About 8; min
Etsy charges $0.20 per listing + 6.5% transaction fee + 3% payment processing + 15% offsite ads fee (if you opt in or earn over $10K). On a $30 sale, that’s $3.36 in fees — 11.2% of the sale price. We calculated every Etsy fee, compared it to selling on Shopify, and found the revenue level where running your own store saves money.
All fees verified March 2026 from etsy.com.
Every Etsy Fee
| Fee type | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Listing fee | $0.20 per item | Every listing, renews every 4 months |
| Transaction fee | 6.5% of sale price + shipping | Every sale |
| Payment processing | 3% + $0.25 | Every sale (Etsy Payments) |
| Offsite ads | 15% (under $10K/yr) or 12% (over $10K) | When Etsy’s ads generate the sale |
| Etsy Plus | $10/mo (optional) | Extra shop customization |
| Pattern (website) | $15/mo (optional) | Custom Etsy-powered website |
Real Fee Calculation
$3.53 in fees = 10.1% effective rate
Listing: $0.20
Transaction: 6.5% of $35 (price + shipping) = $2.28
Payment processing: 3% of $35 + $0.25 = $1.30
Total: $3.78 per sale = 10.8% of $35
If offsite ads generated the sale: add 15% of $35 = $5.25 more = $9.03 total (25.8%!)
The Offsite Ads Problem
Etsy runs ads for your products on Google, Facebook, and Instagram. If a customer clicks one of those ads and buys within 30 days, Etsy charges you 15% of the sale (12% if you earn over $10K/year).
The catch: If you earn over $10,000/year on Etsy, you cannot opt out of offsite ads. The 12% fee is mandatory. On a $30 product, that’s $3.60 on top of the existing $3.78 in fees — potentially 25% of your sale gone to Etsy.
Sellers under $10K/year can opt out. Over $10K, you pay whether you want the ads or not.
Etsy vs Shopify: Fee Comparison
| Etsy | Shopify Basic | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 (or $10 Plus) | $39/mo |
| Per-sale fees | ~10-11% | ~3.2% (Shopify Payments) |
| On $30 sale | $3.78 | $1.17 |
| Monthly (100 sales) | $378 | $39 + $117 = $156 |
| Traffic | Built-in marketplace | You drive it |
| Brand control | Minimal | Full |
At 100 sales/month, Shopify saves $222/month over Etsy in fees — $2,664/year. But you need to drive your own traffic to Shopify, which costs money in ads.
The Breakeven: When to Leave Etsy
- Under 50 sales/month: Stay on Etsy. The built-in traffic is worth the higher fees.
- 50-100 sales/month: Start a Shopify store alongside Etsy. Test driving your own traffic.
- 100+ sales/month: Shopify saves $200+/month in fees. If you can drive traffic through social media, SEO, or email, shift sales to your own store.
- Over $10K/year: The mandatory 12-15% offsite ads fee makes Etsy significantly more expensive. Diversify urgently.
Who Should Pick What
Starting out, no audience: Etsy. Built-in marketplace with millions of buyers. Pay the fees to get discovered.
100+ sales/month: Add Shopify ($39/mo). Lower fees save $200+/month. Keep Etsy for discovery, shift repeat customers to Shopify.
Handmade/vintage niche: Etsy. The marketplace attracts buyers specifically looking for handmade and unique products. Shopify requires building that audience from scratch.
Want brand control: Shopify. Your domain, your design, your customer data. Etsy owns the customer relationship.
Over $10K/year and hate offsite ads: Diversify to Shopify immediately. The mandatory 12-15% fee makes every Etsy sale significantly less profitable.
Best strategy: Start on Etsy → build Shopify alongside → shift profitable products to Shopify → keep Etsy for discovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Etsy take per sale?
Approximately 10-11% (listing + transaction + payment processing). With offsite ads, it can reach 25%. On a $30 item, expect $3.50-4.00 in standard fees.
Can I avoid Etsy’s offsite ads fee?
If you earn under $10,000/year on Etsy: yes, opt out in settings. Over $10K: no, it’s mandatory at 12% for ads-generated sales.
All fees verified March 2026 from etsy.com/legal/fees.
