Whatnot fees explained
| Fee | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | 8% most categories; 5% electronics; 4% coins & money | Item price |
| Payment processing | 2.90% + 0.30 USD | Order total, including shipping and sales tax |
The two fees apply to different amounts. Commission is charged on the item's sale price, while payment processing is charged on everything the buyer pays: the item, the shipping they pay and the sales tax collected. That is why the processing fee grows with shipping and tax even though Whatnot keeps neither.
Whatnot has no listing fees, so an item that doesn't sell costs nothing. Promotions such as reduced commission on high-value orders in selected categories change from time to time and are not applied here.
Worked example
A $100.00 item with $10.00 shipping and $8.00 sales tax, sold by a seller in the United States:
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Commission | $8.00 |
| Payment processing | $3.72 |
| Total fees | $11.72 (10.7% of the item and shipping) |
| You keep | $98.28, before your own costs |
Frequently asked questions
How much does Whatnot take from a sale?
In the US, Whatnot charges a 8% commission on the sale price for most categories, plus 2.9% + $0.30 payment processing on the total order. On a $100 item with $10 shipping and $8 tax that comes to $11.72 in total.
Are Whatnot fees lower for some categories?
Yes. Electronics carry a 5% commission and coins and money 4%, instead of the standard 8%. Pick the category in the calculator.
Does Whatnot charge fees on shipping and tax?
Commission doesn't, but payment processing does: the 2.9% + $0.30 applies to the total the buyer pays, including shipping and sales tax.
Does Whatnot charge listing fees?
No. Whatnot only charges when an item sells, so there is no cost to list items or run a show that doesn't sell.
Sources
Fees are an editorial restatement of Whatnot Help Center: Whatnot seller fees (editorial restatement), checked with Google Search against official Whatnot pages every week and last confirmed 2026-09-29. Marketplaces change fees and run promotions, so the fee shown on your own sales statement is authoritative.