A marketplace’s headline percentage rarely tells you the final cost. The fee basis, fixed charges, shipping and ads can matter as much as the advertised commission.
The six costs to check
- Selling commission — the marketplace’s percentage of the sale.
- Payment processing — sometimes included, sometimes separate.
- Fixed order fee — disproportionately expensive on low-price items.
- Shipping — either buyer-paid and included in the fee basis, or seller-paid and deducted from profit.
- Promotion — an optional ad or boost can add another percentage.
- Tax on fees — VAT, GST or HST may apply depending on the seller’s location.
Fee basis matters
eBay generally calculates its percentage from the total amount of the sale, including shipping collected and sales tax. Mercari’s seller fee applies to the item price plus buyer-paid shipping. Poshmark uses a flat fee below a threshold and a percentage above it. Depop can have no standard selling commission in some markets while still charging payment processing.
That means a “10% fee” is not necessarily 10% of the number you typed into the listing price field.
Compare net profit, not fee rate
Use this equation for every marketplace:
Net profit = seller payout − item cost − shipping expense − packaging − other variable costs
Then compare profit margin and the likely sale price. A higher-fee marketplace can still win when it produces a higher price or a much faster sale.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is shipping included in the percentage basis? | Raises the marketplace charge |
| Does the buyer pay another fee? | Can affect conversion and offers |
| Was the sale attributed to an ad? | May add a second commission |
| Is this a private or business account? | Often changes the schedule |
| Does the category have a special rate? | Broad averages become inaccurate |
A reliable listing routine
Before publishing, calculate three prices: your break-even price, your target-profit price and your likely offer floor. Repeat the calculation if you enable promotion or change who pays postage.
Use the side-by-side platform calculator for a US sale, or choose the correct country and marketplace in the calculator directory. For current cross-country summaries, see the fee comparison hub.