The four fees on every Etsy sale
A US seller shipping a $35 item with $5 shipping pays four separate charges. The listing fee is $0.20, charged when the listing publishes and again every four months or when a unit sells. The transaction fee is 6.5% of the full order — item plus shipping plus gift wrap. Payment processing takes 3% of the order plus a flat $0.25. Offsite ads add 12% or 15% when they apply.
Here is the same $35 sale with $5 shipping, worked line by line:
| Fee | Amount | How it is calculated |
|---|---|---|
| Listing fee | $0.20 | flat, per unit sold |
| Transaction fee | $2.60 | $40.00 × 6.5% |
| Payment processing | $1.45 | $40.00 × 3% + $0.25 |
| Total fees | $4.25 | 10.6% of the $40 order |
On a typical US sale without offsite ads, Etsy takes roughly 10–11% of what the buyer pays. If your item cost $10 to make, your profit on this order is $35 − $10 − $4.25 = $20.75.
Offsite ads: the fee that surprises people
Etsy advertises listings on Google, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. If a buyer clicks one of those ads and purchases within 30 days, the seller owes an offsite ads fee on the entire order — not just the advertised item.
- Shops that made over $10,000 in the last 12 months are enrolled at 12% and cannot opt out.
- Smaller shops pay 15% but can turn it off in Shop Manager.
- On the $40 order above, an offsite ad sale would cost an extra $4.80 (12%) or $6.00 (15%) — pushing total fees to $9.05 or $10.25.
Fees differ by country
The 6.5% transaction fee and $0.20 listing fee are the same worldwide. Payment processing is not: UK sellers pay 4% + £0.20, and several EU countries pay 4% + €0.30. If you sell internationally, check the processing rate for your bank country in Etsy's fee schedule.
How to price so fees don't eat your margin
Three practical rules. First, assume a typical sale loses 10–11% to Etsy fees before you count materials — build that into the item price instead of discovering it later. Second, if you stay in offsite ads, assume up to ~27% total fees on ad-driven sales and make sure the price still clears your costs. Third, price your own labor: an hourly rate for making the item belongs in your cost, not in whatever profit is left over.
Run your own numbers with the Etsy Fee Calculator, set target prices with the profit margin calculator, and handle quick conversions with the percentage calculator.