How Mercari fees work in 2026
Mercari US charges sellers one fee: a flat 10% selling fee. It applies to the item price plus any shipping the buyer pays. Listing is free, there's no monthly charge, and since January 6, 2025 there's no separate payment processing fee. The old 2.9% + $0.50 charge was dropped when the 10% fee came back.
Buyers pay their own Buyer Protection fee at checkout. That doesn't come out of your earnings, so it isn't part of this calculator.
Buyer-paid vs. seller-paid shipping
This is where most Mercari math goes wrong. When the buyer pays shipping, the label cost is covered at checkout, but your 10% fee is calculated on the item price plus that shipping. When you offer free shipping, the fee applies to the item price only, and the full label cost is deducted from your earnings. Free shipping usually sells faster, so many sellers build the label into the price.
Older listings
Listings created before January 6, 2025 and never edited since stay on the previous structure. On those, the seller pays no selling fee and the buyer pays a 2.9% + $0.50 processing fee. Any edit moves the listing to the current 10% fee. Tick the box in the calculator if this applies to you.
Getting paid
Direct deposit to your bank is free. Instant Pay sends your balance to a debit card in minutes for a flat $3 per transfer. Because the fee is per transfer, not per sale, cash out several sales at once if you use it.
The formula
payout = sold price − selling fee − seller-paid label − Instant Pay fee
profit = payout − item cost
Example: a $40 sale with free shipping
You sell a pair of sneakers you paid $10 for. You offer free shipping, and the label costs $7.50. You use free direct deposit.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sold price | $40.00 |
| Selling fee (10% of $40) | $4.00 |
| Shipping label (you pay) | $7.50 |
| Payout from Mercari | $28.50 |
| Minus item cost ($10) | $18.50 profit |
The lowest price that covers your costs here is $19.44. If the buyer paid the $7.50 shipping instead, your fee would rise to $4.75, but you'd skip the label, and profit would be $25.25.
Tips for Mercari sellers
- Compare shipping options before you list. Mercari's prepaid labels are priced by weight; weigh the packed item so you don't pick a tier that's too light.
- Price for offers. Buyers expect to negotiate. Set your floor at the break-even price plus the profit you want.
- Batch your Instant Pay transfers. $3 on a $15 sale is 20% of the sale; spread over five sales it barely registers.
- Relist carefully. Editing an old, never-updated listing moves it to the 10% fee.
- Track your cost basis. You'll need it at tax time if Mercari sends a 1099-K.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Mercari take from a sale in 2026?
Mercari charges sellers a flat 10% selling fee on the item price plus any shipping the buyer pays. There is no separate payment processing fee on listings created or updated since January 6, 2025. On a $40 sale with seller-paid shipping, the fee is $4.00.
Does Mercari charge the 10% fee on shipping?
Only on shipping the buyer pays. If the buyer pays $7 for shipping on a $40 item, the fee is 10% of $47. If you offer free shipping, the fee is 10% of the item price, but the label cost comes out of your earnings instead.
Does Mercari still charge a 2.9% + $0.50 processing fee?
Not on current listings. It was dropped for listings created or edited on or after January 6, 2025. Older listings that were never edited stay on the previous structure, where the seller pays no selling fee and the buyer pays the processing fee. Editing the listing moves it to the 10% structure.
How much is Mercari Instant Pay?
Instant Pay costs a flat $3 per transfer and sends your balance to an eligible debit card within minutes. Standard direct deposit to a bank account is free but takes a few business days.
Is Mercari cheaper than Poshmark or eBay?
For most sales, yes. Mercari's 10% is half of Poshmark's 20% commission and lower than eBay's 13.6% plus $0.40 in most categories. The trade-off is that Mercari charges its fee on buyer-paid shipping, and its audience is smaller than eBay's.
Rates and figures last checked September 2026.
This calculator gives estimates for planning. Check current rates and product labels before you buy, list or file.