TikTok Shop vs Mercari — which takes less?
| TikTok Shop | Mercari | |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 6% referral fee (most categories), payment processing included | 10% selling fee on item + shipping |
| $100 → fees | $16.00 | $10.00 |
| $100 → net | $84.00 | $90.00 |
Side-by-side quick reference
| Amount | TikTok Shop fees | TikTok Shop net | Mercari fees | Mercari net | Difference | TikTok Shop charge→net | Mercari charge→net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $1.60 | $8.40 | $1.00 | $9.00 | mercari +$0.60 | $11.91 | $11.12 |
| $25.00 | $4.00 | $21.00 | $2.50 | $22.50 | mercari +$1.50 | $29.77 | $27.78 |
| $50.00 | $8.00 | $42.00 | $5.00 | $45.00 | mercari +$3.00 | $59.53 | $55.56 |
| $100.00 | $16.00 | $84.00 | $10.00 | $90.00 | mercari +$6.00 | $119.05 | $111.12 |
| $250.00 | $40.00 | $210.00 | $25.00 | $225.00 | mercari +$15.00 | $297.62 | $277.78 |
| $500.00 | $80.00 | $420.00 | $50.00 | $450.00 | mercari +$30.00 | $595.24 | $555.56 |
| $1,000.00 | $160.00 | $840.00 | $100.00 | $900.00 | mercari +$60.00 | $1,190.48 | $1,111.12 |
TikTok Shop formula
6% referral fee (most categories), payment processing included
6% referral fee (most categories), payment processing included — verified 2026-11-10
Mercari formula
10% selling fee on item + shipping
10% selling fee on item + shipping — verified 2026-11-10
TikTok Shop fee formula & hidden costs
6% referral fee (most categories), payment processing included
Worked example: $100.00 gross → $16.00 fees → $84.00 net. Reverse gross-up: charge = (target + fixed) / (1 − rate) → to net $100.00 charge $119.05.
Hidden fees to watch
- Creator affiliate commissions (5-30%) are paid by the seller on top of the 6% referral fee.
- FBT fulfillment adds a per-order pick/pack and shipping-subsidy cost that scales with weight.
- Co-funded shipping discounts and voucher programs can quietly reduce your net payout.
- TikTok may deduct refund/shipping adjustments from your settlement on returns.
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: TikTok Shop or Mercari?
TikTok Shop takes $16.00 (net $84.00); Mercari takes $10.00 (net $90.00). Mercari wins by $6.00 at $100.
Which is better for international sellers, TikTok Shop or Mercari?
TikTok Shop: 6% referral fee (most categories), payment processing included. 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 TikTok Shop and Mercari?
At $100, TikTok Shop takes 16.0% vs Mercari at 10.0% — a 6.0 point gap before modifiers.