How Mercari charges sellers
Mercari's US fee structure, in place since January 2025, has a single 10% selling fee charged when an item sells. It applies to the item price plus any shipping the buyer pays. Listing is free, and sellers pay no separate payment processing fee. Buyers pay their own Buyer Protection fee on top, which does not come out of your earnings.
Selling fee = 10% × (item price + buyer-paid shipping)
Earnings = item price + buyer-paid shipping − selling fee
Profit = earnings − item cost − postage − other costs
Worked example
An item sells for $30, and the buyer pays $5 shipping. The item cost $12, the label costs $4.50 and packaging $0.50.
- Selling fee: 10% × $35 = $3.50. Earnings: $31.50.
- Profit: $31.50 − $12 − $4.50 − $0.50 = $14.50, a 41.4% margin.
- Break-even price: $13.89; the price for $10 profit is $25.00.
Who pays for shipping?
On Mercari you choose whether the buyer or you pay for shipping. If the buyer pays, the shipping amount is included in the 10% fee base and you buy the label from the amount collected. If you offer free shipping, enter 0 as shipping charged and put the label cost in postage: you pay the label, but the fee base is smaller.
Costs outside the fee
- Labels: prepaid labels bought through Mercari are deducted from your earnings; enter their cost as postage.
- Overweight or oversized packages: if the parcel is heavier or larger than the label you chose, the carrier's overage charge is billed to the seller. The dimensional weight calculator helps pick the right label.
- Promotions: discounts or offers reduce the item price before the 10% fee.
Comparing with other marketplaces
At 10% with no processing fee, Mercari is often among the cheapest options for casual sellers; in the $30 example it keeps $3.50, against $3.78 on Etsy and $5.16 on eBay. The seller fee calculator runs the comparison for your own numbers.
Pricing for the profit you want
Work backwards from the profit you need. In the example, you want $10 after the $12 item cost, $4.50 label and $0.50 packaging, so you need $27 after fees. Because Mercari keeps 10% of the item price plus the $5 shipping, (price + 5) × 0.9 must be at least $27, which gives an item price of $25.00. The target-profit field does this for you, including the fee on shipping.
Leave room for offers. Buyers on Mercari often make offers below the listed price, so many sellers list 10–20% above the lowest price they will accept. If you would accept $25, a list price around $29 leaves space to negotiate while keeping your $10 profit.
Bundles and low-priced items
On cheap items, postage often costs more than the fee. A $6 item with a $4.50 label leaves very little after the 10% fee and your item cost. Bundling several small items into one order shares one label across them and makes low-priced items worth listing.
Records and taxes
Keep a record of each sale's price, fees, label cost and item cost. Mercari's sales reports show your gross sales and fees, and depending on the reporting threshold for the year you may receive a Form 1099-K. Profit from selling items for more than you paid is generally taxable; selling personal items at a loss usually is not. Ask a tax professional about your situation.
Check the fee page occasionally, as structures change.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting the fee applies to shipping the buyer pays.
- Choosing a label that is too small for the package and paying an overage.
- Using old fee rules. Older guides describe processing fees that no longer apply to sellers.
Fee rates were checked against the marketplace's official help pages in October 2026 and are shown in editable fields. Marketplaces change fees from time to time, so check the current rates before pricing. This site is not affiliated with Etsy, eBay, Poshmark or Mercari.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Mercari take?
10% of the item price plus any shipping the buyer pays. On a $30 item with $5 shipping, $3.50.
Does Mercari charge a payment processing fee?
Not to sellers under the fee structure in place since January 2025. Buyers pay a separate Buyer Protection fee.
Is Mercari cheaper than eBay?
Often. In the $30 example, Mercari keeps $3.50 and eBay $5.16.
Are there listing fees on Mercari?
No. Listing is free; the fee is charged only when the item sells.
Sources
- Mercari Help Center. Fees on Mercari (mercari.com/us/help_center/article/169).
- Mercari Help Center. Changes to our fee structure (article 2517) and FAQs about our new fee structure (article 2518).
- Mercari Help Center. Why was I charged for an overweight or oversized package?
Last reviewed 27 October 2026. Results are estimates; see our disclaimer.