How We Calculate

How the PayoutCalcs tools work, where the fee schedules come from and what the results can and cannot tell you.

Our approach

A calculator is only useful if you can see how it reached its answer. Each PayoutCalcs page explains its method in plain language, names the formulas and published figures behind it and tells you which numbers are defaults you should replace. We use published formulas and public sources, we avoid hidden assumptions and we do not let advertising change a result.

Marketplace fees

Each marketplace calculator adds up that platform’s published charges on your sale price: a commission or final value fee, a payment-processing fee, listing or insertion fees where they apply and optional charges such as advertising. For example, the Etsy page uses a $0.20 listing fee, a 6.5% transaction fee on item price plus shipping and a 3% plus $0.25 payment-processing fee for U.S. sellers using Etsy Payments. The Mercari page uses a 10% selling fee, the Grailed page a 9% commission plus processing and the StockX page a seller-level fee of roughly 9% down to 7% plus a flat 3% processing fee. The Poshmark page applies its flat fee on low-priced items and a percentage above that threshold. The pages then subtract your item cost and shipping to show your net profit.

Amazon

The Amazon calculator estimates the referral fee, which depends on product category and is commonly 8 to 17 percent with 15 percent a typical default; the FBA fulfillment fee, which depends on the size tier; and monthly storage fees per cubic foot, which are higher from October to December. It then shows your estimated profit per unit. For an exact figure for a specific product, use Amazon’s own revenue calculator, since fees depend on exact dimensions and change often.

Payment apps

The PayPal, Venmo and Cash App calculators use each service’s published seller rates. For example, PayPal’s standard goods-and-services rate for U.S. domestic payments is 3.49% plus $0.49, with a separate micropayments rate for small transactions, and Cash App for Business charges a 2.75% selling fee, with an instant-deposit fee of roughly 1.5% compared with a free standard deposit. Cash App’s personal payments remain free, which is different from accepting payment for goods or services.

Payment processors

The Stripe and Square calculators use each company’s published standard U.S. pricing: Stripe’s 2.9% plus $0.30 per successful card charge, with additional charges for international cards and currency conversion, and Square’s 2.6% plus $0.10 for in-person payments and 2.9% plus $0.30 online. Larger sellers can negotiate custom pricing, so a high-volume account may pay less. The credit-card processing calculator applies a percentage and a per-transaction fee that you enter.

Quizzes

The three quizzes ask a few questions about what you sell, how you take payment or how often you sell, and match you to a platform or processor using fixed rules. Each result links to the relevant fee calculator so you can check the numbers. They are a starting point, not a recommendation to use any company.

Limits

A fee calculator can only be as current as the schedule it uses. Platforms change fees, add promotions and treat sellers differently by level, region and volume. Check your seller dashboard or the platform’s fee page for the rate that applies to your account.