Amex fees on UK card readers explained
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American Express cards can cost more to accept than Visa or Mastercard with some providers. Here's what each provider publishes, word for word where it matters.
| Provider | What the official page says about Amex | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal POS | Same 1.75% rate 'for major cards and mobile wallets, even American Express' | PayPal POS pricing |
| SumUp | Pay-as-you-go 1.69% per card reader transaction. On Payments Plus, 'International, corporate and premium cards (including American Express) incur a 1.69% fee' | SumUp card readers FAQ |
| Lopay | Headline fees apply to UK consumer Visa and Mastercard. '+1% for Amex, corporate & international card payments' | Lopay pricing |
| Square | 1.75% for UK cards in person. Square says it accepts American Express. No separate Amex rate is shown on its pricing page | Square pricing |
| Tide | Headline fees are 'for domestic consumer debit cards'. 'All other card types and fees are as defined in the Tide Membership and Product Terms' | Tide card reader page |
| Dojo | 1.2% blended rate 'for all card transactions' (under £100k annual turnover). Accepts American Express. 12-month contract | Dojo pricing |
What it means in practice
Suppose £300 of a month's takings is on Amex (an illustrative example). On SumUp Payments Plus that £300 costs 1.69% (£5.07) rather than 0.99% (£2.97). On Lopay Standard it costs 1.99% (£5.97) rather than 0.99% (£2.97). On PayPal POS it's 1.75% (£5.25), the same as other cards.
Checklist
- Look at last month's sales: what share was Amex, corporate or international?
- If it's large, compare effective rates, not headline rates.
- For Tide, read the fee schedule in its Membership and Product Terms.
- Decide whether to accept Amex at all. It's your choice, and most readers let you take it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to accept Amex?
No law says you have to accept every card type. Check your provider's terms for how to turn it on or off.
Which provider charges the same for Amex?
On the official pages we checked, PayPal POS states its 1.75% applies 'even' to American Express, and SumUp's pay-as-you-go rate is 1.69% for card reader payments.
SumUp offers: SumUp runs time-limited hardware offers. On 26 Oct 2026 we saw sale prices below its usual reader prices. Offers may end without notice, so check SumUp's card reader page for the current price (usual prices Solo Lite £25, Solo £79, Terminal £135 ex VAT, checked 28 Oct 2026).
Last checked: 19 Oct 2026. Prices ex VAT unless stated. Figures come from each provider's official UK page. Check it before you buy, because fees and offers change. Tide says its fees go up on 1 Dec 2026. General information, not financial advice.
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