See what a programme really pays once returns and cancelled orders are taken back.
| Sales per month | Net per month | Net per year |
|---|
Rates and reversal levels are your own programme terms, not market averages. Figures are before any network fees, tax or currency conversion.
This affiliate commission calculator works out what bloggers, creators and comparison sites actually earn from a percentage or flat fee programme, after returns and cancelled orders are clawed back. Under the affiliate marketing model you are paid only for confirmed sales, so the gap between the commission shown on day one and the amount you are finally paid can be bigger than expected.
Quick answer: An affiliate commission calculator multiplies order value by the commission rate, then removes reversed sales: net commission = sales × commission per sale × (1 − reversal rate). For example, 40 sales a month averaging £85 at 8% earn £272.00 gross, and after 5% returns the affiliate keeps £258.40 a month or £3,100.80 a year.
In This Guide
What Is Affiliate Commission?
Affiliate commission is the fee a merchant pays a publisher for each sale made through the publisher's tracked link, either as a percentage of the order value or as a fixed amount per sale. Most retail programmes pay a percentage, while software, finance and subscription offers often pay a flat fee or a monthly recurring share.
The formula is commission per sale = order value × rate (or the flat fee), multiplied by the months it is paid for recurring offers. Then net commission = sales × commission per sale × (1 − reversal rate), because returned, cancelled or fraudulent orders are reversed before payout.
How to Use the Affiliate Commission Calculator
Step 1: Choose the Commission Type
Select your currency, then pick percentage of sale or flat fee per sale to match the terms in your programme dashboard.
Step 2: Enter Sales and the Rate
Add monthly sales, average order value and your rate. Your network report usually shows order value per sale, and if it only lists clicks, the conversion rate calculator helps you estimate how many of those clicks turn into orders.
Step 3: Set Reversals and Recurring Months
Use your own history for reversed sales: fashion programmes see far more returns than software. Leave months paid at 1 for one off commissions, or set 12 for a programme that pays a share of each subscription payment for a year.
Step 4: Read Your Earnings
You get net commission per month, commission per sale, the amount lost to reversals and a yearly figure, plus a table at 10 to 250 sales and the number of sales needed for 1,000 a month.
How Much Do Affiliates Earn per Sale?
An affiliate earns the order value multiplied by the commission rate, so an £85 order at 8% pays £6.80 before reversals. Take Tom, who runs a UK cycling blog and promotes bike lights and locks. He refers 40 sales a month averaging £85, earns £272.00 gross, and loses 5% to returns, leaving £258.40 a month or £3,100.80 a year.
| Tom's offer | Per sale | Net for 40 sales |
|---|---|---|
| 8% of £85 | £6.80 | £258.40 |
| 12% of £85 | £10.20 | £387.60 |
| £25 flat fee | £25.00 | £950.00 |
| 8% of £85 for 12 months | £81.60 | £3,100.80 |
Every post Tom publishes also has to label his links clearly and early, because the ASA guidance on affiliate marketing treats affiliate content as advertising that must be obviously identifiable. If he starts paying for traffic, the ROAS calculator shows whether each pound of ad spend brings back enough commission to be worth it.
Affiliate Commission Terms You Should Know
These terms explain the figures the affiliate commission calculator uses, helping you predict what a programme will actually pay after reversals.
- Affiliate commission
- A performance fee a merchant pays a publisher for each confirmed sale through a tracked link, set as a percentage of the order or a fixed amount. Payment depends on the sale being validated, not on the click alone.
- Reversal rate
- The share of tracked sales cancelled before payout because goods were returned, orders were cancelled or transactions looked fraudulent. Fashion programmes typically see higher reversal rates than software, so the same headline rate can pay very differently.
- Average order value
- Total revenue from referred orders divided by the number of orders. It drives percentage commission directly: an £85 basket at 8% pays £6.80, so steering readers towards higher value products raises earnings without extra traffic.
- Recurring commission
- A model in which the affiliate earns a share of each subscription payment for as long as the customer keeps paying, or for a set number of months. It suits software and membership offers and raises the lifetime value of a referral.
- Advertising Standards Authority
- The UK regulator of advertising content across media. Its guidance treats affiliate posts as marketing, so publishers must label affiliate links clearly and early enough for readers to recognise the content as advertising before engaging.
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How we checked this tool: the Tools Veria Editorial Team built this tool by hand, checked it against the official rules or published standards where they apply, and tested it against worked examples. Results are estimates for planning, not personal financial or tax advice. Read our editorial policy and disclaimer, or report an error.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate affiliate commission?
Multiply the order value by the commission rate, then by the number of sales. Forty sales of £85 at 8% gives £272.00 gross, and taking off 5% reversals leaves £258.40 net.
What is a reversed commission?
A reversed commission is one the merchant cancels after the sale is tracked, usually because the order was returned, cancelled, unpaid or fraudulent. Reversed sales are removed before payout, so they reduce what you actually receive.
Is a flat fee or a percentage commission better?
A flat fee is better when order values are low or vary widely, and a percentage is better for high value baskets. At £85 orders, a £25 flat fee pays more than any rate below 29.4%.
How does recurring affiliate commission work?
A recurring programme pays a share of each subscription payment for as long as the customer stays, or for a set number of months. Set months paid per sale to that period to see the full value of one referral.
How many sales do I need to earn £1,000 a month?
Divide £1,000 by your net commission per sale. At £6.46 per sale after 5% reversals, you need 155 sales a month, which is about £13,175 of referred orders at £85 each.
Is affiliate commission paid on the price including VAT?
It depends on the programme terms. Many UK merchants pay commission on the order value excluding VAT and delivery, so check the terms and enter the order value the programme actually uses.