Understanding Marketplace Fees: A Seller's Guide to Depop, Etsy, Mercari & More

Selling online is easier than ever — but the fees can eat into your profit if you're not paying attention. Every marketplace takes a cut, and the structures vary wildly. Some charge flat fees, others take percentages, and a few layer multiple fees on top of each other.

Here's a clear breakdown of what every major marketplace charges, so you can price your items for actual profit.

The Quick Comparison

Before diving into details, here's a side-by-side look at what each platform takes from a $50 sale:

| Marketplace | Total Fee on $50 Sale | You Keep | |---|---|---| | Depop | ~$6.75 (13.5%) | ~$43.25 | | Etsy | ~$5.30 (10.6%) | ~$44.70 | | Mercari | ~$6.95 (13.9%) | ~$43.05 | | Poshmark | $10.00 (20%) | $40.00 | | StockX | ~$6.00 (12%) | ~$44.00 | | Fiverr | $10.00 (20%) | $40.00 | | StubHub | ~$7.50 (15%) | ~$42.50 |

Depop: 10% + Processing

Depop's fee structure is straightforward but has a catch that trips up new sellers: the 10% seller fee applies to the total transaction, including shipping.

Seller fee: 10% of (item price + shipping)
Payment processing: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction

If you sell a $40 item with $8 shipping, Depop takes 10% of $48 (not just $40). That's $4.80 in seller fees plus ~$1.69 in processing — a total of about $6.49. Your take-home is roughly $41.51.

Pro tip: If you offer free shipping, build the shipping cost into your item price. The fee is the same either way, but "free shipping" listings tend to get more visibility on Depop.

Etsy: Multiple Layers of Fees

Etsy's fee structure is the most complex of any major marketplace. There are four potential fees on every sale:

Listing fee: $0.20 per item (renewed every 4 months or when sold)
Transaction fee: 6.5% of total sale including shipping
Payment processing: 3% + $0.25 per transaction
Offsite ads: 15% if the buyer came through an Etsy ad (12% for sellers over $10K/year)

Without offsite ads, you're looking at roughly 10-12% total fees. With offsite ads, it can jump to 25%+ on that particular sale.

The offsite ads fee catches many sellers off guard. If you make under $10,000/year on Etsy, you can opt out. Above that threshold, it's mandatory — and there's no way to avoid it.

Use our Etsy Fee Calculator to see the exact breakdown for any sale price.

Mercari: 10% + Processing

Mercari keeps it relatively simple:

Selling fee: 10% of item price (not including shipping)
Payment processing: 2.9% + $0.50 per transaction

One advantage over Depop: Mercari's 10% fee only applies to the item price, not shipping. That's a meaningful difference if you sell items with high shipping costs.

The $0.50 flat processing fee (vs Depop's $0.30) makes Mercari slightly more expensive for very cheap items but comparable for items over $20.

Poshmark: Simple but Steep

Poshmark has the simplest fee structure — and one of the highest:

Under $15: Flat $2.95 commission
$15 and above: 20% commission

There's no separate processing fee, no listing fee, and shipping is handled separately (the buyer pays). But 20% is a big chunk. On a $50 sale, Poshmark takes $10 and you keep $40.

The upside is that Poshmark provides prepaid USPS Priority Mail shipping labels, handles authentication for luxury items, and has a large, engaged community of fashion buyers.

Sweet spot: Items priced at $15+ where the 20% rate applies. For items under $15, the $2.95 flat fee means you're paying an even higher effective percentage.

StockX: 9-12% for Authenticated Goods

StockX is the marketplace for sneakers, streetwear, electronics, and collectibles:

Transaction fee: 9-10% (based on seller level)
Payment processing: 3%

Total fees run about 12-13%. New sellers start at the higher end; as you sell more and build your reputation, the transaction fee can decrease.

StockX's key value proposition is authentication — every item passes through their verification center before reaching the buyer. This builds trust but means you need to ship to StockX first, adding a few days to delivery.

Fiverr: The 20% Club

Fiverr charges freelancers a flat 20% on all earnings:

Service fee: 20% of the gig price (including extras and tips)

On a $100 gig, Fiverr takes $20 and you keep $80. The fee also applies to tips, which surprises many new sellers.

To make the math work, price your Fiverr gigs 25% higher than your target take-home rate. If you want to earn $80 per project, price the gig at $100.

How to Choose the Right Marketplace

The lowest-fee platform isn't always the best choice. Consider:

Where your customers are. A 20% Poshmark fee on a $200 dress is worth it if Poshmark's fashion-focused audience helps you sell faster than a 10% fee on a marketplace where your item sits for months.
Your product type. Vintage clothing does well on Depop. Handmade goods belong on Etsy. Sneakers sell fastest on StockX.
Your volume. High-volume sellers should pay close attention to per-transaction flat fees ($0.20-$0.50) which add up.

Calculate Before You List

Don't guess — calculate. Use our free marketplace fee calculators to see exactly what you'll take home from any sale on Depop, Etsy, Mercari, Poshmark, StockX, Fiverr, StubHub, and Ticketmaster. Enter your selling price and get an instant breakdown of every fee.