How Resale Marketplace Fees Work
Every resale marketplace charges fees to sellers, but the structure varies significantly. Some platforms charge a percentage of the sale price, others use tiered or flat fees, and some have buyer-side fees that affect pricing strategy even if they don't reduce the seller's payout directly.
Understanding the full fee picture — including shipping, payment processing, and buyer fees — is essential for calculating your actual net profit on any platform.
Seller Fees vs Buyer Fees
Most resale platforms charge fees primarily to sellers:
- Mercari charges sellers a 10% fee on the item price plus buyer-paid shipping. Additionally, Mercari charges buyers a ~3.6% Buyer Protection fee, which is shown in the Mercari calculator for transparency.
- Poshmark charges sellers only: flat $2.95 for sales under $15, or 20% for sales $15 and above. Payment processing is included in the Poshmark fee — no separate charge.
Buyer fees matter for pricing strategy: if a buyer sees a high total cost (item + shipping + buyer fee), they may not purchase. Sellers who understand buyer-side costs can price more competitively.
Resale Profit Formula
Net Profit = Sale Price
− Seller Platform Fee
− Payment Processing
− Shipping Discount
− Product Cost
− Packaging
− Returns/Refund Reserve
− Other Costs
Use the appropriate calculator for each platform to get accurate figures, as fee structures and base amounts differ.
Which Resale Platform Has the Lowest Seller Fees?
| Platform | Fee Structure | $10 Sale | $25 Sale | $50 Sale | $100 Sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercari | 10% of price + buyer shipping | $1.00 | $2.50 | $5.00 | $10.00 |
| Poshmark | $2.95 / 20% | $2.95 | $5.00 | $10.00 | $20.00 |
| Depop | 3.3% + $0.45 processing | $0.78 | $1.28 | $2.10 | $3.75 |
| Facebook Marketplace | 5% + $0.40 | $0.90 | $1.65 | $2.90 | $5.40 |
| eBay (clothing) | ~13–15% final value | $1.30–1.50 | $3.25–3.75 | $6.50–7.50 | $13.00–15.00 |
Note: Depop and Facebook Marketplace have the lowest fees but smaller audiences. Poshmark's 20% is the highest, but its social sharing model and fashion audience can generate more sales volume. Always calculate net profit rather than comparing fee percentages alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a resale fee calculator?
A resale fee calculator estimates the platform fees, seller payout, and net profit for a given sale price on resale marketplaces like Mercari and Poshmark. It accounts for seller commissions, buyer fees, shipping costs, product cost, and other expenses.
Which resale platform has the lowest seller fees?
Mercari generally has lower seller-side fees than Poshmark in simple fee-only comparisons across nearly every price point. Poshmark charges $2.95 flat under $15 and 20% at $15+; Mercari charges 10% of item price plus buyer-paid shipping. Poshmark's real advantage is fashion audience, social sharing, bundles and buyer trust — not lower fees. Calculate net profit for both platforms to decide.
Do resale platforms charge buyers or sellers?
Most resale platforms charge primarily sellers — Mercari takes 10% from sellers, Poshmark takes $2.95 or 20%. However, Mercari also charges buyers a ~3.6% Buyer Protection fee, and some platforms have buyer service fees. These buyer fees affect conversion rates and pricing strategy even though they don't reduce the seller's payout directly.
How do I calculate resale profit?
Resale net profit = Sale Price minus Platform Seller Fee minus Payment Processing minus Shipping Discount minus Product Cost minus Packaging minus Returns/Refund Reserve minus Other Costs. Each platform has a different fee structure, so use the appropriate calculator for each marketplace.
Is Mercari cheaper than Poshmark?
Mercari generally has lower seller-side fees than Poshmark in simple fee-only comparisons across nearly every price point from $5 to $100. Poshmark's fee structure ($2.95 flat under $15, 20% at $15+) means Mercari's 10% is typically cheaper. Poshmark's real advantage is fashion-focused audience, social sharing, bundles and buyer trust — not lower fees. If Mercari's buyer-paid shipping is unusually high, the 10% fee base can narrow the gap.
Does Poshmark charge payment processing separately?
No. Poshmark's fee structure is all-inclusive — the flat $2.95 or 20% rate covers both the platform fee and payment processing. There are no additional charges beyond what Poshmark takes from the sale.
Should I include shipping in resale profit calculations?
Yes. On Mercari, the buyer-paid shipping amount is included in the fee base — the platform takes 10% of shipping too. On Poshmark, the shipping label cost is deducted from your earnings when the buyer pays. Always model both buyer-paid and seller-paid shipping to get an accurate net profit figure.