How to Price Your Items on Depop for Maximum Profit

The Ultimate Depop Pricing Guide: How to Price Your Items for Maximum Profit

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Welcome to the world of Depop, the community-powered marketplace where circular fashion isn’t just a trend—it’s the future. Whether you’re clearing out your closet or building a thriving online boutique, understanding how to price your items is the single most important factor for success. Nailing your pricing strategy can be the difference between making a quick sale and having an item sit for months.

This guide is your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about pricing on Depop. We’ll break down the fee structure, explore key pricing factors, and give you the tools you need to calculate your earnings accurately. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to price your items on depop for maximum profit.

Table of Contents

Understanding Depop’s Fee Structure

Before you can set a price, you need to understand the costs involved. A common question is, "what percentage does depop take?" The answer depends on your location and the services you use. Let’s break down the costs so you can price with confidence.

Depop Selling Fees
In a move to empower sellers, Depop has recently changed its fee structure in key markets:

  • Sellers in the UK & US: As of 2024, there are no selling fees for sellers based in the United Kingdom or the United States. This is a massive advantage, allowing you to keep more of your earnings.
  • Sellers Outside the UK & US: For sellers in other regions, Depop charges a 10% selling fee on the total transaction amount (item price plus shipping costs if you arrange your own shipping).

Payment Processing Fees
While the selling fee might be zero in some regions, every transaction is subject to a standard payment processing fee. This fee is charged by Depop’s payment partners (like Stripe and PayPal) to securely handle the transaction.

  • Depop Payments (Stripe): This is the primary payment method in the US, UK, and Australia, allowing buyers to pay with credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

    • US Sellers: 3.3% + $0.45 of the total transaction value.
    • UK Sellers: 2.9% + £0.30 of the total transaction value.
    • AU Sellers: 2.6% + $0.30 AUD of the total transaction value.
  • PayPal: For sellers outside the US, UK, and Australia, or for buyers who choose it where available, PayPal processing fees apply. These can vary based on your location and account, so it’s always best to check your PayPal account for the exact rates. It’s a key factor when calculating how much does depop and paypal take.

Optional Fees: Boosting
Depop offers a "Boosted Listings" feature to increase your item’s visibility. If you opt-in and your item sells through a boosted tile, an 8% boosting fee is charged on the total transaction value. This is a powerful depop selling tool but must be factored into your pricing if you plan to use it.

So, how much do depop take in total? It’s a combination of these potential fees. For a UK or US seller not using boosting, your only cost is the payment processing fee. For other sellers, it’s the 10% selling fee plus the payment processor’s fee. This information is crucial for any good depop fees calculator.

The Core Factors of Your Depop Pricing Strategy

Now that you understand the costs, let’s explore how to price depop items effectively. A successful depop pricing strategy is a blend of research, self-awareness, and understanding the market.

  1. Market Research is Non-Negotiable:

    • Check Sold Listings: The best way to gauge an item’s value is to see what similar items have actually sold for. Search for your item on Depop and filter the results to show "Sold Items." This gives you real-world data on what buyers are willing to pay.
    • Use Depop’s Pricing Tool: When you list an item, Depop’s AI-powered pricing tool may provide a suggested price range based on similar sold listings. It often gives three strategies: "Sell faster" (a lower, more competitive price), "Balanced" (a fair market price), and "Earn more" (a higher price that may take longer to sell). This is a fantastic starting point for any depop pricing guide.

  2. Item Condition:
    Be honest and detailed about your item’s condition. Buyers expect transparency, and it directly impacts the price.

    • New with Tags (NWT): Can be priced close to retail, especially if it’s a sold-out or in-demand item.
    • Like New/Excellent Used Condition (EUC): Worn once or twice with no visible flaws. Price slightly below NWT.
    • Good Condition: Shows gentle signs of wear but no major flaws. This is the most common category for secondhand items.
    • Fair/Flawed: Has noticeable flaws like stains, small holes, or pilling. Price accordingly and be sure to photograph and describe every flaw clearly.

  3. Brand, Rarity, and Style:

    • Brand Recognition: In-demand brands (e.g., Carhartt, Nike, Brandy Melville) command higher prices.
    • Vintage & Y2K: True vintage pieces or items with a popular Y2K aesthetic are highly sought after. Rarity increases value.
    • Trends: Keep an eye on current trends. A simple slip dress might sell for more if "cottagecore" or "balletcore" is trending. Knowing what sells best on depop is key.

  4. Your Cost of Goods (COGS):
    This is simple but crucial: how much did you pay for the item? Whether you sourced it from a thrift store for $5 or your own closet for $150, you must price it to cover your initial investment and still make a depop profit.

  5. Your Time and Effort:
    Don’t undervalue your labor. Sourcing, cleaning, steaming, photographing, measuring, writing descriptions, packaging, and shipping all take time. Factor a small amount into your price to compensate for your effort. This is a core part of how to price clothes on depop.

Calculating Your Final Price: The Buyer Keywords Profit Formula

Ready to put it all together? To ensure you’re always profitable, you need a reliable pricing method. We call this the buyer keywords profit formula, a straightforward equation designed to cover all your bases and hit your profit goals while being attractive to buyers searching with specific keywords.

The basic formula is:
Listing Price = (Your Item Cost) + (Shipping Cost) + (All Depop Fees) + (Your Desired Profit)

Let’s walk through an example for a US seller who isn’t using boosting:

  • Your Item Cost (COGS): You bought a vintage jacket for $10.
  • Shipping Cost: You calculate shipping will cost $8.
  • Your Desired Profit: You want to make $20 profit on this sale.
  • Subtotal: $10 (Cost) + $8 (Shipping) + $20 (Profit) = $38

Now, we need to account for the Depop fees on that subtotal. Since the listing price will be higher than $38 to cover the fees, we need to do a little algebra, or simply use a depop calculator. For a manual calculation:

  • Depop Payment Processing Fee (US): 3.3% + $0.45
  • Let L be the final Listing Price. The fee will be (L * 0.033) + 0.45.
  • The formula becomes: L = Subtotal + Fees which is L = $38 + (L * 0.033) + 0.45.
  • Solving for L: L - 0.033L = $38.45 -> 0.967L = $38.45 -> L = $38.45 / 0.967
  • Final Listing Price (L) ≈ $39.76

You could round this up to $40. To make this process simpler, many sellers use an online depop profit calculator or depop fees calculator. Just plug in your costs and desired profit, and it will give you a suggested listing price.

Strategic Pricing: Shipping Costs & International Sales

Shipping is a critical component of your pricing strategy, and a common question is how much to charge for shipping on depop.

Who Pays for Shipping?
By default, the buyer pays for shipping. The cost you set is added to the item price at checkout. However, offering "free shipping" is a popular marketing tactic. If you do this, remember that shipping is never truly free—you must absorb the cost by building it into your item’s price. So, in our example above, you would list the item for $48 with free shipping.

How to Price Shipping on Depop

  • Use Depop Shipping: The easiest method. Depop provides pre-paid, tracked labels with set prices based on weight tiers (e.g., Small, Medium, Large). When listing, you simply select the appropriate package size. This helps answer how does depop calculate shipping.
  • Arrange Your Own Shipping: If you ship on your own, you must weigh your item (including packaging!) and use a carrier’s online calculator to determine the cost. Always use a tracked service to be eligible for Seller Protection.

A key question sellers have is, does price on depop include shipping? The answer is no, unless you specifically enable the "free shipping" toggle. Otherwise, the buyer sees the item price and the shipping price as separate costs at checkout. It’s also important to know the answer to, does depop take a percentage from shipping? Yes, payment processing fees (and selling fees, where applicable) are calculated on the total amount the buyer pays, which includes shipping.

Using Depop’s Tools to Drive Sales and Maximize Profit

Depop provides several features to help you negotiate and sell. Knowing how to use them is key to learning how to sell on depop fast.

  • Offers: Buyers can "Make Offer" on your items. You can accept, decline, or send a counter-offer. Be prepared for offers and consider pricing your items slightly higher to leave room for negotiation. This flexibility is central to how does depop pricing work.
  • Send Offers to Likers: If a user "likes" your item, you can proactively send them a discounted offer. This is a great way to engage interested buyers and close a sale.
  • Discounts: You can run sales on your shop, applying a percentage discount to multiple items at once. This can be effective for clearing old stock or participating in seasonal sales events.
  • Bundles: Encourage buyers to purchase multiple items by offering a bundle discount. You can set this up in your shop settings to be either a percentage off or free shipping on bundles, which applies automatically in the buyer’s cart. This is one of the best ways how to boost sales on depop.

The Bigger Picture: Your Depop Shop as a Business

As your shop grows, it’s important to treat it like a business. This means understanding the financial implications, including taxes. Many sellers wonder, does depop count as income?

In most countries, including the US and UK, the money you earn from selling online can be considered taxable income, especially if you are buying items with the intent to resell them for a profit. Depop is required by law (e.g., HMRC in the UK, IRS in the US) to report seller earnings that exceed certain thresholds in a calendar year.

While the specifics of is depop taxable income depend on your location, total earnings, and individual circumstances, it’s wise to keep records of your sales and expenses (like COGS, shipping supplies, and fees). For many, the answer to are depop earnings taxable is yes. We recommend consulting a local tax professional for advice tailored to your situation.

Final Tips for Pricing Success

You now have the foundation for a winning pricing strategy. Here are a few final tips for how to be a successful depop seller:

  • Photos are Everything: Clear, well-lit photos from multiple angles are non-negotiable. They justify your price.
  • Write Amazing Descriptions: Be detailed. Include measurements, materials, condition, and use relevant keywords that buyers would search for.
  • Be Responsive: Answer questions and respond to offers quickly. Good customer service often leads to a sale.
  • Plan for the Future: As fees or shipping costs change, a good depop fee calculator 2025 will be an invaluable tool. Staying organized now will pay off later.
  • Stay on Trend: Keep an eye on what to sell on depop 2025 by following fashion influencers and monitoring what’s popular on the app.
  • Be Patient and Flexible: Don’t be afraid to adjust prices. If an item isn’t selling, consider lowering the price or sending out offers. Knowing how to change price on depop (simply edit your listing) is a basic but essential skill.

Pricing on Depop is both an art and a science. By combining solid research with a clear understanding of your costs and profit goals, you can turn your secondhand items into a profitable venture and contribute to a more sustainable fashion ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does depop pricing work?
Depop pricing is determined by the seller. However, successful pricing is based on market research of similar sold items, the item’s brand and condition, and current trends. Depop also provides an AI-powered pricing suggestion tool when you list to help guide you. Ultimately, you must also factor in your costs, including the item’s original price, fees, and shipping, to ensure you make a profit.

How to change price on depop?
You can change the price of an active listing at any time. Simply navigate to the item in your shop, tap the "Edit" button, change the price in the designated field, and save your changes. The update will be live immediately.

Does Depop take a percentage?
For sellers outside the UK and US, Depop takes a 10% selling fee. For all sellers, there is a payment processing fee (which varies by country, e.g., 3.3% + $0.45 in the US). An optional 8% fee also applies if an item sells via a Boosted Listing. In the UK and US, there is no longer a Depop selling fee.

How much does it cost to sell on Depop?
The primary costs are payment processing fees and, for sellers outside the UK/US, a 10% selling fee. Listing an item is free. So, how much does it cost to list on depop? Zero. You only pay fees when an item sells.

How does Depop profit?
Many people ask how does depop profit if selling is free in certain regions. Depop earns revenue through several streams: payment processing fees on every transaction, the 10% selling fee from sellers outside the UK/US, optional Boosted Listings fees from sellers, and a small Marketplace Fee charged to buyers in the UK and US at checkout.

How does Depop calculate fees?
Depop fees are calculated based on the total transaction value, which includes the final item price plus the shipping cost paid by the buyer. For example, the US payment processing fee is 3.3% of this total amount, plus a fixed $0.45.

How do I calculate my profit on Depop?
To calculate your profit, use this formula: Final Sale Price - Shipping Cost (if you paid) - Depop Fees - Your Original Item Cost = Your Profit. Using a depop price calculator or depop selling fees calculator online can automate this for you.