Mercari has become a go-to marketplace for millions looking to declutter their space and find new treasures. Whether you’re a seasoned seller or a first-time buyer, understanding the platform’s fee structure is crucial for a smooth and profitable experience. With recent changes rolling out, it’s more important than ever to know exactly what costs are involved.
This comprehensive guide breaks down the complete Mercari fee structure. We’ll explore exactly what percent does mercari take, how fees are applied to both sellers and buyers, and how they stack up against other popular platforms.
Table of Contents
- A Breakdown of the New Mercari Fee Structure
- Mercari Seller Fees: What Sellers Actually Pay
- Buyer Fees on Mercari
- How Are Mercari Fees Calculated? An Example
- Understanding Mercari Shipping Fees
- Mercari Fees vs. Competitors (Poshmark & eBay)
- Frequently Asked Questions
A Breakdown of the New Mercari Fee Structure
Mercari has updated its fee model to create a more balanced marketplace. The most significant change is the reintroduction of a seller fee and the lowering of the buyer fee. The goal is to make items more affordable for buyers, which in turn helps sellers make more sales.
Here’s a high-level overview of what are the new mercari fees:
- For Sellers: A flat 10% selling fee is charged on the final item price plus any buyer-paid shipping.
- For Buyers: A Buyer Protection fee of 3.6% is applied to the item price and buyer-paid shipping. The separate payment processing fee for buyers has been eliminated.
These mercari fees apply to all new and updated listings. Listings created before this date will be automatically updated to reflect the new structure.
Mercari Seller Fees: What Sellers Actually Pay
For anyone wondering how does mercari work for sellers, understanding the costs is the first step. The platform is designed to be straightforward, with the primary fee only being charged once your item successfully sells. Let’s break down the mercari fees for sellers.
The Main Selling Fee
The most important fee to understand is the mercari selling fee. Effective January 6, 2025, sellers are charged a flat 10% of the item price + buyer-paid shipping. This simple, flat-rate commission is only deducted after the sale is complete, meaning the buyer has received the item and rated the transaction. This directly answers the common questions, “how much does mercari take” and “what percentage does mercari take 2025.” There is no separate mercari processing fee for sellers.
Withdrawal & Payout Fees
Once a sale is completed, the funds appear in your Mercari balance. You have two options for cashing out your earnings, each with a different fee structure:
- Direct Deposit (ACH Transfer): This is the standard method to transfer your balance to your checking account. As of January 6, 2025, there is a $0 fee for successful direct deposits. These transfers are typically processed within 5 business days. However, a $2 non-refundable fee applies to any failed or rejected deposit requests due to incorrect bank information.
- Instant Pay: For sellers who need their cash faster, Instant Pay transfers funds to your debit card in about 30 minutes. There is a $3 flat fee for each Instant Pay withdrawal. This service is limited to one use per day, with a maximum withdrawal of $600 per month.
Other Potential Seller Fees
While the selling and withdrawal fees are the most common, there are a few other situational costs sellers should be aware of:
- Cancellation Fee: Mercari may charge a cancellation fee of 5% of the item price (up to a maximum of $25) if a seller frequently cancels transactions. This is intended to cover transaction and operational costs and to encourage sellers to only list items they can fulfill.
- Shipping Overage Fees: Sellers are responsible for accurately weighing and measuring their packages. If a package exceeds the weight or size limits for the purchased shipping label, the carrier will charge an overage fee, which Mercari will deduct from the seller’s earnings.
- Mercari Authenticate: For luxury goods, sellers can use the Mercari Authenticate service. This involves a fee, typically $5, to have an item professionally authenticated, which adds a diamond badge to the listing to increase buyer confidence. An additional $10 fee applies if you want a printable certificate of authenticity.
Buyer Fees on Mercari
Buyers also have a simple fee structure designed to provide a secure shopping experience. The primary cost for buyers is the Buyer Protection fee.
- Buyer Protection Fee: Buyers are charged a fee of 3.6% of the combined item price and buyer-paid shipping. This fee is clearly displayed on the checkout page before you confirm your purchase.
- No Payment Processing Fee: Under the new structure, the separate mercari payment processing fee for buyers (previously $0.50 + 2.9%) has been eliminated on new and updated listings, simplifying the total cost.
The Buyer Protection fee gives you several key benefits, including worry-free shopping with a robust refund policy for items that are damaged or not as described, secure and trusted transactions where your payment is held until you confirm satisfaction, and access to 24/7 customer support. When you ask what is mercari service fee, this is the modern equivalent.
A common question is when does mercari charge your card? Your card is charged at the moment you complete the purchase at checkout. However, Mercari holds these funds until the transaction is complete (after you’ve received the item and rated the seller), providing a layer of security.
How Are Mercari Fees Calculated? An Example
Understanding how are mercari fees calculated is easier with a real-world example. Let’s imagine a seller lists a pair of jeans for $50, and the buyer pays $10 for shipping.
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown using the new fee structure:
- Buyer’s Total Cost:
- Item Price: $50.00
- Shipping Cost: $10.00
- Buyer Protection Fee: 3.6% of ($50 + $10), which is 3.6% of $60 = $2.16
- Total Paid by Buyer: $62.16
- Seller’s Payout:
- Item Price: $50.00
- Mercari Selling Fees: 10% of ($50 + $10), which is 10% of $60 = $6.00
- Net Earnings for Seller (added to balance): $50.00 – $6.00 = $44.00
This example works as a simple mercari fees calculator to help you anticipate your final earnings and costs.
Understanding Mercari Shipping Fees
Shipping costs on Mercari can be paid by either the buyer or the seller. The platform offers two primary methods for shipping:
- Mercari Prepaid Labels: This is the most popular option. Mercari provides discounted shipping labels from carriers like USPS, UPS, and FedEx. These labels offer savings of up to 40% compared to retail rates, include tracking, and come with up to $200 in Shipping Protection for lost or damaged items.
- Ship on Your Own: Experienced sellers can choose to handle shipping themselves. If you select this option, you are responsible for purchasing postage and providing a valid tracking number to complete the transaction.
A crucial point to remember is does mercari charge fees on shipping. Yes, for sellers, the 10% selling fee is calculated based on the combined total of the item price and any shipping costs paid by the buyer. This ensures the fee structure is consistent regardless of who pays for shipping.
Mercari Fees vs. Competitors (Poshmark & eBay)
How do mercari selling fees compare to other major marketplaces? Here’s a quick look at the competition. This comparison should help you decide if is it worth it to sell on mercari.
- Poshmark: Poshmark has a very simple fee structure. For sales under $15, they take a flat commission of $2.95. For sales of $15 or more, they take a 20% commission.
- eBay: eBay’s fees are more complex. They typically charge an insertion fee (listing fee) for sellers who list more than a certain number of items per month, plus a final value fee when an item sells. The final value fee is a percentage of the total sale amount (including shipping) and varies by category, but often hovers around 13.25% for most items.
| Marketplace | Selling Fee Structure |
|---|---|
| Mercari | 10% of the total sale price (item + buyer-paid shipping) |
| Poshmark | $2.95 flat fee for sales under $15; 20% for sales $15+ |
| eBay | ~13.25% Final Value Fee for most categories + potential insertion fees |
When comparing mercari fees vs poshmark or ebay vs mercari fees, Mercari’s flat 10% fee is often more competitive, especially compared to Poshmark’s 20% on higher-priced items and eBay’s higher percentage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to pay to sell on Mercari?
No, listing an item on Mercari is completely free. There is no mercari listing fee. A selling fee is only charged when your item successfully sells and the transaction is complete.
What is the selling fee on Mercari?
The what is mercari selling fee question is simple: it’s a flat rate of 10% of the final item price plus any shipping cost paid by the buyer.
What are Mercari seller fees?
The primary mercari seller fees include the 10% selling fee upon a completed sale, a $3 fee for optional Instant Pay withdrawals, and a potential $2 fee for failed Direct Deposit transfers. Sellers may also incur fees for frequent cancellations or shipping overages.
How much commission does Mercari take?
Mercari takes a 10% commission on the total sale amount (item price + buyer-paid shipping).
Did Mercari increase fees?
Yes. As of January 6, 2025, Mercari reintroduced a 10% selling fee. This was part of a broader structural change that also lowered fees for buyers. So, if you’re asking “did mercari fees go up,” the answer for sellers is yes, while for buyers, the total fees have decreased.
How to avoid Mercari fees?
You cannot avoid the required 10% selling fee or the 3.6% Buyer Protection fee, as these are integral to using the platform. However, you can avoid optional or penalty fees by:
- Using free Direct Deposit instead of the $3 Instant Pay.
- Ensuring your bank details are correct to avoid the $2 failed deposit fee.
- Accurately weighing and measuring packages to avoid shipping overages.
- Fulfilling all your orders to avoid cancellation penalties.
What is the Mercari service fee?
The term “mercari service fee” now primarily refers to the Buyer Protection fee, which is 3.6% of the purchase price. In the past, this term may have been used differently, but under the current structure, this is the main service-related fee buyers see.
Does Mercari charge listing fees?
No, does mercari have listing fees is a common question, and the answer is a definitive no. It is always free to list items for sale on the platform.
What percentage does Mercari take from your sale?
The what percentage does mercari take from your sale is 10%. This percentage is calculated on the item’s selling price plus any shipping costs the buyer paid.
Is there a fee for selling on Mercari?
Yes, is there a fee for selling on mercari is a key question. A 10% selling fee is charged only after your item sells and the transaction is finalized.
