Mercari Commission & Fees Explained (2025 Guide)

Quick Answer:
Mercari charges sellers a 10% selling fee plus a 2.9% + $0.50 payment processing fee on each completed sale. There are no listing fees, and shipping costs can be paid by either the buyer or seller. Compared to Poshmark and Whatnot, Mercari offers one of the simplest and most transparent fee structures in the resale market.

Why Understanding Mercari Fees Matters

For resellers, every dollar matters. Knowing exactly how much Mercari takes per sale helps you price your items correctly and keep your profit margins healthy.

Whether you’re selling fashion, electronics, collectibles, or home goods, Mercari’s commission and payment fees affect your bottom line. In this guide, we’ll break down:

Mercari’s fee structure
How fees compare to platforms like Poshmark & Whatnot
What costs you might not expect
How to calculate your net profit
Smart ways to minimize or offset fees

Automate this with Closo →

What Are Mercari’s Fees in 2025?

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Mercari uses a two-part fee system:

Fee Type	Rate	Description
Selling Fee	10%	Deducted automatically from the item’s selling price
Payment Processing Fee	2.9% + $0.50	Applied at checkout when the buyer pays
Listing Fee	$0	No listing fee to create an item
Optional Shipping	Varies by weight	Paid by buyer or seller, depending on setup

✅ Simple structure → Unlike eBay or Poshmark, Mercari doesn’t have complex category-based fees.

👉 Example: Sell an item for $50.

Selling fee: $5.00
Processing fee: $1.95 (2.9% of $50 + $0.50)
Total fee: $6.95
Your earnings: $43.05 (before shipping)

How Mercari Compares to Poshmark and Whatnot Fees

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Platform	Selling Fee	Payment Fee	Total Typical Fee	Listing Fee	Shipping
Mercari	10%	2.9% + $0.50	~13%	$0	Buyer/Seller
Poshmark	Flat 20% (or $2.95 < $15)	Included	20%+	$0	Buyer
Whatnot	8%	2.9% + $0.30	~11%	$0	Buyer/Seller

Mercari’s commission is lower than Poshmark’s 20% but slightly higher than Whatnot’s base rate.

💡 For sellers of lower-priced items, this can make a significant difference in profit margins.

Automate your multi-marketplace pricing with Closo →

Mercari Shipping & How It Affects Fees

Mercari gives sellers flexibility with shipping.

📦 Buyer pays shipping → No extra cost to you.
🚚 Seller pays shipping → Deducts from your earnings.

You can choose Mercari’s prepaid shipping labels or your own. Rates depend on the package weight and carrier (USPS, UPS, FedEx).

👉 Example: If shipping costs $6 and you sell for $50, your net after fees would be around $37.

⚠️ Important: Shipping is not included in the commission calculation if paid by the buyer. If the seller pays, it reduces your net earnings.

How to Calculate Mercari Fees Accurately

Here’s a simple formula to calculate your earnings:

Example:

Sale price: $75
10% commission = $7.50
2.9% of $75 = $2.18
- $0.50 = $2.68
Total fees: $10.18
If seller pays $8 shipping → total cost $18.18
Net: $56.82

📊 Pro Tip: Closo’s fee calculator instantly estimates your Mercari + cross-platform fees. Automate this with Closo →

Are There Hidden or Extra Fees on Mercari?

Mercari’s structure is simpler than eBay’s, but there are a few extra costs to keep in mind:

💰 Instant Pay fee: $2 if you want to cash out earnings instantly.
🏦 Bank transfer: Free (1–5 business days).
🚀 Promoted listings: Optional marketing cost if used.
💸 Shipping costs: If you choose to cover shipping.

Unlike some platforms, there are no monthly subscription fees or listing fees.

Tips to Reduce or Offset Mercari Fees

✅ Price your items with fee buffer included.
🚚 Let the buyer pay for shipping when possible.
📈 Use Closo’s AI pricing recommendations to stay competitive.
🪙 Take advantage of Mercari promos (e.g., discounted shipping).
🔁 Crosslist to multiple platforms to maximize sell-through.

Mercari Fees for Different Product Categories

Mercari doesn’t have category-based commission rates, unlike eBay. The same 10% + 2.9% + $0.50 applies to:

👕 Fashion & Apparel
🧢 Sneakers & Streetwear
📱 Electronics
🕹️ Collectibles
🏠 Home & Lifestyle

This makes Mercari an easy platform for beginner sellers who don’t want to calculate different rates.

How Fees Affect Profit Margins

If your average item sells for $30–$50, Mercari fees will typically be $4–$8 per sale, depending on shipping.

For high-volume sellers, this adds up:

Monthly Sales	Average Price	Average Fee	Total Fees
100	$40	$5.70	$570
500	$40	$5.70	$2,850
1000	$40	$5.70	$5,700

⚡ Using pricing automation tools and optimized shipping can recover hundreds in profit monthly.

Mercari vs Other Platforms: Real Profit Example

Platform	Sale Price	Total Fees	Shipping	Net Earnings
Mercari	$60	$8.24	$0	$51.76
Poshmark	$60	$12.00	$0	$48.00
Whatnot	$60	$7.50	$0	$52.50

👉 Result: Mercari beats Poshmark in net profit per sale, especially for mid-range price points.

Mercari Commission for Business Sellers

While most Mercari sellers are individuals, business or power sellers should also note:

No volume discounts on commission.
Tax reporting threshold applies (1099-K for $5,000+ annually).
Optional automation tools can help streamline fee tracking.

Closo integrates with Mercari to automate pricing, listings, and liquidation decisions →

Common Seller Questions About Mercari Fees (FAQ)

Q1: What is Mercari’s commission rate?
A: Mercari charges a 10% selling fee plus 2.9% + $0.50 processing fee on each completed sale.

Q2: Does Mercari have listing fees?
A: No, creating a listing on Mercari is completely free.

Q3: Are there hidden or extra fees?
A: Optional costs include shipping (if paid by seller) and a $2 instant payout fee.

Q4: Who pays for shipping on Mercari?
A: Either the buyer or the seller—your choice when creating the listing.

Q5: How does Mercari compare to Poshmark and Whatnot?
A: Mercari’s total fees are around 13%, lower than Poshmark (20%) and slightly higher than Whatnot (~11%).

Final Thoughts

Mercari offers one of the most transparent commission structures in the resale world. A simple 10% + processing fee, no listing costs, and flexible shipping options make it a great platform for both beginner and experienced sellers.

✅ By understanding how these fees work—and using tools like Closo to automate pricing and crosslisting—you can maximize your profit per sale and scale your resale business faster.

Start automating your resale strategy with Closo.