Whatnot Resource · Updated May 2026
Where every dollar of your Whatnot sale goes.
Commission. Payment processing. Refunds. Giveaways. Payout math. All verified against the May 2026 Seller Weekly Orders Report (36 columns).
No credit card. $19/mo if you keep going.
TL;DR
Whatnot takes 8 to 10% in commission and another 2.9% + $0.30 in payment processing. On a typical $100 sale with $8 buyer-paid shipping, you net about $88.57. That's roughly an 11.9% fee load.
Commission rates by category
Whatnot takes a percentage of your sale price. Specifically, the Original Item Price column on the weekly statement. The rate depends on category.
| Category | Commission | On a $100 sale |
|---|---|---|
| Sports Cards | 8% | $8.00 |
| Pokemon | 8% | $8.00 |
| Funko | 8% | $8.00 |
| TCG (Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic, etc.) | 8% | $8.00 |
| Coins / Comics / Collectibles | 8% | $8.00 |
| Sneakers | 10% | $10.00 |
| Apparel / Streetwear | 8-10% | $8-10 |
| Beauty / Electronics | 8% | $8.00 |
Some sellers are on negotiated tiers. Check the Commission Fee column on your Weekly Orders Report to confirm your real rate.
Payment processing fee
On top of commission, Whatnot deducts a payment processing fee per transaction. It's charged on the full Buyer Paid amount (sale price plus any buyer-paid shipping or tax), not just the item price.
On a $100 item with $8 buyer-paid shipping, Buyer Paid is $108. Fee is 2.9% × $108 + $0.30 = $3.43.
Tired of doing this math by hand?
AfterShows reads your weekly CSV and breaks every fee out automatically.
What you actually take home
Net to seller = Sale price − commission − processing fee − any shipping you paid
Example, $100 Sports Cards sale with $8 buyer-paid shipping:
- Sale price: $100.00
- − Commission (8%): −$8.00
- − Payment processing (2.9% × $108 + $0.30): −$3.43
- − Seller-paid shipping: −$0.00
- Net to you: $88.57
Run your own numbers
Inputs
Breakdown
| Sale price | $100.00 |
| Whatnot commission (8%) | −$8.00 |
| Payment processing (2.9% × Buyer Paid + $0.30) | −$3.43 |
| Net to seller (after fees) | $88.57 |
| Cost of goods (COGS) | −$40.00 |
| True profit | $48.57 |
Effective fee rate
11.4%
of sale price (fees only)
Profit margin
48.6%
after fees + COGS
Refunds: what comes back, what doesn't
When a buyer requests a refund and Whatnot processes it, the commission and payment processing fee come back to you. A few things to keep in mind:
- The refund row shows up in the week the refund was processed, not the week of the original sale. So your weekly report can show a refund without a matching sale.
- Shipping cost may not come back if you already shipped. Check the
Order Refund Shipping Costscolumn. - If you appeal a refund and win, the appealed amount lands in
Appealed Order Refund.
Giveaways aren't free for the seller
Giveaway items have Buy Format = Giveaway and Original Item Price of $0. No commission, no processing fee. But you still pay shipping. On the weekly statement that shows up as a negative Transaction Amount, usually around −$5.
What Whatnot doesn't deduct (and why it matters at tax time)
Whatnot has no idea what you paid for inventory. Their estimated revenue and 1099-K both ignore it. Your real Schedule C profit is what you took home minus your cost of goods sold (COGS).
On a $100 Pokemon ETB you paid $32 for, your real profit is $88.57 (net) minus $32 (COGS), or $56.57. That's the number that matters at year-end. More on Whatnot taxes →
Want this math done for you every week?
Drop in your CSV. Real fee breakdown, per show, per item.
FAQ
What percentage does Whatnot take from sellers?
Whatnot takes 8% commission on most categories and 10% on sneakers. Payment processing is 2.9% of Buyer Paid plus $0.30 per transaction. Together you typically lose 11-15% per sale.
Does Whatnot charge a listing fee?
No. Whatnot doesn't charge to list. Fees only apply when an item sells.
What happens to fees if a buyer refunds?
When a refund goes through, Whatnot returns the commission and processing fee. You may still be out the shipping cost.
How much does Whatnot take on a giveaway?
No commission or processing fee. The buyer pays $0. You still pay shipping out of pocket, usually around $5 per giveaway.
Stop guessing. Start knowing.
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