Free shipping isn’t free for you, but it usually costs less than the label. Most marketplaces charge their fee on the shipping the buyer pays, so when you offer free shipping that part of the fee goes away.
The short answer
- A $30 sale, an $8 label, $10 item cost and 7.5% sales tax: free shipping costs you $6.49 on Poshmark, $6.83 on eBay, $7.20 on Mercari, $7.22 on Etsy, $7.71 on Depop, $7.76 on Whatnot.
- To keep the same take-home with free shipping, raise the price by about the label cost: $7.99 on eBay; $8.00 on Mercari, Depop and Etsy; $8.11 on Poshmark; and $8.73 on Whatnot.
- *Poshmark: the buyer normally pays Poshmark’s flat $6.49 label (up to 5 lb) (Poshmark blog, Sept 8, 2025, checked ). A shipping discount you offer is taken out of your earnings (Poshmark Support: Offer to Likers, checked ), so free shipping costs you the whole label. The label cost you enter doesn’t change Poshmark.
What free shipping costs at other prices
It barely changes with the price: what you save is the fee on the shipping, and that depends on the label cost, not the item.
| Marketplace | $15.00 sale | $30.00 sale | $50.00 sale | $100.00 sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eBay | $6.83 | $6.83 | $6.83 | $6.83 |
| Poshmark | $6.49 | $6.49 | $6.49 | $6.49 |
| Mercari | $7.20 | $7.20 | $7.20 | $7.20 |
| Whatnot | $7.75 | $7.76 | $7.75 | $7.75 |
| Depop | $7.71 | $7.71 | $7.71 | $7.72 |
| Etsy | $7.22 | $7.22 | $7.22 | $7.23 |
How each marketplace handles shipping
- eBay: the final value fee is charged on the item price, shipping and sales tax, so the fee applies to buyer-paid shipping too (eBay Help: Selling fees (eBay.com)). You buy the label after the sale (eBay Seller Center: eBay Labels).
- Mercari: the 10% selling fee is on the item price plus any shipping the buyer pays (Mercari Help: Fees on Mercari). The buyer or you pays, depending on your listing (Mercari Help: Fees on Mercari, shipping prices effective 10/19/2026).
- Whatnot: the commission is on the item price only; 2.9% + $0.30 processing is on everything the buyer pays (Whatnot Help: Whatnot seller fees). The buyer pays shipping at checkout unless you offer free or reduced shipping (Whatnot Help: Shipping for buyers in the US).
- Depop: US sellers pay no selling fee, but processing (3.3% + $0.45) is charged on the item price, shipping and tax, so free shipping saves the processing on shipping (Depop Help Centre: Seller fees and charges). Depop’s label price depends on the parcel size you pick (Depop Help: How to ship (US)).
- Etsy: the 6.5% transaction fee is on the item price plus shipping, and processing (3% + $0.25) is on the full total (Etsy: Fees & Payments Policy). You see the label price after you enter the package details (Etsy Help: USPS shipping labels on Etsy).
Want the full fee breakdown for one sale? Use the eBay, Poshmark, Mercari, Whatnot, Depop or Etsy fee calculator, or find where to sell.
Quick answers
Is free shipping or buyer-paid shipping better for sellers?
On the same price, buyer-paid shipping leaves you more: with free shipping you still pay for the label. On a $30 sale with an $8 label and $10 item cost, free shipping costs you between $6.49 (Poshmark) and $7.76 (Whatnot). To make up for it, you can build the label into your price: the “Raise price by” column shows how much.
Why does free shipping cost less than the label on eBay and Mercari?
Because those fees are charged on the shipping the buyer pays too. When the buyer pays $8 shipping, eBay’s fee on it is $1.17 and Mercari’s is $0.80. Offer free shipping and that fee goes away, so free shipping costs you $6.83 on eBay and $7.20 on Mercari, not the full $8.
How much should I raise my price to offer free shipping?
About the label cost. To keep the same amount on a $30 sale with an $8 label, raise the price by $7.99 on eBay; $8.00 on Mercari, Depop and Etsy; $8.11 on Poshmark; and $8.73 on Whatnot.
What does free shipping cost on Poshmark?
The buyer normally pays Poshmark’s $6.49 label (packages up to 5 lb). If you offer free shipping, that discount is taken out of your earnings, and Poshmark’s fee isn’t charged on it, so it costs you the full $6.49.