Shopify Fees for Clothing Stores
Apparel has complex inventory (size × color variants), high return rates (15–30%), and thin margins in competitive niches. Understanding your Shopify fee structure is essential to pricing. Use this calculator to see your real margin per clothing item.
💡 Clothing returns reduce effective margin. If return rate is 20%, your net units sold per 10 shipped is 8. Adjust COGS upward to account for return shipping.
Shopify Fee Rate by Plan
| Plan | Monthly | Transaction Fee | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $39 | 2% (0% with SP) | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Shopify | $105 | 1% (0% with SP) | 2.6% + 30¢ |
| Advanced | $399 | 0.5% (0% with SP) | 2.4% + 30¢ |
| Plus | $2,300+ | 0.15% (0% with SP) | 2.15% + 30¢ |
SP = Shopify Payments. Enabling Shopify Payments waives the transaction fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Shopify plan is best for clothing stores?
Most clothing stores start on Basic ($39/month). The key upgrade trigger for apparel is the Advanced plan's third-party calculated shipping rates — critical if you're shipping nationally and need to show real carrier rates at checkout to avoid losing margin on shipping.
How do Shopify fees affect clothing margins?
Fast-fashion and basics typically run 40–60% gross margins (sell $30, cost $12–18). Shopify fees (plan amortized + processing) add ~3–4% cost. Net margins are often 15–25% after fees, returns, and ads. Premium/luxury apparel runs higher margins where fees are a smaller percentage.
Are Shopify variants free for clothing?
Yes. Adding size and color variants is included in all Shopify plans. Each product supports up to 3 variant options (e.g., size, color, material) and up to 100 individual variant combinations. For larger apparel catalogs, inventory management apps like Stocky or Linnworks help manage SKUs across variants.
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