Sellers usually ask “what is the fee %?” The better question is: after every line item the platform takes, what is left to cover product, shipping you pay, and profit?
This guide uses simplified US-style 2026 models. Your category and country will differ — treat the numbers as a structure, then run your exact case in the free calculators.
One scenario, six channels
Assume a $40 item, no shipping charged to the buyer in this simplified pass, and ignore product cost for a moment so you can see platform drag alone.
| Platform | Simplified fee stack | Rough fees on $40 | Left before COGS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etsy | Listing allocation + 6.5% + ~3% + $0.25 processing | ~$4.50–5.00 | ~$35 |
| Amazon (referral only) | ~15% referral (category varies) | ~$6.00 | ~$34 |
| Amazon + FBA | 15% + fulfillment (size/weight) | Often $10+ | Often under $30 |
| eBay Managed Payments | ~13% band + fixed (varies) | ~$5.50–6.00 | ~$34 |
| TikTok Shop | Referral often mid-single digits + optional FBT | ~$2–4 base | Higher before ads/FBT |
| Poshmark | $2.95 under $15, else 20% | $8.00 at $40 | $32 |
| Shopify | Card ~2.9%+$0.30 + plan cost per order | Low per order if volume is high | Depends on plan + apps |
Those “left before COGS” numbers are not profit. Subtract product cost, shipping you pay, returns, and ads. That is why a 15% referral can hurt less than 20% all-in on a low-priced item — or more once FBA is added.
Worked example: $40 sale, $12 product cost
Etsy-style stack (~$4.80 fees) → about $23 contribution before your time and ads.
Poshmark 20% ($8) → about $20.
Amazon 15% + $5 FBA ($11 fees) → about $17.
Same sticker price. Different businesses. Run the same inputs in the comparator to rank channels for your SKU.
What people usually miss
- Fixed fees destroy margin on cheap items (listing fees, per-order processing minimums).
- Fulfillment is often larger than referral on small/light goods once you use FBA/FBT.
- Ads (Offsite Ads, promoted listings) sit on top of base fees — model them as optional, not “the platform fee.”
- Shopify’s plan only looks cheap per order if you have volume; at 10 orders/month the subscription is a big slice.
How to use this without guessing
- Pick your real price and COGS.
- Open the Fee Comparator and rank channels.
- Open the winning platform’s calculator for a full line-item view.
- If you sell outside the US, read the region fee guide and replace percentages with local seller-center figures.