Ecommerce Fee Calculator
Calculate platform fees and net profit for selling on major ecommerce platforms.
How to use this ecommerce fee calculator
- Enter selling price and product cost (COGS including manufacturing, import duties, and prep costs).
- Select the platform you're selling on — each has a different fee structure.
- Add shipping cost — what you actually pay to ship, minus any shipping you charged the buyer.
- Review net profit and margin to decide if this product is viable at this price on this platform.
- Compare margin across platforms to determine the most profitable channel for your specific product.
Formula
Platform fee = price × fee rate (+ fixed fee). Net profit = price − product cost − shipping − platform fee.
About the Ecommerce Fee Calculator
Platform fees are rarely just one number — they're a stack of charges that compound. A $50 sale on Amazon might incur a $7.50 referral fee, $4.50 FBA fulfillment fee, $1.25 in FBA storage, and $2.00 in PPC cost — that's $15.25 in fees on a $50 sale (30.5%) before you deduct your product cost. If your COGS is $15, your true net is $19.75 on a $50 sale, a 39.5% margin that sounds strong but must also absorb returns and the occasional lost or damaged inventory claim.
Multi-channel selling strategy matters enormously for fee optimization. Many sellers use Amazon for discovery and volume but push repeat customers to their Shopify store for a 10–15% fee saving per subsequent order. Amazon's Terms of Service prohibit inserting marketing material in packages that directs customers away from Amazon, but having a branded website and email capture post-purchase is permitted and standard practice.
Etsy and eBay occupy different niches that affect whether their fees are worth paying. Etsy's audience actively searches for handmade, vintage, and unique items — a seller with the right product can sustain premium pricing that more than covers the 10–13% fee stack. eBay's strength is in used goods, electronics, and collectibles where buyers comparison-shop on price and condition. Shopify makes the most sense for brands with an existing customer base or the budget to build one through paid acquisition — essentially trading marketplace fees for advertising spend, which can be more efficient at scale.
Frequently asked questions
+Does Amazon charge more than 15%?
Amazon's referral fee varies by category: grocery (6%), electronics (8%), clothing (17%), jewelry (20%). The 15% is just the average. Plus, if using FBA, you'll pay fulfillment fees ($3.22–$6+ per unit for standard size) and monthly storage fees ($0.75–$2.40/cubic foot). For small, light items, all-in fees can represent 35–45% of selling price.
+Which ecommerce platform has the lowest fees?
Shopify + Stripe has the lowest transaction fees (2.9% + $0.30) but no built-in audience — you pay for all traffic. Etsy (6.5% + $0.20 + 3% offsite ads) and eBay (13.25%) include marketplace traffic but take more per sale. Amazon's fees are highest but its audience is largest. For established brands with their own customer base, Shopify wins. For new sellers who need marketplace discovery, Amazon or Etsy often wins despite higher fees.
+What profit margin should I target on Amazon?
Aim for 25–30% net margin after all fees including FBA, referral, storage, and PPC advertising. Most successful Amazon sellers target 30%+ net margin to absorb returns (2–5%), seasonal storage surcharges (Q4 rates are 4× higher), and occasional promotional discounts. Below 20% net on Amazon leaves very little cushion.
+How do Etsy fees work?
Etsy charges: $0.20 listing fee per item (renewed every 4 months or per sale), 6.5% transaction fee on price + shipping, 3% + $0.25 payment processing, and optionally 12–15% offsite ads fee on sales from Etsy's external advertising (mandatory if you generate $10K+/year in sales). For a $50 item with $5 shipping, total fees are roughly $5.25–$6.50, or about 10–13% of revenue.
+What is the real cost of selling on eBay?
eBay's final value fee is 13.25% on most categories (3% on vehicles, 15% on some accessories). Plus PayPal/managed payments: ~2.9% + $0.30. Total: roughly 16–17% per transaction. eBay also charges $0.35 per listing after the first 250 free listings/month, and optional promoted listings fees (1–20% of sale price) for top search placement. For high-volume sellers, eBay stores ($4.95–$349.95/month) reduce per-listing costs.