Selling on marketplaces like Poshmark, Whatnot, and Mercari can be profitable — but understanding their seller fees is critical to avoid surprises. Many new sellers price their items without fully factoring in commission, shipping, and transaction fees, which leads to lower profit margins or even losses.
Quick Answer:
Poshmark seller fees are $2.95 for sales under $15 and 20% for sales of $15 or more. Whatnot charges a 10% selling fee plus 2.9% + $0.30 payment processing, while Mercari charges 13% total (10% selling + 3% payment). Knowing these numbers helps you set prices strategically and protect your margins.
Why Understanding Poshmark Seller Fees Matters
When you list an item on a resale platform, your profit = price - fees - shipping - cost of goods. If you don’t account for platform fees correctly, you’re not running a business — you’re gambling.
Knowing the fee structure helps you:
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Price your items for actual profit
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Compare marketplaces strategically
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Decide what to cross list and where
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Automate pricing rules to maintain margins
Poshmark Seller Fees
Poshmark has one of the simplest fee structures in the resale world.
| Sale Price | Poshmark Fee | Seller Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Under $15 | Flat $2.95 | Sale price – $2.95 |
| $15 and above | 20% | 80% of sale price |
✅ Example 1:
If you sell a $40 dress → 20% fee = $8 → you receive $32.
✅ Example 2:
If you sell a $12 top → $2.95 flat fee → you receive $9.05.
Important: Poshmark covers shipping through buyer-paid labels, so you don’t need to calculate shipping separately in most cases.
How Poshmark’s Fee Model Compares to Other Marketplaces
Unlike eBay or Amazon, Poshmark doesn’t add payment processing fees separately. It’s included in the 20% or $2.95 flat fee. That makes it predictable but sometimes higher for larger transactions.
| Marketplace | Commission Fee | Payment Fee | Total Estimated Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poshmark | 20% or $2.95 | Included | ~20% |
| Whatnot | 10% | 2.9% + $0.30 | ~13% total |
| Mercari | 10% | 3% | ~13% total |
| eBay | 13.25% (avg) | Included | ~13.25% |
| Depop | 10% | 2.9% + $0.30 (US) | ~13% total |
Poshmark Selling Fees Breakdown
Let’s break down what Poshmark fees actually cover:
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Platform operations (hosting, security, customer service)
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Payment processing (credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay)
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Shipping label creation (pre-paid label for buyers)
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Transaction protection (Poshmark handles buyer disputes)
Why the flat $2.95 fee matters:
It can eat a big chunk of your profit on low-cost items. Example: Selling a $10 T-shirt leaves you with just $7.05. That’s why many experienced resellers avoid listing items under $15 on Poshmark.
Whatnot Fees
Whatnot is one of the fastest-growing live-selling platforms, but its fee structure differs slightly.
Whatnot Fee Structure:
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10% selling fee (on final sale price + shipping)
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2.9% + $0.30 payment processing
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Additional fees may apply for certain categories or shipping adjustments.
✅ Example:
You sell a $40 item
→ 10% = $4
→ 2.9% of $40 = $1.16 + $0.30 = $1.46
→ Total fees = $5.46
→ Net payout = $34.54
Whatnot’s lower fees compared to Poshmark make it attractive for higher-volume sellers, but it also requires more active selling (live shows, auctions, etc.).
Mercari Selling Fee
Mercari is known for its simple, slightly lower-fee model compared to Poshmark.
Mercari Fee Structure:
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10% selling fee on the item price
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3% + $0.30 payment processing fee
✅ Example:
You sell a $40 item
→ 10% = $4
→ 3% + $0.30 = $1.50
→ Total fees = $5.50
→ Net payout = $34.50
Mercari gives sellers more control over shipping (buyer or seller-paid), which affects overall margins.
Comparing Profit: Poshmark vs Whatnot vs Mercari
| Sale Price | Poshmark Net | Whatnot Net | Mercari Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20 | $16 | $17.04 | $17.00 |
| $40 | $32 | $34.54 | $34.50 |
| $100 | $80 | $86.80 | $86.70 |
💡 Insight: Poshmark’s fees are higher at larger price points, making Whatnot or Mercari more profitable per item. But Poshmark offers a strong fashion buyer base and built-in shipping.
How Fees Impact Pricing Strategy
If you list without factoring fees, you’re silently giving away part of your profit. Smart resellers build pricing strategies that bake in marketplace fees from the start.
Formula:
Example:
You want $32 profit on Poshmark. Since the fee is 20%:
This ensures your margin remains stable across marketplaces.
Automating Fee Calculations With Closo
Keeping track of different fee structures across platforms can get messy fast — especially when crosslisting.
Closo’s Pricing & Fee Engine lets you:
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Set your target profit per item
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Automatically calculate platform-specific prices
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Account for Poshmark, Whatnot, Mercari, eBay, and Depop fees
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Update prices in bulk across platforms
🪄 Example: Set a $30 minimum profit → Closo adjusts prices automatically per channel.
Advanced Fee Strategies for Resellers
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Avoid low-ticket items on Poshmark: Flat fees hurt low-value flips.
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Crosslist intelligently: Higher-priced items may net more on Whatnot or Mercari.
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Bundle pricing: Encourages buyers to purchase multiple items at once.
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Dynamic pricing: Increase or decrease prices based on sell-through and fees.
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Fee awareness in sourcing: Know your net margins before buying inventory.
Related Reads
FAQ — Poshmark Seller Fees
1. How much does Poshmark charge sellers?
Poshmark charges a flat $2.95 fee on sales under $15, and 20% on sales of $15 or more.
2. Does Poshmark charge payment processing fees separately?
No. All fees are included in the 20% or $2.95 deduction.
3. How do Poshmark fees compare to Whatnot or Mercari?
Poshmark is usually higher (20%) compared to Whatnot (~13%) and Mercari (~13%), especially on high-ticket items.
4. Can I increase my prices to cover Poshmark fees?
Yes, and most sellers do. Always calculate backwards from your target profit.
5. How can I manage fees across multiple platforms?
Using crosslisting tools like Closo helps automate pricing and fee calculations to maintain margins.
Final Thoughts
Understanding Poshmark seller fees — and how they compare to Whatnot and Mercari — is a critical part of running a profitable resale business.
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Poshmark: 20% or $2.95
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Whatnot: ~13% total
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Mercari: ~13% total
The key isn’t just knowing the fees — it’s pricing and crosslisting strategically to maximize profit. Automating these calculations with tools like Closo ensures consistent margins across platforms without manual work.
Automate this with Closo →and turn pricing into a competitive advantage, not a guesswork game.
