What is TikTok Shipping?
AI Summary
TikTok Shipping centralizes US domestic fulfillment with fixed rates, TikTok-issued labels, and compliance protections; CBT adds free pickup and can save up to 40% vs Standard Delivery, but only for eligible warehouses in select states. Use the Shipping Calculator to compare rates, note fees may be adjusted after carrier weight audits, and TikTok Shipping does not support cross-border warehouses.
The content below applies to TikTok Shipping - Standard Delivery and Collection by TikTok (CBT)
On this page:What is TikTok Shipping?
TikTok Shipping is a logistics solution designed to simplify domestic shipping in the US, reduce shipping costs, and ensure more consistent policy compliance.By having TikTok Shop centrally manage carriers and offer exclusive discounted rates, sellers can continue using their existing warehouses while benefiting from lower logistics costs and a smoother fulfillment experience. Shipping labels are provided directly by TikTok Shop.
Here’s a quick look at what’s available with TikTok Shipping:
- Standard Delivery: Get specially negotiated, fixed-rate shipping rates and continue shipping directly from your own warehouse.
- Collection by TikTok (CBT): Try our doorstep pickup service and save up to 40% compared to Standard Delivery, with free pickups directly from your warehouse.
What are the key benefits?
- Lower Shipping Costs: Enjoy TikTok Shop’s exclusive negotiated rates! CBT rates start from $2.99! There is also a dedicated flat rate for LIVE orders, where shipping rate is determined by the package weight tier only.
- Fulfill from Your Current Warehouses: You can continue using their existing warehouses and fulfillment workflows, and access CBT services without making any changes to their warehouse setup.
- Improve Fulfillment Compliance Policy: Enjoy exclusive exemptions from penalties related to On-Time Delivery Rate (OTDR) and Negative Review Rate (NRR) if you dispatch your orders on time. Additionally, any delivery delays or logistics-related negative reviews (excluding “out of stock/wrong item” and “damaged items in package”) caused by TikTok Shop logistics will not impact your Seller Performance Score (SPS), making fulfillment much easier.
- VTR Exemption : Benefit from a special exemption on Valid Tracking Rate (VTR), freeing you from worries about uploading tracking information
- Better Claim Process: TikTok will compensate for lost, damaged, or undelivered packages if caused by logistics, making compensation faster and hassle-free.
- Optimized Carrier Recommendations: TikTok Shop automatically selects the best carrier based on package size, weight, and destination, eliminating the need for manual selection.
- Reliable Carrier Network: Primarily powered by USPS, Fedex, UPS and other regional carriers, covering nationwide delivery, ensuring peace of mind with every shipment.
Service Comparison
| TikTok Shipping - CBT | TikTok Shipping - Standard Delivery | Legacy TikTok Shipping | Seller Shipping | |
| Fee Structure | ✔✔CBT Exclusive Fixed Rates: Save up to 40% more on shipping compared to Standard Delivery and effortlessly lock in the lowest rates. | ✔ Fixed Rates: No matter which carrier is assigned, you’ll enjoy exclusive discounted shipping rate now, with even greater cost savings coming in the future. | Costs vary based on the selected service and carrier. | Costs depend on seller's carrier rates. |
| Carrier Selection | ✔ TikTok will assign the best carrier at the order level based on overall package size, weight, and destination trends.Pick-up Carrier: UniUni, GOFO, CBT CarrierLast mile Carrier: UniUni, USPS, FedEx, Ontrac, GOFO, SwiftX, UPS | ✔ TikTok will assign the best carrier at the order level based on overall package size, weight, and destination trends.Carriers: USPS, FedEx, UPS | Sellers can compare TikTok's rates from leading carriers and choose their preferred option. | Sellers select their preferred carrier. |
| Logistics Performance Governance | ✔ Exempt from Valid Tracking Rate (VTR) penalties ✔ If orders dispatched on time , exempt from On-Time Delivery Rate (OTDR) penalties, with delivery delays caused by TikTok Shop logistics also excluded from your Seller Performance Score (SPS) ✔ Exempt from Negative Review Rate (NRR) penalties, with logistics-related negative reviews (excluding “out of stock/wrong item” and “damaged items in package”) also excluded from SPS | ✔ Exempt from Valid Tracking Rate (VTR) penalties ✔ If orders dispatched on time, exempt from On-Time Delivery Rate (OTDR) penalties, with delivery delays caused by TikTok Shop logistics also excluded from your Seller Performance Score (SPS) ✔ Exempt from Negative Review Rate (NRR) penalties, with logistics-related negative reviews (excluding “out of stock/wrong item” and “damaged items in package”) also excluded from SPS | Seller responsible for maintaining a high on-time delivery rate. | Seller responsible for maintaining a high on-time delivery rate. |
| Filing Reimbursement Claims | ✔ Claims will be handled directly by TikTok Shop. | ✔ Claims will be handled directly by TikTok Shop. | The filing is handled by our third-party partner, UPIC. | Sellers handle claims. |
| Shipping Service | ✔✔ Free doorstep pickup in the Greater Los Angeles area to help sellers' ship with ease and confidence. | ✔ Standard Shipping only. Express Shipping service is expected to be rolled out in the future. | Both Standard Shipping and Express Shipping options. | Sellers use preferred carrier services. |
| Uploading Tracking Numbers | ✔ Automatically handled by TikTok Shop. | ✔ Automatically handled by TikTok Shop. | Automatically handled by TikTok Shop. | Sellers upload each order tracking number. |
Cost Comparison
When sellers use the TikTok Shipping service, the system will display and settle different types of rate cards depending on the order source:- For non‑LIVE orders, the base rate card will be effective. Please refer to the simplified rate card below or use the shipping cost calculator link for more details.
- For LIVE orders, please refer to a LIVE flat rate:
TikTok Shop reserves the right of final interpretation regarding the rate card information.Cross border Sellers：https://seller.us.tiktokshopglobalselling.com/logistics/fee-and-service/shipping-calculator?shop_region=USLocal：https://seller-us.tiktok.com/logistics/fee-and-service/shipping-calculator?close=1&shop_region=US
(Please note: To avoid unexpected fees, please confirm with your third-party warehouse provider whether any additional charges apply for TikTok Shipping services.)
Value-added Services
Shipping Protection Service Fee
- Applicable sellers: TikTok Shipping - Standard Delivery and Collection by TikTok (CBT)
- Service Overview:
- Service rate: 1% of package value. Package value is buyer's actual paid price for all products in the package, plus platform subsidy
- Service applies to package value> USD 100. TikTok Shop will provide free shipping protection service fee for package value≤ USD 100.
Signature Service
- Applicable sellers: TikTok Shipping - Standard Delivery sellers
- Service Overview:
- Service rate: The cost for adding the signature service is $3.95 per package.
- Supported Shipping Services: FEDEX Ground, FEDEX Ground Home Delivery, USPS Ground Advantage
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Service Subscription
- CBT vs. Standard Delivery— What’s the difference?
- Standard Delivery serves everywhere: TikTok Shop provides shipping labels, then you sort orders and drop off or third-party courier gets picked up.
- CBT provides pick-up service only in Southern California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Georgia, Texas and Florida. Warehouses need to sort orders, hold them separately, and wait for TikTok Shop to collect them. Plus, you’ll get better rates.
- What preparations are required before using TikTok Shipping?
- Can I use TikTok Shipping for cross-border warehouses?
- If I have two warehouses, one using CBT and the other using Standard Delivery, how are the shipping and settlement prices determined?
- If the order ships from the CBT warehouse, the CBT rate will apply.
- If it ships from the Standard Delivery warehouse, the Standard Delivery rate will be used for settlement.
- What happens if I have inventory for the same product in both FBT and my own warehouses?
For the same SKU, the system will determine the shipping path based on the following logic:
- If there is inventory in the FBT warehouse, the order will be fulfilled from FBT by default
- If the FBT warehouse is out of stock, the order will be fulfilled from the seller’s own third-party warehouse
- If multiple warehouses have inventory, the system will prioritize the warehouse closest to the customer for shipping.
Example:A shop sells Product A, which is enrolled in FBT. Meanwhile, the shop also has the following three warehouses:
- Warehouse A: Located in Los Angeles, enrolled in CBT
- Warehouse B: Located in New Jersey, enrolled in Standard Delivery
- Warehouse C: Located in Texas, using Standard Delivery
- If inventory is available in the FBT warehouse, the order will be shipped directly from FBT.
- If FBT has no inventory, and all three warehouses have stock, the system will automatically choose the warehouse closest to the customer and match it with the appropriate shipping service:
- Shipping from Texas → Standard Delivery order
- Shipping from Los Angeles → CBT order
- Shipping from New Jersey → Standard Delivery order
- Regardless of the customer’s location, the system will ship from the only warehouse with stock and automatically apply the corresponding shipping method.
- Priority to FBT warehouse shipping
- If FBT is out of stock, ship based on proximity
- If only one warehouse has inventory
- My ERP is self-developed or not listed, what should I do?
Billing
- How are shipping fees settled?
- Please refer to Billing FAQ
- Can I set my own buyer shipping fee?
- How are shipping fees calculated based on order weight and dimensions?
How to calculate volumetric weight:
When shipping via an ERP system, the estimated shipping fee is calculated based on the product dimensions and weight maintained in the ERP.
After the parcel is handed over, the logistics service provider will measure the actual weight and dimensions of the shipment and may adjust the shipping fee accordingly. The platform reserves the right to recalculate and adjust the final shipping charges based on the verified actual weight and dimensions of the shipped items.
For example: You have a CBT package that is 16” x 12” x 10” and weighs 5 lbs. The volumetric weight: 16*12*10/166 ≈ 12 lbs. Since the volumetric weight (12lbs) is heavier than the actual weight (5lbs), the shipping fee will be calculated based on volumetric weight (12lbs).
- What is Shipping App Service Fee?
- the TikTok Shipping rate, and
- Shipping App Service Fee
The Shipping App Service Fee only applies when you use certain ISV-integrated shipping apps. Before purchasing a label, the Shipping App will clearly display the total cost, which already includes this fee if applicable - so you will always know the full amount upfront.
Before you confirm your label purchase, the Shipping App will clearly show the total cost of the label. After purchase, the Shipping App Service Fee will be deducted from your TikTok Shop Seller account, together with the shipping fee.
In your billing or settlement statement, you will see this fee as a separate line item in addition to the shipping fee.
Please note:
- Review the total label cost before purchase.
- Expect both the shipping fee and the Shipping App Service Fee to be charged through your TikTok Shop Seller account.
- Check your billing or settlement statement for the separate Shipping App Service Fee line item.