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This popular platform helps creators and makers make sales, but Etsy fees can take a serious chunk of the bottom line.
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Etsy fees keep rising, and many sellers wonder whether the platform is still worth it. While Etsy remains a popular place to sell art and handmade goods, it’s not your only option.
Below, we break down the nine types of Etsy fees, provide clear fee calculation examples, and share more affordable alternatives if you’re thinking about moving customers to other platforms.
Table of Contents
Etsy charges several fees for each sale, including listing fees, transaction fees, payment processing, and — depending on how you sell — currency conversion and advertising fees.
All sellers should understand that Etsy’s transaction fee applies not only to the item price but also to shipping and gift wrap charges.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what to expect:
| Fee Type | Amount | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Listing Fee | $0.20 per listing | Charged when an item is first listed or renewed (applies to single or multiple quantities) |
| Transaction Fee | 6.5% | Taken from the total order amount (item price + shipping + gift wrap) |
| Payment Processing Fee | 3% + $0.25 (U.S.) | Applies to each transaction when using Etsy Payments; rates vary by country |
| Currency Conversion Fee | 2.5% | Applies when your listing currency and payout account currency differ |
| Etsy Ads (On-site) | You choose the budget | Optional paid advertising inside Etsy’s marketplace |
| Offsite Ads Fee | 12% – 15% | Charged only if an order is attributed to an Etsy-placed offsite ad click |
| In-Person Selling Fees | Varies | If you use Etsy to process payments at markets or events |
| Subscription Fees | Optional | Etsy Plus ($10/month) or Pattern website (≈$15/month, varies by region) |
These are the major Etsy fees sellers should understand. Some apply per listing or per sale, others apply only if you use optional Etsy services.
Whether Etsy is worth it depends on your profit margins and how much value you place on Etsy’s built-in customer base. These two examples show how fees impact low- and high-volume sellers differently.
A bracelet costs $5 to make, sells for $10, plus $5 shipping.
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cost of production | $5.00 |
| 6.5% fee on item | $0.33 |
| 6.5% fee on shipping | $0.33 |
| Payment processing (3% + $0.25) | $0.70 |
| Listing fee | $0.20 |
| Total expenses | $6.56 |
Profit: $3.44
With such a small margin, Etsy’s fees take a noticeable bite. You’d likely need to raise prices or reduce costs to make Etsy worthwhile.
A custom table costs $150 to make, sells for $449 with free shipping (your shipping cost is $50). Your shop earns over $10K/year, so offsite ads are 12%.
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cost of production | $150.00 |
| 6.5% transaction fee | $29.19 |
| Shipping cost | $50.00 |
| Payment processing (3% + $0.25) | $13.72 |
| Listing fee | $0.20 |
| 12% offsite ad fee | $53.88 |
| Total expenses | $296.99 |
Profit: $152.01
Although the profit is higher, Etsy’s fees still cut heavily into revenue, especially if ads trigger the sale. For higher-ticket items, selling through your own online store may provide better margins.
If Etsy’s fees are too complicated or expensive, our experts recommend trying Square. You can sell in person, online, and through your own social posts.
To stay profitable on Etsy, you need to actively manage costs. Here are simple ways to reduce or offset fees:
If you want to avoid Etsy fees altogether, consider selling on your own website or pairing Etsy with a second platform — using Etsy for discovery, then encouraging repeat buyers to shop directly through your store where your margins are higher.
If you want to avoid Etsy’s listing fees, rising transaction fees, or constant repricing, here are some strong alternatives to consider.
Selling on Etsy could be worth it if you get a lot of exposure and sales on the marketplace. You also have the option to list items on Etsy for exposure but redirect people toward a different online sales platform. Crunch the numbers, do the research, and then determine if Etsy is right for you.
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