~15 min read
Quick Answer:
Whatnot charges sellers a total sales percentage of about 11% per transaction, consisting of an 8% commission fee and a 2.9% + $0.30 payment processing fee. This amount is automatically deducted from each sale before payout.
Introduction — Understanding Whatnot’s Seller Fees
If you’re new to Whatnot, the popular live-shopping platform for collectibles, clothing, and resale items, one of your first questions will likely be: How much does Whatnot take from my sales?
Understanding Whatnot’s sales percentage is critical for calculating profit margins, pricing items effectively, and planning how you’ll handle shipping, taxes, and crosslisting.
This guide breaks down Whatnot’s full fee structure, compares it to platforms like Etsy, and explores how automation software (like Closo) can help sellers manage listings efficiently across marketplaces.
1. What Is the Whatnot Sales Percentage?
Whatnot’s sales percentage includes two main parts:
| Fee Type | Rate | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Commission Fee | 8% | Charged on every item sold |
| Payment Processing Fee | 2.9% + $0.30 | Stripe’s processing cost |
| Total Deduction | ~11% | Combined deduction per sale |
For example:
If you sell an item for $100, Whatnot takes:
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$8.00 (commission)
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$3.20 (processing fee)
→ You receive $88.80
These deductions happen automatically — no manual invoices or hidden costs.
2. What Does the Whatnot TOS Say About Fees?
The official Whatnot Terms of Service (TOS) outlines its seller fee model under “Marketplace Fees & Payment Terms.” The platform emphasizes:
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Sellers agree to pay the service fee on each completed sale.
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All charges are deducted automatically from the payout.
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Fees are non-refundable, even if buyers later cancel.
Additionally, the TOS warns that failure to ship on time or comply with buyer protection rules can lead to temporary payout holds or suspension.
3. How Whatnot Fees Compare to Etsy, eBay, and Poshmark
| Platform | Listing Fee | Commission | Payment Fee | Avg. Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whatnot | Free | 8% | 2.9% + $0.30 | ~11% |
| Etsy | $0.20 | 6.5% | 3% + $0.25 | ~10% |
| eBay | Free | 10–12.9% | Included | ~12% |
| Poshmark | Free | 20% | Included | 20% |
So while Whatnot’s total percentage sits slightly above Etsy’s, it’s far lower than Poshmark’s and comparable to eBay’s — especially considering Whatnot’s built-in livestream exposure and marketing.
4. How to Calculate Your Profit After Fees
To calculate your profit, subtract Whatnot’s 11% fee plus shipping and cost of goods sold (COGS):
Example:
Sale Price: $75
Fees: $8.55 (11%)
Shipping: $6.00
COGS: $25.00
Profit = $75 - $8.55 - $6.00 - $25 = $35.45
Use this formula when setting prices — or automate it through your Closo dashboard to update prices across Etsy, Whatnot, and eBay automatically.
5. Payout Timing: When You Get Paid
After completing a sale and shipping the order, Whatnot issues payments once tracking updates to “In Transit.”
| Seller Tier | Payout Speed | Payment Method |
|---|---|---|
| New Seller | 5–7 days | Stripe |
| Verified Seller | 2–3 days | Bank deposit |
| Instant Pay | <24 hours | Stripe Instant |
Payouts are deposited automatically to your connected bank or Stripe account.
6. Shipping, Returns, and Fee Refunds
Shipping
Buyers typically pay shipping, but sellers are responsible for packing and dispatching items within 2 business days.
Refunds
If a buyer cancels or returns an order, the seller may lose the original processing fee, as Stripe doesn’t refund transaction costs.
Pro Tip: Always confirm shipping labels and product details before finalizing.
7. Advanced Tip — Build Profit Margins Around Whatnot’s Sales Percentage
Since the platform’s total fee is predictable, successful sellers usually:
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Price items 15% higher than cost + shipping.
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Batch similar products to reduce listing time.
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Host regular live shows for repeat buyers.
You can manage this efficiently with automation tools that track fees and margins dynamically.
8. Integrating Whatnot with Etsy — Multi-Platform Automation
If you’re also selling on Etsy, you can improve efficiency by syncing your listings across both platforms.
Common Etsy Tools:
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Etsy Bulk Listing Tool: Allows uploading multiple items simultaneously.
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Etsy Listing Automation: Automatically renews expired listings.
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Etsy Listing Software: Helps manage pricing, SEO, and cross-platform sync.
How Closo Fits In:
Closo connects Whatnot and Etsy, letting you:
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Crosslist products automatically.
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Adjust pricing based on each platform’s sales percentage.
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Sync sold items to avoid double-selling.
9. Case Study — Managing Whatnot Fees and Etsy Listings
Seller: Maria, California
Platforms: Whatnot + Etsy + eBay
Challenge: Keeping track of varying fees and manually updating prices.
Solution: Integrated Closo for real-time margin tracking and bulk Etsy listing automation.
Results:
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Saved ~8 hours weekly on listings.
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Increased sales 35% by crossposting Whatnot items to Etsy.
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Maintained 50% gross margin despite Whatnot’s 11% sales percentage.
“Closo turned Whatnot from a side hustle into a full-time resale operation.”
Cross-Link Resources
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Upward Link (Hub): Closo Seller Hub →
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Sideways Links:
FAQ (People Also Ask)
1. What percentage does Whatnot take from sellers?
Whatnot takes around 11% total (8% commission + 2.9% + $0.30 processing).
2. Does Whatnot charge to list items?
No — listing items or hosting live shows is free.
3. What does the Whatnot TOS say about fees?
All service fees are automatically deducted from the payout and are non-refundable.
4. Can I use Etsy and Whatnot together?
Yes, many sellers crosslist their inventory using automation tools like Closo.
5. How do I maximize profit despite fees?
Factor the 11% deduction into your prices and use automation to optimize listings across multiple marketplaces.
Automate this with Closo →
Schema Setup
FAQ Page Schema: Include FAQ entries above.
Breadcrumb Schema: Home → Blog → Whatnot Sales Percentage (2025 Guide).
How To Schema:
1️⃣ Create a Whatnot seller account.
2️⃣ List or auction your products.
3️⃣ Sell items and ship within 48 hours.
4️⃣ Receive payout minus 11% total fee.
5️⃣ Sync with Etsy via Closo for automation.
Final Takeaway
The Whatnot sales percentage is simple and transparent — around 11% total, including commission and processing. While it may seem higher than Etsy’s base rates, it comes with unmatched engagement through live selling.
To maximize your profits, consider combining Whatnot’s live auctions with Etsy’s static marketplace — automated and optimized via Closo.
With Closo, you can handle both platforms seamlessly: bulk-list products, adjust for sales percentages, and synchronize inventory automatically.
