Comparison · general
Depop vs Mercari
Which marketplace has lower fees for resellers — and when does each one win?
Two casual marketplaces with very different fee models. Depop removed its 10% seller fee in 2024 (sellers now pay only payment processing). Mercari kept its standard structure.
Net payout at common sale prices
| Sale price | Depop fees | Depop net | Mercari fees | Mercari net | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25.00 | −$1.28 · 5.1% | $23.72 | −$2.50 · 10.0% | $22.50 | +$1.22 |
| $50.00 | −$2.10 · 4.2% | $47.90 | −$5.00 · 10.0% | $45.00 | +$2.90 |
| $100.00 | −$3.75 · 3.8% | $96.25 | −$10.00 · 10.0% | $90.00 | +$6.25 |
| $250.00 | −$8.70 · 3.5% | $241.30 | −$25.00 · 10.0% | $225.00 | +$16.30 |
| $500.00 | −$16.95 · 3.4% | $483.05 | −$50.00 · 10.0% | $450.00 | +$33.05 |
| $1,000.00 | −$33.45 · 3.3% | $966.55 | −$100.00 · 10.0% | $900.00 | +$66.55 |
Net payout = sale price + shipping charged − platform fees. Both platforms calculated with default options and no shipping charged to buyer.
Fee structure
Depop
Open calculator →Social marketplace for vintage, streetwear, and youth fashion
- Depop removed its 10% selling fee for sellers in 2024 — sellers now pay only the payment processing fee.
- eBay completed its $1.2bn acquisition of Depop on July 30, 2026. No seller fee change has been announced and these rates are current — eBay says Depop will operate as a complementary business, retaining its distinct brand, platform, customer experience and culture.
- Payment processing (3.3% + $0.45) applies to the item price plus the shipping the buyer pays.
- Buyers see a separate 'Marketplace Fee' added at checkout (varies by item value). This is paid by the buyer and does not reduce your payout.
Mercari
Open calculator →Casual marketplace for general goods
- Sellers pay a flat 10% selling fee on the item price plus any buyer-paid shipping. That is the entire seller cost — there is no payment processing fee.
- The 2.9% + $0.50 payment processing fee that older guides still list was charged to the BUYER, not the seller, and Mercari removed it entirely on 6 January 2025.
- Buyers now pay a 3.6% Buyer Protection fee on the item price plus shipping. It does not come out of your payout, but it raises the buyer's total — price with that in mind.
- Cashing out by direct deposit is free (the old $2 fee was dropped in January 2025); a failed direct deposit costs $2. Instant Pay costs a flat $3 per cash-out, capped at $600/month.
Audience & fit
On fees alone, Depop is significantly cheaper — about 4% effective versus Mercari's 10%. But Depop's audience skews younger and more fashion-focused; Mercari's is broader and more general. For Y2K, streetwear, and curated style, Depop wins on both fees and audience fit. For general goods, Mercari's wider buyer pool still matters.
The bottom line
On fees, Depop wins clearly: since it dropped its 10% seller commission in 2024, sellers pay only 3.3% + $0.45 processing — around 4% all-in — versus Mercari's 10%. On a $40 item that's roughly $3-4 more kept per sale on Depop. But that edge only matters where Depop can actually sell the item.
Depop's audience is young and style-driven: Y2K, streetwear, vintage, and trend-forward fashion move there, often faster and at better prices than on Mercari. Step outside that lane — electronics, collectibles, homeware, general secondhand — and Depop's buyers scroll past, while Mercari's broader, more general US pool actually buys.
Match the platform to the inventory. Trend-driven fashion aimed at an 18-25 crowd belongs on Depop, where you keep more and sell faster. General and non-fashion goods belong on Mercari, whose wider reach is worth the higher fee. Many sellers split exactly along that line.
Already decided? Moving your listings
Neither platform imports the other's listings, so the move is a relist either way. The step-by-step — official routes, which cross-listing tools cover the pair, and what you lose in the transfer — is in the switch guide:
Frequently asked
Did Depop really remove its 10% seller fee?
Yes, in 2024 Depop removed its 10% selling fee for US sellers and shifted the marketplace fee to buyers. Sellers now pay only the payment processing fee (3.3% + $0.45). This makes Depop one of the cheapest platforms for sellers — though buyers see a higher checkout total, which can affect conversion.
What's the marketplace fee Depop charges buyers?
Depop charges buyers a marketplace fee at checkout that varies based on the item value (typically a percentage of the item price). This fee is paid entirely by the buyer and does not reduce your seller payout. It's roughly equivalent to what sellers used to pay before 2024 — shifted to the buyer side.
How much does Mercari take from each sale?
A flat 10% selling fee on the item price plus any buyer-paid shipping — and that is the entire seller cost. On a $30 item with $5 shipping you pay $3.50 and keep $31.50. Mercari charges sellers no payment processing fee: the 2.9% + $0.50 that most fee guides still quote was charged to the BUYER, and Mercari removed it outright on 6 January 2025.
Does Mercari charge fees on shipping?
Yes. Since the January 2025 change the 10% selling fee applies to the item price plus any shipping the buyer pays, so charging for shipping does increase your fee. Offering free shipping and building the cost into the item price gives the same result — the fee lands on the combined total either way.
More comparisons
See all comparisons →Want to run the numbers on your specific sale?