There is no separate debit card machine: every UK terminal takes debit, credit and phone wallets on one device. What matters commercially is that UK interchange is capped lower on consumer debit cards than on credit cards, so a debit heavy business is often overpaying on a blended rate.
Why debit heavy businesses should shop differently
Blended pricing averages debit and credit into one percentage, which suits a business with a mixed card base and penalises one whose customers almost all use debit cards. Providers that publish separate rows by card category, or that price interchange plus, pass the lower debit cost through. On a debit heavy shop that difference can be worth several hundred pounds a year.
Countertop machines and what they cost
A countertop terminal is wired to power and network beside the till. Bank owned acquirers usually rent them, with Elavon printing 15 pounds a month for a desk terminal and 18 pounds for a mobile one. App based providers sell outright, with published hardware from 11 pounds plus VAT. The rental usually buys a lower percentage, which is the trade to calculate.
One machine, every card type
Debit, credit, commercial, American Express and overseas cards all run through the same terminal. You do not choose which to accept at the machine; you choose it in the agreement, and mostly you accept all of them. That is why the card mix belongs in your pricing comparison rather than in your hardware decision.
Questions people ask about debit card machine
Is there a separate machine for debit cards?
No. Every UK terminal takes debit, credit and phone wallets. Only the underlying cost differs, because UK interchange is capped lower on consumer debit.
How much does a debit card machine cost?
Published hardware runs from 11 pounds plus VAT outright, or 15 to 18 pounds a month rented on the bank owned plans that publish. The account rate runs from 0.79% to 1.75%.
Can I get a cheaper rate for debit only takings?
With providers that price card categories separately or use interchange plus, yes. A blended rate averages debit and credit, so a debit heavy business pays for other people's credit cards.