How Much Does a Card Machine Cost in the UK?
UK card machines cost 0.6% to 2.5% per transaction, plus £0 to £50 monthly rental.
Best value for restaurants (£25k+ monthly sales):
0.6-0.8% per transaction + £0 monthly rental + £0 setup = Total cost ~£250-320/month on £40k sales.
Updated: March 2026 | Based on analysis of 240+ UK restaurant setups
Complete Cost Breakdown
1. Transaction Fees (Main Cost)
Debit cards: Competitive rates (typically 0.5-1.75% range)
Credit cards: Competitive rates (typically 0.3-0.5% higher than debit)
Authorization fee: 0p to 3p per transaction
Example: £40,000 monthly sales at typical rates = £300-400/month
2. Monthly Fees
No monthly fee providers: £0 (best for most restaurants)
Budget providers: £9-25/month
Premium providers: £30-60/month
Best value: £0 monthly fee + low transaction rates = lowest total cost
3. Setup & Hardware Costs
Setup fee: £0 to £200 (best providers: £0)
Terminal cost: £0 to £300 (many providers offer free with contract)
Installation: £0 to £100 (we provide free installation)
4. Hidden Costs to Watch For
❌ PCI compliance fee: £5-15/month (should be included)
❌ Minimum monthly charge: £20-50 (avoid these)
❌ Early exit penalty: £100-500 (we cover up to £3,200)
❌ Statement fee: £3-8/month (should be free)
How Much Can You Save?
Typical savings when switching: 20-30% of total card processing costs
Based on 1,200+ UK business comparisons processed by CapExpand
Calculate Your Exact Costs
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