4/month
£10,000
£20/month
£25,000
£50/month
£50,000
£100/month
£100,000
£200/month
This is why businesses taking substantial card revenue should review merchant rates periodically.
When Should You Compare Card Machine Quotes? We would compare quotes if:
monthly card sales exceed roughly £3,000–£5,000
your turnover has grown significantly
you still pay a high flat percentage
you need several terminals
your current contract is ending
you are adding EPOS
you are opening another location
you are paying fees you do not understand
Compare Card Machine Providers
What to Ask Before Signing a Card Machine Contract
What is the transaction percentage?
Is there a fixed per-transaction charge?
Do different card types have different rates?
What does terminal rental cost?
Is there an authorisation fee?
Is there a PCI fee?
Are refunds charged?
How much are chargebacks?
What is the minimum contract?
What does early termination cost?
When will funds reach my account?
What happens if the terminal breaks?
Can the rate change during the contract?
What is my estimated effective cost based on my card mix?
Our Verdict: How Much Should You Pay for a Card Machine? For a very small business, simplicity usually beats negotiating the absolute lowest transaction rate.
A £19–£69 card reader and a flat fee around 1.69%-1.75% can be completely reasonable if card turnover is low.
Once card sales consistently exceed a few thousand pounds each month, we would start comparing:
paid lower-fee plans
Dojo
Tyl
Worldpay
other merchant-account quotes
For higher-turnover merchants, transaction-rate savings can outweigh terminal rental very quickly.
Our recommendations:
Very low turnover: pay-as-you-go / Tap to PayGrowing small business: compare paid low-rate plans£10k+ monthly card sales: obtain merchant quotesHigh volume: negotiate using your card mix and transaction data
The cheapest card machine is not necessarily the provider with the cheapest machine.
The real comparison is the total cost of accepting payments over a month or year.
Compare Card Machine Quotes
Frequently Asked Questions How much does a card machine cost?
A basic reader can cost around £19-£69 upfront, while smart and merchant terminals can cost more or be supplied for a monthly fee. Transaction fees also apply.
What are typical card transaction fees?
Published flat-rate providers currently charge around 1.69%-1.75% for standard in-person payments, while lower published or negotiated merchant rates are available on other pricing models.
How much does Square charge?
Square currently charges 1.75% for UK in-person card payments. Its basic Square Reader costs £19 + VAT.
How much does SumUp charge?
SumUp charges 1.69% on its standard pay-as-you-go plan. Payments Plus costs £19/month and charges 0.99% on eligible domestic cards.
When does SumUp Payments Plus become worth it?
SumUp currently recommends its paid plan for businesses processing roughly £3,000-£3,300 or more per month.
How much does Dojo charge?
Dojo currently advertises a 1.2% blended rate for businesses processing under £100,000 annually, with customised pricing available above that level. Hardware and other fees also apply.
How much does Tyl charge?
For businesses below £50,000 annual card turnover, Tyl currently lists 1.39% + 5p for eligible personal UK/European cards and 1.99% + 5p for other cards, plus terminal costs.
How much does Worldpay charge?
Worldpay currently publishes a 1.50% Simplicity transaction rate for relevant Mastercard and Visa transactions, while custom pricing is available for other merchants.
What is the cheapest card machine for a small business?
For low turnover, SumUp, Square, PayPal POS and Tap to Pay are often worth comparing because fixed monthly costs can be low or zero.
When should I get a custom card-machine quote?
Once card turnover reaches several thousand pounds per month, lower transaction rates can begin to outweigh monthly terminal or service fees, so it becomes increasingly worthwhile to compare quotes.
Related Card Payment Guides
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.
