If you're selling on Etsy—or thinking about starting—one of the first questions you'll face is how much does Etsy take from a sale. Understanding Etsy's fees is essential for pricing your products correctly, protecting your profit margins, and building a sustainable shop.
This guide breaks down every major Etsy fee in clear, practical terms, complete with real Print-on-Demand examples and actionable tips to help you keep more of your revenue.
How Much Does Etsy Take From a Sale?
1. Listing Fees: A Small Start
Every time you list an item on Etsy, you pay $0.20 USD per listing. This fee is charged whether your item sells or not.
If you have multiple variations of a product, you'll pay $0.20 for each item sold. Think of this as the price for putting your product in front of buyers—it's small, but it adds up if you list a lot.
2. Transaction Fees: Etsy's Share of the Sale
Etsy takes 6.5% of the total order amount when you make a sale. This includes your item price, shipping, and gift wrap if you charge it.
For example, selling a $20 item with $5 shipping means Etsy takes 6.5% of $25, about $1.63. Knowing this helps you price smartly so your profits aren't surprised.
3. Payment Processing Fees: Getting Paid Safely
In addition to the transaction fee, Etsy charges payment processing fees. These fees vary by country and usually include a fixed amount plus a small percentage of the total sale.
This fee covers processing credit cards, PayPal, Etsy Gift Cards, and other payment methods. It's what allows your money to safely reach your bank account.
4. Auto-Renew and Multi-Quantity Listings: Hidden Extras
If you set your listings to auto-renew after a sale, Etsy charges another $0.20 for each renewed listing.
Multi-quantity listings also trigger extra listing fees whenever a customer buys more than one item. Keeping track of this helps you avoid surprises when you have popular items that sell fast.
5. Advertising Fees: Optional but Powerful
Etsy Ads and Offsite Ads are optional, but if you use them, fees apply. Etsy Ads let you set a daily budget, while Offsite Ads only charge if your listing actually sells from the ad.
For shops with smaller budgets, monitoring these fees carefully can make a big difference in your profits.
6. Subscription and Pattern Fees: Extra Tools Come With a Cost
If you subscribe to Etsy Plus ($10/month) or use Etsy Pattern to create a custom website ($15/month after trial), these fees are automatically deducted from your account.
Subscriptions give you credits for listings, advertising, and discounts on domains—but they still cost money. Consider whether these tools help boost sales enough to cover the fees.
Examples of Print on Demand Etsy Fees
- Setting the Sale Price
Suppose the seller lists the iPhone 17 case for $15. The cost from PrintKK is $1.39. This means the seller's potential profit before Etsy fees is $13.61.
- Listing Fee: Small But Upfront
Etsy charges a $0.20 listing fee for every item. Subtracting that from $15 leaves $14.80. Even though it seems small, it's an upfront cost that slightly cuts into the profit.
- Transaction Fee: Etsy's Share of the Sale
Next, Etsy takes 6.5% of the total order amount, including the item price and any shipping charged. For this $15 case, that's about $0.98, leaving $13.82.
- Payment Processing Fee: Getting Paid Safely
Payment processing fees in the US are typically 3% + $0.25 per transaction, which comes to around $0.70 for this sale. After this, the seller keeps $13.12 before paying PrintKK.
- Net Profit: After Paying PrintKK
Subtract the PrintKK cost of $1.39. The seller's profit from one iPhone 17 case is about $11.73. This simple example shows that Etsy fees take a small portion, but your pricing still has a big impact on your final earnings.
- Optional Extras: Auto-Renew and Ads
If the seller uses Etsy's auto-renew feature, another $0.20 fee is charged per renewal. If they run Etsy Ads, extra costs apply per click or sale. Both can reduce profit, so sellers should track them carefully to stay profitable.
Custom iPhone 17 Pro Max TPU Black Phone Case - Print-On-Demand - PrintKK
How Much Do Etsy Ads Cost? Are They Worth It?
Understanding Onsite Ads
Etsy offers two main types of advertising: Onsite Ads and Offsite Ads.
Understanding the difference can help you decide which option fits your shop and budget best.
Onsite Ads run directly on Etsy. You pay every time someone clicks on your ad, usually between $0.20 and $0.50 per click. You can set a daily budget and control your bids. For example:
- If you spend $10 a day and the average cost per click is $0.30, you might get about 33 clicks.
- If even a few of those clicks turn into sales, your ads could pay for themselves.
This type of ad is best if you have enough budget and want to actively drive traffic to your listings.
But keep in mind, ads work better on items that are already selling and priced reasonably—usually $10 or more per item. Big-ticket or bundled products often perform the best.
How Offsite Ads Work
Offsite Ads are different. Etsy promotes your listings on platforms like Google, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
You only pay when someone clicks the ad and buys something, so if the clicks don't lead to sales, you pay nothing. The fees depend on your shop's total revenue from the past 12 months:
- Under $10,000: 15% of the sale price per order from offsite ads
- $10,000 or more: 12% per order
- Maximum fee per order: $100
There's also a 30-day tracking window. If a customer clicks your offsite ad and buys within 30 days, you pay the fee. After 30 days, no fee applies.
Are Etsy Ads Worth It?
So, are Etsy ads worth it? It depends on your shop and strategy:
- Onsite ads can give fast traffic but might cost a lot if your items aren't already selling well.
- Offsite ads are lower-risk, especially for newer shops, because you only pay when a sale happens.
Some sellers see huge returns, while others spend a lot and barely get back their investment.
Many recommend focusing your budget on a few strong items, instead of spreading small amounts across all listings.
For example, advertising 20–25 top items with $1–$4 per day usually works better than $1 across every listing.
In short, Etsy ads can help grow your sales, but only if you pick the right products and manage your budget smartly. Randomly advertising all your items rarely works and can quickly eat into your profits.
Read More:
Tips for Reducing Etsy Fees and Increasing Profits
Price Smartly
Always factor in Etsy fees when setting your price.
For example, if you sell a product for $15, Etsy could take over $1 in fees. Add fees into your price so you don't lose money while staying competitive.
Use Free Shipping Strategically
Offering free shipping attracts buyers, but you can build shipping costs into your item price.
This way, Etsy still calculates transaction fees on the total order, but you won't feel the hit on profit. Many successful sellers use this method to stay appealing while covering costs.
Manage Listings Wisely
Avoid unnecessary auto-renewals or duplicate listings.
If you sell variations or multiple quantities, track which items sell fastest and focus on them to maximize returns.
Optimize Advertising
Etsy Ads and Offsite Ads can boost sales, but they come with extra fees. Start with a small budget and test which listings perform best before spending more.
This way, your ad costs won't eat your profits, and you'll get the most out of every dollar.
Consider Etsy Plus and Bundles
If you sell frequently, Etsy Plus can offer credits and tools that save money in the long run.
Also, bundling products into single listings can reduce transaction fees per item while offering value to buyers. This strategy increases your overall profit per sale.
Read More:
Make More Profit on Etsy With PrintKK
Integrating PrintKK with Etsy is simple. You can select products, upload your own design, or use PrintKK's AI Image Tool to enhance your ideas, then place your order. Even if you're new, the AI tool makes it easy to create professional-looking designs quickly.
Print on Demand DIY Diamond Painting no Frame (5:7) - Home Decor - PrintKK
One big advantage is cost and shipping:
- Products shipped to the US have no seller taxes.
- Many US-made items are shipped with free shipping.
- All products are low-priced but high quality, giving you more profit.
PrintKK's product range is versatile, perfect for buying, gifting, or selling:
Whether you're selling for profit or creating gifts for friends, PrintKK helps you keep costs low and quality high.
Expert Tips
Now you know exactly how much does Etsy take from a sale and the different fees involved. By understanding listing fees, transaction fees, payment processing, and optional ads, you can price your products wisely and protect your profits.
Focus on smart strategies like optimizing prices, choosing high-value items, and managing ads carefully. With attention to these details, you can keep more of what you earn and grow your shop steadily.
Selling on Etsy can be rewarding when you understand the costs and plan accordingly. Take control of your fees, and you'll see your profits improve over time.
FAQs
How much does Etsy take from a $100 sale?
For a $100 sale, Etsy deducts listing, transaction, and payment processing fees. The total usually comes to around $6–$8, depending on your payment method and location, leaving most of the profit in your hands.
How much does Etsy cost as a seller?
Etsy charges several fees, including $0.20 per listing, a 5% transaction fee, and a payment processing fee. Knowing these costs helps you price products accurately and maintain healthy profit margins.
Does Etsy charge a fee on shipping?
Yes, Etsy charges the same transaction and payment fees on shipping costs. It's important to include these fees when setting shipping prices, so your profits aren't unexpectedly reduced.
Are Etsy fees cheaper than eBay?
Etsy fees can be lower or higher than eBay, depending on your products and sales volume. Etsy focuses on handmade and unique items, while eBay fees vary widely for auctions or fixed-price listings.
How do Etsy fees impact your pricing strategy?
Etsy fees directly affect how you set prices. To cover costs and maintain profit, calculate all fees before listing. Adjusting prices ensures you earn what you expect without surprising deductions.
Is selling on Etsy worth it?
Selling on Etsy can be very rewarding if you understand the fees and market. With proper pricing, attention to costs, and quality listings, you can grow your shop and maintain steady profits over time.
Global Shipping
