Whatnot
Whatnot Profit Calculator
Price a Whatnot sale properly: commission on the item price, processing on the full order total, and what is left after your item cost.
Profit is the full order total minus both Whatnot fees, minus the shipping amount that passes to the carrier, minus your item cost. The key split: commission touches only the item price, while processing touches everything the buyer paid — so buyer-paid shipping raises the processing fee even though it never reaches your pocket.
Formula
Commission = item price × commission rate. Payment processing = 2.9% × (item price + buyer-paid shipping) + $0.30 per order. Profit = order total − commission − processing − shipping passed to carrier − item cost. (Buyer-paid sales tax, where it applies, is also in the processing base — this calculator excludes tax, so treat the processing figure as a minimum.)
How it works
Enter the hammer price, any buyer-paid shipping, your item cost and your commission tier. The standard tier starts at 8% and falls as four-week sales grow; Coins & Money starts lower. Your exact tier lives in Seller Hub — if yours differs, the rate list here is a starting point, not your contract.
Worked example
Item $50.00 plus $6.00 buyer-paid shipping = $56.00 order total. Commission at 8% of the item price = $4.00. Processing = 2.9% of $56.00 ($1.62) plus $0.30 = $1.92. Total fees = $5.92. After the $6.00 shipping pass-through and $20.00 item cost, profit = $56.00 − $5.92 − $6.00 − $20.00 = $24.08.
FAQs
Why are there two Whatnot fees?
Commission is Whatnot's share of the sale; payment processing covers the cost of taking the buyer's payment. They have different bases, so they cannot be merged into one honest percentage.
Does commission apply to shipping or tax?
No — commission applies to the item price only. Processing is the fee that reaches shipping and tax, which is why the order total matters.
What commission tier am I on?
Commission starts at 8% for most categories and drops as your sales across a four-week period grow, with category differences. Check your current tier in Seller Hub before pricing a show.
Do I pay commission on the part of a price above $1,500?
In eligible categories, the portion of an item's price above $1,500 has carried a 0% commission promotion. Confirm whether that promotion is still live before modelling a high-value sale.
Is the $0.30 charged per item or per order?
Per transaction — each buyer checkout. A buyer winning several items in separate checkouts generates a $0.30 charge each time, which adds up across a show.
Stand: October 2026. Source: Whatnot seller fees (https://www.whatnot.com/seller/fees): commission starting at 8% (as low as 3% at high volume) on the item price, payment processing 2.9% of order total + $0.30. Confirm your tier and category rate in Seller Hub before a show.
Disclaimer: Results are estimates and general information only, not tax or financial advice. Platform fees change — always confirm the current fee in your seller account before you price an item.
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