Etsy fees on a $25 sale (US example)
Suppose you sell a $25 item, charge $6 shipping, your label costs $5.40, materials are $12, and you include one $0.20 listing fee. Order total = $31.00.
- Transaction fee 6.5% × $31 = $2.02
- Processing 3% × $31 + $0.25 = $1.18
- Listing = $0.20
- Total platform fees ≈ $3.40
- Net ≈ 31 − 3.40 − 12 − 5.40 = $10.21 (≈ 32.9% margin on order total)
Cheap items feel the flat fees hardest: the $0.20 listing and $0.25 processing minimums take a bigger bite at $25 than at $50. Compare with Etsy fees on a $50 sale and Etsy fees on a $100 sale to see the pattern.
Assumptions dated for PlainCalc US defaults; confirm on Etsy's fee policy before pricing inventory.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Etsy take from a $25 sale?
About $3.40 in platform fees on a $31 order total ($25 item + $6 shipping): $2.02 transaction, $1.18 processing, $0.20 listing — before your material and shipping costs.
Why is the margin lower on cheap items?
Flat fees ($0.20 listing, $0.25 processing) don't scale down with price, so they eat a larger share of small orders.
How can I improve margin on a $25 item?
Raise the price, cut material/shipping costs, or bundle items so the flat fees spread across a bigger order total.