Marketplace costs to check before you join
Short answer
Before joining a marketplace, check five kinds of cost: subscription or listing fees, the commission taken on each sale (often called a referral or final value fee), payment processing, shipping and returns under its rules, and optional advertising. The figures below come from each marketplace's own fee page, checked November 14, 2026. Fees change, so confirm them on the marketplace's page before you decide.
The five kinds of cost
- Fixed fees: a monthly subscription, a per-item fee or a listing fee.
- Commission: a percentage of each sale, sometimes with a minimum per item. Often called a referral fee, transaction fee or final value fee.
- Payment processing: charged separately by some marketplaces, included by others.
- Shipping and returns: postage, packaging and the cost of returns under the marketplace's return rules.
- Advertising: optional on most marketplaces, but easy to start spending on. Decide your limit before you join.
Published fees for large US marketplaces
All figures are quoted from each marketplace's own page, checked November 14, 2026. Category exceptions apply; follow the links for the full tables.
| Marketplace | Fixed fees | Commission on sales |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon (US) | Individual plan: $0.99 per item sold. Professional plan: $39.99 per month. | Referral fee by category: a percentage of the total price or a minimum amount, whichever is greater. For example, Home and Kitchen and Toys and Games are 15% with a $0.30 minimum. Source |
| eBay (US) | Up to 250 zero insertion fee listings per month, then $0.35 per listing (most categories). | Most categories: 13.6% of the total amount of the sale up to $7,500, plus a per-order fee of $0.30 for orders of $10 or less or $0.40 for orders over $10. Source |
| Walmart Marketplace | Walmart states it has no setup or monthly fees. | Referral fees vary by category and product type; many categories, including "Everything Else", are 15%. Source |
| Etsy | $0.20 to create or renew a listing. | Transaction fee of 6.5% of the total order amount, including shipping and gift wrap. Payment processing fees are separate and vary by country. Source |
| TikTok Shop (US) | TikTok Shop publishes its seller fees inside its Seller Center. We could not confirm a figure on a public TikTok page on November 14, 2026, so we leave it out rather than repeat third-party numbers. | |
Amazon, eBay, Walmart and Etsy are listed because they publish clear fee pages. For Temu, see Temu seller fees for US sellers.
Costs that are easy to miss
- Fees on shipping. Some commissions are calculated on the total price including shipping, as Amazon and Etsy state on their fee pages.
- Returns. Return postage, items that come back damaged and restocking time.
- Payout timing. Money arrives on the marketplace's schedule, which affects cash flow when you restock.
- Fulfilment programs. Optional warehousing and fulfilment services have their own storage and handling fees.
- Your time. Listing upkeep, messages and order handling.
A simple margin worksheet
For each product and each marketplace, fill in:
| Line | Example (hypothetical) |
|---|---|
| Sale price | $30.00 |
| Commission (example 15%) | - $4.50 |
| Other per-sale fees | - check the marketplace's page |
| Product cost | - $9.00 |
| Packaging and postage you pay | - $7.00 |
| Allowance for returns | - $1.00 |
| Margin before advertising and your time | $8.50 |
The example is made-up arithmetic to show the method, not a quote for any marketplace. If the last line is thin, raise the price, choose lighter products or skip that channel.
Questions to ask before you join
- Is there a monthly fee, and can I start on a plan without one?
- What is the commission for my exact category, and is it charged on shipping too?
- Is payment processing included or separate?
- What are the return rules, and who pays return postage?
- When are payouts made?
- Do I need to advertise inside the marketplace to be seen in my category?
Once the numbers work, read how applications work and the fit checklist.
What are the Amazon seller fees?
Amazon US offers two plans: Individual at $0.99 per item sold, or Professional at $39.99 a month. On top of that, each sale pays a category referral fee, the greater of a percentage or a minimum; for example 15% with a $0.30 minimum in Home and Kitchen. Media items add a $1.80 closing fee, and fulfilment services cost extra.
Amazon calculates referral fees on the total price, including shipping and gift wrap.
Source: Amazon: Selling on Amazon pricing. Checked November 14, 2026.
How much does it cost to sell on Walmart marketplace?
Walmart says it has no setup or monthly fees. You pay a referral fee on each sale that varies by category and product type; many categories, including "Everything Else", are 15%. Fulfilment is extra if you use Walmart Fulfillment Services. Check the referral fee table for your exact category, since some categories are tiered by price.
Walmart's minimum qualifications are in the marketplace comparison.
Source: Walmart Marketplace: Referral fees; Walmart Marketplace: FAQs (minimum qualifications). Checked November 14, 2026.
Can someone explain eBay fees?? Help!!
For most US categories, eBay gives you up to 250 zero insertion fee listings a month, then charges $0.35 per listing. When an item sells, it charges a final value fee of 13.6% of the total sale amount up to $7,500, plus 2.35% on any portion above that, and a per-order fee of $0.30 for orders of $10 or less, or $0.40 above $10.
The total amount of the sale includes shipping, so fees apply to postage you charge too. Some categories differ.
Source: eBay Help: Selling fees. Checked November 14, 2026.
More questions
Which marketplace has the lowest fees?
It depends on your category, price and order size, since fixed fees and commission rates combine differently. Run the margin worksheet with each marketplace's current figures for your own products.
Are these fees current?
They were checked on each marketplace's own page on November 14, 2026. Marketplaces change fees, so confirm on the linked pages before deciding.
Does Seller Channel charge store owners a fee?
No. Asking us whether your store fits is free and there is no obligation. You register directly with the marketplace under its own seller terms and fees.
Sources and last check
Last checked November 14, 2026. Fees, programs and policies change; follow the links for current terms.
- Amazon: Selling on Amazon pricing, checked November 14, 2026.
- eBay Help: Selling fees, checked November 14, 2026.
- Walmart Marketplace: Referral fees, checked November 14, 2026.
- Etsy Help: Listing fees, checked November 14, 2026.
- Etsy Help: Seller fees, checked November 14, 2026.
Want to know if your store fits a marketplace seller program?
Tell us what you sell and where your inventory is. We reply by email, free, with whether it looks like a fit and the next step. We never ask for IDs, bank details or logins. Seller Channel may be paid a referral fee when a store registers through a route we provide. It costs the store nothing.
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