Shipping
International Shipping Estimator
Enter the selling price, your product cost, the international shipping quote, packaging, any duty you pay as the seller and the marketplace international surcharge. The calculator shows total fulfillment cost and the profit left.
International sales carry costs domestic sales do not: a much higher shipping quote, possible duties and a marketplace surcharge on cross-border sales. Together they can turn a healthy domestic margin into a thin one, which is why the estimate is worth doing before accepting an overseas order.
Formula
Total fulfillment cost = product cost + international shipping + packaging + (price × duty %) + (price × international surcharge %). Profit = selling price − total fulfillment cost.
How it works
Start from the shipping quote for the buyer's country — never guess it, because international rates vary sharply by destination and weight. Add packaging, any duty you agree to pay as the seller, and the marketplace's international surcharge on the sale. What is left of the price is your profit.
Worked example
Selling price $60.00, product cost $20.00, international shipping quote $28.50, packaging $2.00, seller-paid duty 5% and international surcharge 1.5%. Duty: $60.00 × 5% = $3.00. Surcharge: $60.00 × 1.5% = $0.90. Total cost: $20.00 + $28.50 + $2.00 + $3.00 + $0.90 = $54.40. Profit: $60.00 − $54.40 = $5.60, a 9.33% margin — far thinner than the same item sold at home.
FAQs
Who normally pays customs duty — buyer or seller?
It depends on the shipping terms and the marketplace. Often the buyer pays duty on delivery, but if you offer delivered-duties-paid shipping or the marketplace collects it, it lands on you. Enter the duty percentage only if you, the seller, pay it.
Why is the shipping quote an input instead of a published rate?
International rates depend on destination country, weight, size, service and your account discounts, and they change often. A published table would mislead; your carrier's quote for that parcel is the only reliable figure.
What is the marketplace international surcharge?
Several marketplaces add a percentage surcharge on cross-border sales, on top of their normal fee. The 1.5% default here matches the cross-border surcharge in PayPal's published merchant fee schedule; your marketplace may differ, so check it.
Should I charge international buyers more for shipping?
Most sellers do, either with a higher flat international shipping charge or calculated shipping at checkout. Without it, the shipping quote alone can erase the profit, as the worked example shows.
What about returns from overseas buyers?
International return shipping is usually expensive and slow, and return labels may not be available. Decide your international return policy before listing overseas, and keep margin in the price to absorb it.
Stand: October 2026. International shipping rates are quotes you enter, not published rates, because they vary by destination, weight and service. The 1.5% cross-border surcharge default is from PayPal's published merchant fee schedule: PayPal — Merchant and Business Fees. Duty rates vary by product and destination country; enter the rate that applies to your item.
Disclaimer: Results are estimates and general information only, not tax or financial advice. Your actual fees, shipping costs and profit depend on your marketplace account, category, shipping service and buyer location. Check the figures that apply to you before pricing a listing.
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