Quick Answer:
Whatnot charges an 8% selling fee on the total transaction amount and a 2.9% + $0.30 processing fee per order. Total fees usually come out to 11–12% of the total sale. There are no listing or subscription fees, making Whatnot one of the simplest and most transparent marketplaces in terms of costs.
Introduction: Why Understanding Whatnot’s Fee Structure Matters
Whether you’re reselling collectibles, sneakers, vintage apparel, or trading cards, your profit depends on what you keep after platform fees.
Whatnot has gained massive popularity among resellers by offering a live-selling, auction-based platform with a straightforward fee structure. But even with lower base fees compared to eBay or Poshmark, understanding how selling and processing fees work is essential for accurate pricing and scaling your business.
This in-depth guide explains:
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How Whatnot’s selling and processing fees are calculated,
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How they compare to eBay and other platforms,
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What taxes sellers should be aware of,
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And how to automate pricing to keep margins consistent.
Overview of Whatnot Selling Fees
Whatnot uses a flat commission model designed to be simple for sellers.
| Fee Type | Rate | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Selling Fee | 8% | Charged on the total sale amount (item + shipping) |
| Processing Fee | 2.9% + $0.30 | Charged on the total transaction |
| Listing Fee | $0 | No cost to list an item |
| Subscription Fee | $0 | No store or monthly subscription fees |
✅ This transparent structure is a big reason many sellers choose Whatnot as their secondary or primary platform.
Automate this with Closo → Closo calculates fees for every platform so you can list and price confidently.
Whatnot Payment Processing Fees
Every transaction on Whatnot includes a payment processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30.
This fee is applied to:
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The total sale amount (item price + shipping),
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Collected automatically from your payout.
Unlike eBay (where payment processing is bundled), Whatnot shows both the selling and processing fees separately, which helps sellers understand exactly what they’re paying.
Example Calculation
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Item Price: $80
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Shipping: $10
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Total: $90
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Processing Fee: $2.91 + $0.30 = $3.21
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Selling Fee (8%): $7.20
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Total Fees: $10.41
Whatnot Taxes for Sellers
Just like other major marketplaces, Whatnot is required to collect and remit sales tax in states where it’s applicable.
Important points for sellers:
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Buyers pay the sales tax, not the seller.
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Whatnot handles tax remittance automatically.
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You will still be responsible for income tax on your earnings, depending on your local tax laws.
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In the U.S., sellers earning over $5,000 annually or 200 transactions typically receive a Form 1099-K for tax reporting.
🧾 Pro Tip: Keep clear records of your gross revenue, shipping costs, and fees. These can help lower your taxable income.
No Listing Fees: A Major Advantage
Unlike eBay or Etsy, Whatnot does not charge listing fees.
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🆓 You can list unlimited items at no cost.
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🪙 You only pay when the item sells.
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📢 Live shows and auctions are free to host.
This means sellers can experiment with pricing and list in bulk without worrying about upfront costs. It’s particularly valuable for:
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Vintage sellers
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TCG (trading card game) flippers
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Sneaker resellers
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Small business owners
Automate this with Closo → Closo makes it easy to test pricing strategies across marketplaces while tracking net profit.
Whatnot Fees vs eBay Fees
To understand why sellers often crosslist from eBay to Whatnot, here’s a direct comparison:
| Feature / Fee | Whatnot | eBay |
|---|---|---|
| Base Seller Fee | 8% | 13.25%–15% |
| Payment Processing | 2.9% + $0.30 | Included in final value fee |
| Listing Fee | $0 | $0.30 after free listings |
| Subscription Fee | $0 | $4.95–$349.95/month |
| Promotions | N/A | Optional (2–10%) |
| International Fees | N/A | 1.65% extra |
| Total Typical Fee | ~11–12% | ~13.25–15% |
| Best Use Case | Auctions, collectibles | All categories, global reach |
✅ Key Takeaway: Whatnot has lower and simpler fees, but eBay offers more scalability and reach.
Real Example: Fee Breakdown on a $100 Sale
Let’s look at a typical $100 transaction on Whatnot with $10 shipping:
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Item + Shipping | $110 |
| Selling Fee (8%) | $8.80 |
| Processing Fee (2.9% + $0.30) | $3.49 |
| Total Fees | $12.29 |
| Net Payout | $97.71 |
If this same item sold on eBay at 13.25%:
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Total Fees: $14.58
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Net Payout: $95.42
Even small differences like $2–3 per sale can add up to hundreds or thousands of dollars annually for high-volume sellers.
How to Minimize the Impact of Fees
While you can’t change Whatnot’s fee rates, you can optimize your strategy to keep more profit.
🧮 1. Price Strategically
Always factor in the 11–12% total fee before listing.
📦 2. Encourage Bundled Orders
Fewer transactions = fewer processing fees. Offer incentives for multiple purchases.
✈️ 3. Optimize Shipping Costs
Lower shipping = lower processing fee (because it’s calculated on the total amount).
🧾 4. Track Expenses for Taxes
Accurate bookkeeping can help reduce your tax liability, preserving more of your earnings.
Automating Fee Calculation and Pricing
Manually tracking marketplace fees across multiple platforms quickly becomes a profit-killer for serious sellers.
That’s why many top resellers use Closo to:
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📊 Calculate marketplace fees (eBay, Mercari, Whatnot, Poshmark) in real time.
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🤖 Set pricing rules that automatically account for platform fees.
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🔁 Crosslist inventory while maintaining consistent margins.
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🧠 Identify which platform gives the best net profit per SKU.
Automate this with Closo → — price once, list everywhere, stay profitable.
FAQ
❓ What are Whatnot’s selling fees?
Whatnot charges an 8% selling fee plus a 2.9% + $0.30 processing fee per transaction.
❓ Does Whatnot have listing fees?
No. There are no listing or subscription fees on Whatnot.
❓ How do Whatnot fees compare to eBay?
Whatnot’s fees are typically 2–4% lower than eBay’s. eBay offers more categories and reach.
❓ Does Whatnot charge tax?
Whatnot collects and remits sales tax for applicable states. Sellers are responsible for reporting income taxes.
❓ How can sellers reduce Whatnot fees?
You can’t reduce the base rates, but you can bundle orders, price smarter, and optimize shipping to save.
Cross-Links
🏁 Final Thoughts
Whatnot’s selling and processing fees are among the simplest and most transparent of any major resale platform.
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✨ 8% flat commission + 2.9% + $0.30 is easy to factor into pricing.
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💬 Live selling and no listing fees make it attractive to sellers in categories like collectibles, sneakers, vintage, and TCG.
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📈 The lower fee structure means more profit per sale, especially for high-volume sellers.
However, Whatnot shouldn’t necessarily replace platforms like eBay — it should complement them. Many successful sellers use Whatnot for fast auctions and eBay for steady sales.
With tools like Closo, you can automate pricing, compare net payouts, and build a multi-platform strategy that maximizes revenue while keeping fees under control.
