Want your own numbers? The Etsy calculator shows every fee and your profit as you type.

Open the Etsy US fee calculator

Shipping on Etsy is not just a logistics question. Etsy charges its fees on the shipping you collect, and US search tends to favour listings with free shipping on orders over $35. Here is how to set it up without losing money. Try different shipping charges in the Etsy fee calculator.

Fees apply to shipping

The 6.5% transaction fee and the 3% payment processing fee both apply to whatever you charge for shipping. If you charge $5, about $0.48 of it goes to Etsy.

What different shipping charges do

A $30 item with a $5 label: what different shipping charges do. Calculated with the default rates in our calculators.
Shipping chargedBuyer paysEtsy feesProfit
$0.00$30.00$3.30$21.70
$3.00$33.00$3.59$24.42
$5.00$35.00$3.78$26.23
$8.00$38.00$4.06$28.94
$12.00$42.00$4.44$32.56

Charging exactly your label cost still loses a little to fees. To break even on shipping itself you need to charge roughly 10% more than the label.

Free shipping

Offering free shipping means building postage into the item price. Because fees apply to both, the total fee is almost identical either way. The difference is how buyers perceive the price, and where Etsy shows the listing.

Etsy lets shops set a free shipping guarantee for US orders of $35 or more. Listings that meet it can get a boost in US search.

Calculated vs fixed shipping

  • Calculated shipping charges buyers based on their location and the package weight. It is accurate but can scare off distant buyers.
  • Fixed shipping is simpler to understand. Price it at your average label cost plus a little for packaging.

Watch the extra costs

Packaging, tape, tissue and thank-you cards add up. Enter them under other costs. For the complete fee picture see Etsy fees explained, and to set the item price itself read how to price Etsy products.

Frequently asked questions

Does Etsy take a fee on shipping?

Yes. The 6.5% transaction fee and 3% processing fee both apply to shipping charged to the buyer.

Is free shipping better on Etsy?

It often helps visibility for US buyers, and fees are about the same either way, so many shops build postage into the price.

Run your next sale through the calculator before you commit.

Open the Etsy US fee calculator