- The two fees Whatnot takes from every sale
- What Whatnot doesn't charge for
- Whatnot promotions that lower the take
- What else comes out of a Whatnot payout
- How and when Whatnot pays sellers
- What decides how much Whatnot keeps
- Whatnot seller fee table
- Ways Whatnot sellers keep more of each sale
- Frequently asked questions
In the US, Whatnot takes a commission of up to 8% of the item's sale price, with lower rates for some categories such as Coins and Money at 4%. It also charges a payment processing fee of 2.9% plus 30 cents on the full order the buyer pays, including shipping and tax. Listing is free.
Whatnot has grown fast as the place to sell trading cards, sneakers, vintage clothes and collectibles through live shows, and a lot of sellers I speak to want to know the same thing before they go live: what does Whatnot keep? The good news is that the structure is simpler than most selling sites. There are two fees, and the details below come from Whatnot's own help centre for US sellers.
The two fees Whatnot takes from every sale
Commission
Whatnot's commission is its share of each sale. According to its seller fees article, the top rate is generally 8% in the US and some other markets. It comes down in higher sales tiers, so busier sellers pay less, and some categories have their own lower rates. Coins and Money, for example, sits at 4%.
The detail that sets Whatnot apart is what the commission is charged on. Whatnot says commission applies to the item's sale price only, excluding the shipping and tax the buyer pays. On a lot of other platforms the percentage is taken from the full order, so a lower headline rate elsewhere can end up costing you more than Whatnot does.
Payment processing
The second fee covers card processing. Whatnot charges 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction, and this one is worked out on the total order value the buyer pays, including shipping and tax. Whatnot is clear that processing still applies even when a reduced commission rate or a promotion is running.
What Whatnot doesn't charge for
Whatnot doesn't charge listing fees, and its seller page says fees are only charged when something sells. You can set up a show, list items for auctions or buy-it-now and run it without paying anything up front. That makes it a lower-risk place to test whether a category sells live before you invest heavily in stock.
Whatnot promotions that lower the take
Whatnot runs promotions from time to time that cut commission on certain sales. One example from its help centre is a reduced commission on high-value orders: in select categories, Whatnot charges 0% commission on the portion of a sale above 1,500 US dollars. The processing fee still applies to the full amount.
Promotions come and go, and each has its own eligible categories and dates. The Seller Hub and Whatnot's help centre list what's live for your account, so check there before you plan a big sale around a lower rate.
What else comes out of a Whatnot payout
- Tax on fees. Whatnot says that in some states and countries it must charge sales tax on its commissions and fees, and in the US those taxes are deducted from your earnings.
- Shipping costs. The buyer usually pays shipping, but if you run free-shipping offers, that cost is yours.
- Giveaways and promotions you fund. Many live sellers give items away to build a crowd. Those items have a real cost even though no fee is charged.
- Refunds and disputes. A refunded order reduces what you're paid, so clear photos and honest descriptions protect your income.
How and when Whatnot pays sellers
Whatnot pays in two steps. First your earnings become available, then you send them to your bank.
For US sellers, Whatnot's help centre says earnings become available up to 4 hours after confirmed delivery. Sellers with Early Payout see earnings become available when the shipping label is generated instead. UK sellers have a settlement period: earnings wait until delivery is confirmed and 96 hours have passed since the sale.
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Payouts aren't automatic. You go to the Payouts page in the app and choose an amount to send to your bank. Whatnot moves the money through its payments partner, Stripe, and it typically arrives in 1-2 business days, not counting weekends and bank holidays. The Ledger in Seller Hub shows whether each sale is still processing or ready.
What decides how much Whatnot keeps
- Your category. Some categories have lower commission rates than the standard top rate.
- Your sales volume. Whatnot's commission drops as you move into higher tiers.
- Your country. Rates and tax on fees differ outside the US, so UK and European sellers should read their own fee page.
- Your shipping charges. They don't affect commission, but they do raise the processing fee because it's charged on the whole order.
- Active promotions. A reduced-commission promotion can cut the take on specific sales.
Whatnot seller fee table
| What | How it works | Source checked |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | Up to 8% of item price in the US; lower in some categories and tiers | Whatnot seller fees help article |
| Payment processing | 2.9% plus 30 cents on the full order, including shipping and tax | Whatnot seller fees help article |
| Listing | Free; fees only on sale | Whatnot seller page |
| High-value promotion | 0% commission above 1,500 US dollars in select categories | Whatnot help centre |
| Payout | Available up to 4 hours after US delivery; 1-2 business days to the bank | Whatnot payouts help |
Ways Whatnot sellers keep more of each sale
- Know your category rate before you price, because it varies.
- Keep shipping charges honest. They don't change commission but they do raise processing.
- Set a limit on giveaways so the show's cost stays under control.
- Track your monthly sales against the tier thresholds shown in Seller Hub.
- Cross-list slow items. My guide to how much eBay takes on each sale shows how a fixed-listing site compares.
Live selling works best as part of a wider plan. My roundup of online income ideas that aren't scams covers other routes worth stacking with it.
Whatnot's fees can change and differ by country, so read the seller fees article for your own country and category before you go live. Whatnot may issue tax forms to US sellers, but it can't advise on your tax, so speak to an accountant about your own situation.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage does Whatnot take?
In the US, Whatnot's commission is generally up to 8% of the item's sale price, plus a payment processing fee of 2.9% and 30 cents on the full order.
Does Whatnot take commission on shipping?
No. Whatnot charges commission on the item price only. The processing fee, though, is worked out on the full order including shipping and tax.
Is it free to list on Whatnot?
Yes. Whatnot doesn't charge listing fees. Fees are only charged when an item sells.
How long does Whatnot take to pay?
For US sellers, earnings are available up to 4 hours after confirmed delivery. Once you send a payout, it typically reaches your bank in 1-2 business days.
Are Whatnot fees lower for some categories?
Yes. Some categories have lower commission, such as Coins and Money at 4%, and commission also drops as your sales volume grows.
