- Mercari and Poshmark in one table
- What Mercari charges, and when
- Poshmark's 20% and the $2.95 floor
- The catch most sellers miss
- Shipping cover on Mercari
- Returns: Mercari or Posh Protect
- Cashing out your Mercari balance
- Which suits what you sell
- My advice for picking Mercari or Poshmark
- Frequently asked questions
Sell on Mercari if you want the lower seller fee and you list more than clothes: listing is free and Mercari takes 10% of the item price and buyer-paid shipping only when the item sells. Sell on Poshmark if you sell fashion in the US or Canada and want one 20% commission (with a $2.95 minimum fee), free authentication on items of $500 or more and a slightly longer return window for buyers.
Ten per cent against twenty looks like an easy call, and for a lot of sellers that holds. But Mercari spreads its charges across the seller, the buyer and the cash-out button, while Poshmark keeps everything in one commission. I read Mercari's seller protection, buyer protection and getting paid pages and Poshmark's fee settings and Posh Protect page, so the figures below are what each company publishes as of October 2026.
Mercari and Poshmark in one table
| Details as of October 2026 | Mercari | Poshmark |
|---|---|---|
| Seller fee | 10% of item price and buyer-paid shipping | 20% commission, $2.95 minimum fee |
| Listing | Free, up to 12 photos | Free, $3 minimum selling price |
| Buyer's window to report a problem | 72 hours after confirmed delivery | 72 hours after delivery |
| Approved returns must ship within | 3 days | 5 days |
| Getting paid | Free direct deposit, or Instant Pay $3 per withdrawal | Payment released when the buyer accepts the order |
What Mercari charges, and when
Mercari's seller protection page says listing an item is free regardless of category, price or volume. You can add up to 12 photos, a description, brand, category, condition and tags, and Mercari has promotional tools to help items sell. The only seller fee is a simple 10% on the item price and buyer-paid shipping, charged only when your item sells.
Buyers pay something too. Mercari's buyer protection page says a Buyer Protection fee of 3.6% is added to the item price and buyer-paid shipping, and that payment is held until the item is delivered and the buyer rates the order. If they don't rate it within 72 hours of confirmed delivery, the sale completes automatically and the money is released to you.
Poshmark's 20% and the $2.95 floor
Poshmark's own pages show a 20% commission with a $2.95 minimum fee, and the lowest price you can sell at is $3. Canadian sellers pay 20% with a $3.95 minimum fee and a $5 minimum selling price. That's the seller's only cost, so there's no separate cash-out charge or buyer fee to explain to anyone.
Poshmark is built around fashion, with its about page listing 10K+ brands across 90+ categories and 130M+ community members across the US and Canada. For pricier pieces, Posh Authenticate gives buyers free authentication and free shipping on items of $500 or more ($700 in Canada).
The catch most sellers miss
The 10% against 20% gap is real, but it isn't the whole story. Mercari's 10% is charged on the shipping the buyer pays as well as the item, and the buyer pays a 3.6% protection fee on top, so they see a higher total at checkout than your listed price. If you want your money in minutes, Instant Pay costs $3 a time. Poshmark's 20% (with its $2.95 minimum) is the only deduction, which is simpler but takes a bigger bite of every sale.
Shipping cover on Mercari
When you list on Mercari, you choose between shipping on your own and using Mercari's prepaid labels, which come with discounted rates, tracking and up to $200 of Shipping Protection for loss or damage in transit. Mercari helps you pick the right label for the size and weight so you avoid extra shipping charges, and you can print at home or use a print-free QR code at the carrier. Once an item sells you've got 3 days to pack it and drop it off. If you ship on your own, you'll need to add tracking before you can get paid.
Returns: Mercari or Posh Protect
Both give buyers 72 hours after delivery to flag an item that isn't as described. Mercari sends a free return label if the claim is approved and the item has to ship back within 3 days. It won't accept returns because something doesn't fit, isn't the buyer's style, smells or isn't clean, because the buyer changed their mind, or because they bought something similar elsewhere. Posh Protect also excludes fit and changed-mind returns, gives the buyer 5 days to ship an approved return and releases payment to you automatically if no case is opened within 3 days of delivery.
Cashing out your Mercari balance
Mercari offers two ways to withdraw. Free ACH direct deposit is limited to one a day and typically arrives within 5 business days, with a $2 fee only if a withdrawal fails. Instant Pay costs a $3 flat fee per withdrawal, works once a day up to $600 a month, and needs a verified government ID and a Visa or Mastercard debit card. Each Mercari account can only use one bank account.
Which suits what you sell
- A mix of homeware, electronics, toys and clothes: Mercari, where listing is free in any category.
- Fashion and accessories in the US or Canada: Poshmark, built around clothing brands.
- Designer pieces of $500 or more: Poshmark, with free authentication for the buyer.
- Higher-priced items where the commission matters most: Mercari, with a 10% seller fee against Poshmark's 20%.
- Sellers who want shipping cover built in: Mercari's prepaid labels, with up to $200 of Shipping Protection.
For a closer look at each app's charges, read how much Mercari takes from a sale and how much Poshmark takes.
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My advice for picking Mercari or Poshmark
If you're selling a bit of everything, start on Mercari: free listing, 10% when it sells and shipping cover on its labels. If your stock is clothes, shoes and bags, Poshmark's buyers are there for exactly that, and the higher commission is the trade-off for reaching them. Use Mercari's free direct deposit unless you need the money today.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Mercari's fee lower than Poshmark's?
Mercari charges sellers 10% of the item price and buyer-paid shipping, as of October 2026. Poshmark's own pages show a 20% commission with a $2.95 minimum fee.
Does the buyer pay a fee on Mercari?
Yes. Mercari adds a 3.6% Buyer Protection fee to the item price and buyer-paid shipping, paid by the buyer.
How much is Mercari Instant Pay?
Mercari charges a $3 flat fee per Instant Pay withdrawal, as of October 2026, once a day and up to $600 a month. Direct deposit is free.
How long do buyers have to return an item?
Both give buyers 72 hours after delivery to report a problem. Approved returns ship back within 3 days on Mercari and within 5 days on Poshmark.
Do Mercari or Poshmark accept returns for fit?
No. Mercari doesn't accept returns for items that don't fit or a changed mind, and Posh Protect doesn't cover them either.
Is listing free on both?
Yes. Mercari says listing is free regardless of category, price or volume, and Poshmark has no listing fee, with a $3 minimum selling price in the US.
