Amazon vs Mercari — which takes less?
| Amazon | Mercari | |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 8-17% referral fee by category ($0.30 min) + FBA fulfillment tiers | 10% selling fee on item + shipping |
| $100 → fees | $15.00 | $10.00 |
| $100 → net | $85.00 | $90.00 |
Side-by-side quick reference
| Amount | Amazon fees | Amazon net | Mercari fees | Mercari net | Difference | Amazon charge→net | Mercari charge→net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $1.50 | $8.50 | $1.00 | $9.00 | mercari +$0.50 | $11.77 | $11.12 |
| $25.00 | $3.75 | $21.25 | $2.50 | $22.50 | mercari +$1.25 | $29.42 | $27.78 |
| $50.00 | $7.50 | $42.50 | $5.00 | $45.00 | mercari +$2.50 | $58.83 | $55.56 |
| $100.00 | $15.00 | $85.00 | $10.00 | $90.00 | mercari +$5.00 | $117.65 | $111.12 |
| $250.00 | $37.50 | $212.50 | $25.00 | $225.00 | mercari +$12.50 | $294.12 | $277.78 |
| $500.00 | $75.00 | $425.00 | $50.00 | $450.00 | mercari +$25.00 | $588.24 | $555.56 |
| $1,000.00 | $150.00 | $850.00 | $100.00 | $900.00 | mercari +$50.00 | $1,176.48 | $1,111.12 |
Amazon formula
8-17% referral fee by category ($0.30 min) + FBA fulfillment tiers
8-17% referral fee by category ($0.30 min) + FBA fulfillment tiers — verified 2026-11-10
Mercari formula
10% selling fee on item + shipping
10% selling fee on item + shipping — verified 2026-11-10
Amazon fee formula & hidden costs
8-17% referral fee by category ($0.30 min) + FBA fulfillment tiers
Worked example: $100.00 gross → $15.00 fees → $85.00 net. Reverse gross-up: charge = (target + fixed) / (1 − rate) → to net $100.00 charge $117.65.
Hidden fees to watch
- The $0.30 minimum referral fee makes sub-$2 items effectively fee-locked.
- FBA adds fulfillment, monthly storage, aged-inventory and removal fees beyond referral.
- Media categories add a $1.80 closing fee per item.
- Refunds trigger a refund administration fee (~20% of the referral, capped).
- Low-price jewelry and beauty fee breaks flip at $250 and $10 thresholds.
Mercari fee formula & hidden costs
10% selling fee on item + shipping
Worked example: $100.00 gross → $10.00 fees → $90.00 net. Reverse gross-up: charge = (target + fixed) / (1 − rate) → to net $100.00 charge $111.12.
Hidden fees to watch
- The 10% fee applies to item price + shipping charged to the buyer.
- Instant Pay costs $3 per payout; direct deposit under $10 costs $2.
- Mercari may charge a $2 cancellation fee and deducted-label costs on voided shipments.
- Promoting works via price drops, which quietly cuts your margin.
Frequently asked questions
Which takes less on a $100 sale: Amazon or Mercari?
Amazon takes $15.00 (net $85.00); Mercari takes $10.00 (net $90.00). Mercari wins by $5.00 at $100.
Which is better for international sellers, Amazon or Mercari?
Amazon: 8-17% referral fee by category ($0.30 min) + FBA fulfillment tiers. Mercari: 10% selling fee on item + shipping. Check the regional variants above — rates change materially by country.
What is the effective take rate difference between Amazon and Mercari?
At $100, Amazon takes 15.0% vs Mercari at 10.0% — a 5.0 point gap before modifiers.