TikTok Shop break-even calculator

Units you must sell to cover samples, ads and tools.

Quick answer

Break-even units = fixed costs ÷ margin per unit. $1,360 of samples, ads and tools at $9.49 margin per unit needs 144 units.

Start from an example:

Fixed costs

Creator samples

Ads

Tools and apps

Other fixed costs

Photos, flat creator fees.

Per unit

Sale price

Product cost

Shipping and packing

Referral fee

Check your rate in Seller Center.

Avg creator commission

Across all orders, incl. non-affiliate.

Expected daily sales

units

Refunds are not modeled. If you expect 10% refunds, add about 10% to the units.

How break-even units are calculated

Margin per unit
margin = price − product − shipping − price × (referral % + commission %)
What each sale adds toward your fixed costs. Use an average commission, since only affiliate orders pay it.
Break-even units
units = fixed costs ÷ margin per unit (rounded up)
Fixed costs are the money you spend whether or not you sell: samples, ads budget, tools.
Days to break even
days = units ÷ daily sales
A quick check that the plan pays back before the product's moment passes.

What counts as a fixed cost on TikTok Shop?

Spend that doesn't change per order: samples, an ads budget, apps, photos and flat creator fees. Per-order costs belong in the margin.

What referral fee should I use?

TikTok's public US table lists 6% for most categories; trade reports say many moved to 8% in August 2026. Use the rate in your Seller Center.

Should ads be fixed or per unit?

Treat a set test budget as fixed. If you pay a steady cost per order, add it to the per-unit costs instead.

Updated November 5, 2026·By the Deviantly data team