How Long Do Card Payments Take to Clear?

Last updated: 25 June 2026 4 min read

Took the payment — so where's the money? Settlement times vary by provider, and fast payouts can be worth paying for if cash flow is tight.

Typical payout times

Standard settlement is usually 1–2 working days. Some providers are faster:

If you rely on daily takings for stock or wages, yes. If not, standard (free) payouts are fine and save you the instant-transfer fee.

The POS editorial team

Independent UK payments research. We test, read the small print and write it up in plain English.

Last updated: 25 June 2026

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