Ecommerce

Marketplace Fee Calculator

Estimate your net payout and effective margin after platform commissions, fulfilment costs, and other fees on any online marketplace.

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Enter your selling price and platform fee rate to see your payout.

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Net Payout Formula

Net payout is what remains after all platform charges are deducted from your selling price.

Platform Fee = Price × (Fee Rate ÷ 100)

Net Payout = Price − Platform Fee − Fulfilment − Other Fees

Effective Margin = (Net Payout ÷ Price) × 100

Example: $40 sale, 15% fee, $5 fulfilment → Net = $40 − $6 − $5 = $29 (72.5%)

Understanding Marketplace Fees

Selling on marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, or Etsy provides access to millions of buyers, but the convenience comes with a fee structure that can significantly erode your margins if not carefully tracked. Every platform charges a percentage-based commission (variously called a referral fee, final value fee, or transaction fee) plus optional fixed fees for fulfilment, listing, and payments.

The most important number for any marketplace seller is effective margin — what percentage of the selling price actually lands in your account after all platform deductions. This is different from gross margin, which only accounts for the product cost and selling price without fees.

Use this calculator when sourcing new products to quickly screen for profitability, when adjusting prices during promotional events, or when comparing the economics of selling on different platforms at different price points.

Frequently asked questions

What fees do marketplace sellers typically pay on Amazon?
Amazon sellers typically pay a referral fee of 8% to 17% depending on the product category, plus optional FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon) fees that vary by size and weight. Other charges include monthly storage fees, returns processing fees, and the basic or professional selling plan cost. Total fees commonly represent 25% to 45% of the selling price for FBA sellers.
How do I calculate my net payout on a marketplace sale?
Net payout equals your selling price minus all fees deducted by the platform. Start with the selling price, subtract the percentage-based referral or commission fee, then subtract any fixed fulfilment, shipping, or listing fees. The result is the amount deposited to your account before you account for your product cost and other business expenses.
What is the typical commission rate on Etsy?
Etsy charges a 6.5% transaction fee on the sale price including shipping, a $0.20 listing fee per item, and payment processing fees of approximately 3% plus a fixed amount per transaction. Sellers using Etsy Ads or the Pattern website builder face additional costs. Total effective fees commonly run between 10% and 15% of the selling price.
How does eBay's fee structure work for sellers?
eBay charges a final value fee on each completed sale, typically ranging from 10% to 15% depending on category, with an additional 0.30 per-order fee for most categories. Managed Payments processes cards and PayPal, with payment processing included in the final value fee. Promoted Listings campaigns add an optional ad rate on top of the base fee.
How do I decide whether a product is profitable on a marketplace?
Calculate your net payout using this calculator, then subtract your landed product cost (purchase price plus inbound shipping and duties). The remaining amount must cover your overhead, desired profit, and any additional advertising spend. A product is viable when the margin after all costs is large enough to sustain the business even during price competition and promotional periods.
Why does effective margin matter more than gross margin in marketplace selling?
Gross margin only accounts for product cost relative to selling price. Effective margin factors in all marketplace fees, fulfilment costs, and other variable expenses, giving you the true percentage of revenue that remains available for profit and overhead. Many sellers are surprised to find that a 60% gross margin product yields only 25% effective margin after platform costs.

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