What Is the Cost of Selling Internationally on Shopify?
The cost of selling internationally is the added expense of processing, shipping, and fulfilling orders across borders. Compared with domestic orders, international sales can add 3–8% or more in costs through higher card rates, currency conversion, international shipping, and duties you cover.
Estimating these costs helps you decide which markets to open, how to price products, and whether to offer Delivered Duty Paid (DDP). The U.S. Small Business Administration’s exporting guide recommends researching target markets before selling abroad; market-specific costs belong in that research.
Shopify Markets International Cost Formulas
International orders per month = International monthly revenue ÷ Average international order value
International card fee per order =
(Average order value × International card rate) + Fixed international card fee
Currency conversion fee per order =
Average order value × Currency conversion rate
Duty cost per order =
Average order value × Duty and import tax rate
Estimated international cost per order =
Card fee + Currency conversion fee + International shipping + Merchant-paid duties
For DAP/DDU, the customer pays duties on delivery, so the merchant-paid duty cost is generally zero in this estimate. A localized price adjustment changes the selling price used for pricing decisions; it does not remove processing, shipping, or tax obligations.
How to Use This Calculator
- Shopify Plan — Select your plan because it determines the card rates you should use.
- International Revenue and Domestic Revenue — Enter monthly sales in your store currency to compare the scale of each sales channel.
- Average Order Value — Enter the typical value of an international order; the calculator uses it to estimate order count and per-order fees.
- Currency Conversion — Enter the conversion rate charged by your payment provider. Shopify Payments commonly charges 1.5% when the customer pays in a different currency from your payout currency.
- International Card Rate and International Card Fixed — Enter the percentage and fixed fee for an international card transaction. Check your plan and payment-provider rates, as rates can vary by region.
- Duty Tax Rate and Duty Handling — Enter the estimated duty and import-tax percentage, then select whether you or the customer pays it. Product classification and destination affect the actual amount; the U.S. International Trade Commission’s tariff schedule can help identify U.S. import duty classifications.
- International Shipping Cost and Domestic Shipping Cost — Enter your average shipping expense for each order type, using the amount your business actually pays.
- Active Markets — Enter the number of Shopify Markets you have configured to account for the operational scope of your international setup.
- Localized Pricing Adjust — Enter any percentage increase or decrease from domestic pricing, such as a higher price to account for local fulfillment costs.
Step-by-Step Example
Suppose a Shopify Basic merchant sells $8,000 per month internationally, with an $80 average order, and ships 100 international orders monthly. Assume a 3.9% international card rate, a $0.30 fixed fee, 1.5% currency conversion, $18 international shipping, and DDP with an 8% duty estimate.
| Cost per international order | Calculation | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Card processing | $80 × 0.039 + $0.30 | $3.42 |
| Currency conversion | $80 × 0.015 | $1.20 |
| Shipping | Entered average | $18.00 |
| Merchant-paid duty | $80 × 0.08 | $6.40 |
| Estimated international costs | $3.42 + $1.20 + $18 + $6.40 | $29.02 |
For comparison, at a 2.9% domestic card rate with the same fixed fee and $6 domestic shipping, the domestic cost is $80 × 0.029 + $0.30 + $6 = $8.62 per order. The estimated international premium is $29.02 − $8.62 = $20.40 per order before product cost, returns, or other expenses. Actual duty calculations can differ from this estimate because customs charges depend on product classification and destination.
DDP vs. DAP: Who Pays Duties?
DDP means you collect or pay import duties and taxes so the customer sees fewer surprise charges at delivery. That can improve delivery experience, but the added cost reduces your per-order profit unless you build it into the price.
DAP/DDU leaves duties and import taxes to the customer when the order arrives. It protects your margin from those charges, but unexpected fees can lead to refused deliveries or unhappy customers. Compare both approaches for each market and check whether your shipping provider supports the delivery terms you promise at checkout.
International card rates are also higher than domestic rates in many Shopify plans. Shopify Payments international rates are typically about 1 percentage point above domestic rates; the calculator’s card-rate fields let you use the rate that applies to your plan and customer transaction. For a broader fee comparison, use the Shopify Payments vs Gateway Calculator.
International Cost Benchmarks
Use these figures as planning ranges, not guaranteed quotes. Shipping, payment rates, and customs charges depend on the destination, product, carrier, and payment setup.
| Cost factor | Planning range or reference | What changes it |
|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion | Around 1.5% with Shopify Payments | Payout currency and payment provider |
| International card surcharge | Often about 1% above domestic | Plan, card origin, and region |
| International shipping | Often $8–$25+ per order | Parcel size, speed, destination, and carrier |
| Duties and import taxes | Can range from 0% to 25%+ | Product classification and destination |
| Total added international costs | Often 3–8%+ of revenue | Shipping, duties, order value, and payment costs |
A percentage benchmark can understate shipping’s impact on low-priced products: a $15 shipping charge takes a larger share of a $30 order than of a $150 order. Compare international costs as both dollars per order and percentage of international revenue before opening a market.
6 Tips to Control International Selling Costs
- Test a shipping threshold: Change free shipping from orders over $50 to $75 and compare average order value with shipping cost per order.
- Model a DDP price: Add 8% to an international price in Localized Pricing Adjust and see whether the higher price covers estimated duties without making the offer uncompetitive.
- Compare destinations separately: Enter the shipping and duty estimates for one market at a time; a single blended average can hide a loss-making country.
- Check plan economics: If international card fees are a large monthly expense, compare your sales volume with the Shopify Plan Comparison Calculator before changing plans.
- Review the currency setup: Compare Shopify Payments conversion with your third-party provider’s quoted rate using the Shopify Payments vs Gateway Calculator.
- Audit recurring costs before launch: Add market-specific translation, tax, and shipping apps to your operating-cost estimate with the Shopify App Stack Cost Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to sell internationally on Shopify?
International selling adds 3–8% in extra costs per order compared with domestic sales, before product cost and some operating expenses. Added costs can include international card processing, currency conversion, $8–$25+ shipping, and duties or taxes when you offer DDP; enter your own rates to estimate the total.
What is the Shopify currency conversion fee?
Shopify Payments charges a 1.5% currency conversion fee when a customer pays in a currency different from your store’s payout currency. This is separate from standard card processing, while third-party gateways may charge their own conversion fees, often around 1–2%.
Should I use DDP or DAP for international orders?
DDP means you pay duties and taxes so customers are less likely to face surprise charges at delivery; DAP/DDU means the customer pays those charges on arrival. DDP can improve the delivery experience but may add 5–25% to costs depending on product and destination, so compare the added expense with the risk of refused deliveries and customer friction.
What are Shopify Markets international card rates?
International card rates are typically about 1% higher than domestic rates when the card was issued in a different country from your store. Indicative Shopify Payments rates are Basic 3.9% + $0.30, Shopify 3.6% + $0.30, Advanced 3.4% + $0.30, and Plus about 3.15% + $0.30; verify current rates for your plan and region before entering them.
Is selling internationally on Shopify worth it?
It depends on demand, contribution margin, and the cost of serving each destination. Strong product-market fit and healthy margins—often 50% or more before international costs—can absorb added fees, but compare total international costs with revenue and test a small market before expanding broadly.
About This Calculator
The Shopify Markets International Cost Calculator was built by Luis Dev Studio for Shopify merchants estimating cross-border order costs. For help planning your Shopify setup, explore our services or contact us.
Updated by Luis Gonzalez · Jul 21, 2026