Updated for 2026 fee structures
Depop US sellers pay just 3.3% + $0.45 in processing — no commission. Mercari charges a flat 10% on the combined item price and buyer-paid shipping. The fee gap is significant: on a $50 sale, Depop puts $47.64 in your pocket while Mercari keeps $5.80 more from you. But fees alone don't determine profit. Mercari's wider category range and different buyer base make it the better choice for entire categories of inventory. Here's the complete, honest breakdown — by price point, by product type, and by which platform actually maximizes your take-home in 2026.
Feescal Editorial Team
April 18, 2026 · 12 min read
In This Guide
🔴 Depop (US Sellers)
🛒 Mercari
In July 2024, Depop eliminated its 10% seller commission for US and UK sellers entirely. The only mandatory cost for US sellers is a payment processing fee — making Depop the cheapest major fashion resale platform by a significant margin.
| Fee Type | Rate | Fee Base | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seller commission | 0% ✓ | N/A | Eliminated July 2024 for US sellers |
| Processing fee | 3.3% + $0.45 | Item + shipping + tax | Charged on total transaction |
| Listing fee | Free | N/A | Unlimited free listings |
| Boosted listing fee | 8% | Item price (+ self-ship) | 28-day click attribution — optional |
| Depop Labels discount | Varies | N/A | Saves on boost fee base if used |
| Direct deposit | Free | N/A | Payout 2 days post-delivery |
Depop Fee Worked Example: $50 Vintage Jacket, Buyer Pays $8 Shipping
Mercari runs on a single flat 10% fee that covers the full transaction including buyer-paid shipping. No separate processing charge. No category exceptions. No tiers.
| Fee Type | Rate | Fee Base | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selling fee | 10% flat | Item price + buyer-paid shipping | All categories, all price points |
| Payment processing | None ✓ | N/A | Included in the 10% |
| Listing fee | Free | N/A | No listing costs ever |
| Withdrawal (ACH) | Free | N/A | $2 fee only on failed transfers |
| Withdrawal (Instant) | $3 flat | N/A | To debit card within minutes |
| Smart Pricing | Auto price-drop | N/A | Optional; can erode margins if unchecked |
Mercari Fee Worked Example: $50 Vintage Jacket, Buyer Pays $8 Shipping
All examples assume a US seller with $8 buyer-paid shipping. Depop fee = 3.3% × (item + $8) + $0.45. Mercari fee = 10% × (item + $8).
| Sale Price | Depop Fee | Depop Payout | Mercari Fee | Mercari Payout | Depop Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | $0.78 | $9.22 | $1.80 | $8.20 | +$1.02 Depop |
| $15 | $0.94 | $14.06 | $2.30 | $12.70 | +$1.36 Depop |
| $20 | $1.10 | $18.90 | $2.80 | $17.20 | +$1.70 Depop |
| $30 | $1.43 | $28.57 | $3.80 | $26.20 | +$2.37 Depop |
| $50 | $2.36 | $47.64 | $5.80 | $44.20 | +$3.44 Depop |
| $75 | $3.22 | $71.78 | $8.30 | $66.70 | +$5.08 Depop |
| $100 | $4.01 | $95.99 | $10.80 | $89.20 | +$6.79 Depop |
| $150 | $5.66 | $144.34 | $15.80 | $134.20 | +$10.14 Depop |
| $200 | $7.31 | $192.69 | $20.80 | $179.20 | +$13.49 Depop |
| $300 | $10.61 | $289.39 | $30.80 | $269.20 | +$20.19 Depop |
| $500 | $17.21 | $482.79 | $50.80 | $449.20 | +$33.59 Depop |
Both Depop and Mercari charge fees on the total transaction including buyer-paid shipping. But the impact differs because the rates are so different — 3.3% vs 10%. A larger shipping charge amplifies Mercari's fee disadvantage.
Higher shipping = more fee advantage for Depop
On a $50 item with $15 shipping (heavy item), Mercari charges 10% × $65 = $6.50. Depop charges 3.3% × $65 + $0.45 = $2.59. The gap widens to $3.91 versus $3.44 at standard $8 shipping. The heavier the item and the higher the shipping, the more Depop saves you.
Free shipping on Depop: You absorb the label cost but fee base shrinks
If you offer free shipping on Depop, the buyer pays $0 shipping. Depop's fee is calculated only on the $50 item price: 3.3% × $50 + $0.45 = $2.10. But you now absorb the $8 label cost, leaving you with $50 − $2.10 − $8 = $39.90. Free shipping is only smart if it drives a meaningfully higher sale price.
Mercari's Smart Pricing can silently erode your margins
Mercari's Smart Pricing feature automatically lowers your listing price over time if the item doesn't sell. This is convenient but dangerous — sellers have reported $120 items dropping to $76 automatically without their full attention. Always set a floor price if you enable Smart Pricing, and review your active listings regularly.
Depop Boost fee and Mercari's shipping fee: the comparison when promoting
If you boost a Depop listing at 8% and it sells for $50 with $8 shipping: Depop total fees = $2.36 (processing) + $4.00 (8% boost on $50) = $6.36. Mercari at 10%: $5.80. With a full boost, Depop becomes slightly more expensive than Mercari on some items. Only boost Depop listings with strong margins.
Lower fees don't always mean higher total profit. The platform where your item sells faster, at a higher price, is often more valuable than the platform with the lower fee rate. Here's the honest verdict by category:
👕 Vintage & Y2K Clothing
Depop — stronglyDepop
Near-zero fees (3.5–5%) + the exact audience buying vintage. Gen Z buyers on Depop specifically hunt Y2K fashion and pay premium prices for styling and authenticity.
Mercari
10% fee. Vintage sells but with less enthusiasm — buyers here are more price-driven and less willing to pay for aesthetic appeal.
Why: Depop's lowest fees AND the most targeted audience for vintage fashion. A $60 vintage band tee might fetch $45 on Mercari and $75 on Depop — Depop wins on both price and fees.
👗 Branded Women's Fashion
Depop (fast fashion) / Poshmark (premium brands)Depop
Very low fees. Fashion-forward audience appreciates brand storytelling. Works well for trendy, aesthetically presented pieces.
Mercari
10% fee. Broader audience — some brand buyers present, but less concentrated than Depop or Poshmark. More price-sensitive.
Why: For trendy and fast fashion items, Depop's fees and audience win. For premium brands like Kate Spade or Coach, Poshmark's audience often pays more despite higher fees.
👔 Men's Clothing
Depop (streetwear) / Mercari (basics)Depop
Good for streetwear, designer menswear, and limited-edition pieces. Weaker for general men's basics.
Mercari
10% fee. Better general audience for men's clothing than Depop. Mercari skews slightly older and more category-diverse.
Why: Supreme, Off-White, and hype streetwear: Depop. Generic men's shirts and pants: Mercari. The audience split matters more than the fee difference.
💻 Electronics & Tech
Mercari — stronglyDepop
Not a core category. Limited buyer interest and poor platform fit for electronics.
Mercari
10% fee. One of Mercari's strongest categories. Electronics buyers actively use Mercari for phones, laptops, gaming gear.
Why: Electronics is not Depop's audience. Despite Mercari's 10% fee, its electronics buyer base far outperforms Depop. eBay is also strong here.
🎮 Video Games & Consoles
Mercari — stronglyDepop
Not suitable. Gaming is not a Depop category.
Mercari
10% fee. Solid video game and console audience. Popular for retro consoles, games, and accessories.
Why: Mercari is the clear platform for gaming items. Depop buyers aren't there. eBay is a strong second option.
🏠 Home Goods & Décor
Mercari — stronglyDepop
Very limited home goods audience. Depop is almost exclusively fashion.
Mercari
10% fee. Strong home goods, kitchen, and décor buyer base. Local pickup option adds appeal for large items.
Why: Home goods on Depop simply don't sell. Mercari is the right general marketplace for this category.
📷 Vintage Cameras & Film Equipment
Depop (aesthetic/vintage) / Both workDepop
Surprisingly good for vintage cameras — aesthetic buyers appreciate the look. Niche but active audience.
Mercari
10% fee. Also works well for cameras. Wider audience including working photographers.
Why: For vintage film cameras being sold as aesthetic items, Depop's lower fees + collector audience work well. For functional camera gear, Mercari or eBay reach more buyers.
🧥 Streetwear & Designer
Depop (mid-range) / Grailed (ultra-premium)Depop
Core category. Depop's top sellers specialize in Supreme, Palace, Off-White, and similar brands. Buyers pay premium prices here.
Mercari
10% fee. Some streetwear buyers present, but far fewer than on Depop or Grailed.
Why: Depop's streetwear community is passionate and pays well. For items above $300, Grailed's dedicated menswear audience may offer better prices despite similar fees.
🌿 Fast Fashion & Mall Brands
MercariDepop
Low fees, but Depop buyers often avoid basic mall brands (Gap, H&M, Old Navy) unless they're very cheap. Items can sit unsold.
Mercari
10% fee. Better audience for mainstream brands. More price-tolerant buyers looking for deals on recognizable labels.
Why: Basic mall brands don't convert on Depop. Mercari's broader general audience is the better fit. Vinted is even better for budget fast fashion (zero seller fees).
Per-transaction fee differences feel small. Multiplied across a year of selling, they become real money. Here's what the fee gap means annually for fashion sellers who could use either platform:
| Seller Profile | Avg Sale | Sales/Month | Annual Depop Kept | Annual Mercari Kept | Annual Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casual seller | $25 | 15 | $4,371 | $4,050 | Depop +$321/yr |
| Side hustle | $50 | 40 | $22,867 | $21,216 | Depop +$1,651/yr |
| Serious reseller | $75 | 80 | $68,851 | $64,032 | Depop +$4,819/yr |
| Full-time reseller | $100 | 150 | $172,782 | $160,200 | Depop +$12,582/yr |
Depop Tips
→Price above $15 — the $0.45 fixed fee hits hardest on cheap items
→Use Depop Labels on boosted listings to exclude shipping from the boost fee base
→Understand the 28-day boost attribution: once a buyer interacts, you owe 8% even if you turn boost off
→Style your photography — lifestyle shots on Depop outperform flat lays by 20–40%
→Drive external traffic from TikTok and Instagram — Depop rewards social-linked sellers
→Crosslist on Mercari for items that don't fit Depop's aesthetic (electronics, home goods)
Mercari Tips
→Always price using item + shipping for the full fee base — Mercari's 10% applies to both
→Update old listings (pre-Jan 2025) to get the new 10%-only fee structure
→Use Pirate Ship for self-shipping — often 30–40% cheaper than Mercari's prepaid labels
→Avoid Instant Pay — use free ACH withdrawals to save $3 per transfer
→Set a floor price on Smart Pricing — never let it drop below your break-even
→Crosslist vintage fashion on Depop simultaneously — Mercari buyer base won't be the highest payer for aesthetic items
Depop is significantly cheaper than Mercari for sellers in 2026. Depop charges only 3.3% + $0.45 per transaction while Mercari charges a flat 10% commission. On a $50 sale Depop takes approximately $2.10 while Mercari takes $5 — a $2.90 difference per sale. Across 100 sales a month at the same prices Depop keeps $290 more in your pocket than Mercari.
Depop charges 3.3% payment processing fee plus $0.45 fixed fee per transaction in 2026. There is no separate platform commission — Depop removed its 10% seller fee in 2023. Mercari charges a flat 10% commission on every sale with no separate processing fee. Both platforms calculate their fees on the item sale price only and do not charge fees on shipping.
Depop is significantly better for vintage clothing, Y2K fashion, and aesthetic pieces in 2026. Depop's buyer base specifically seeks out vintage, curated, and Gen Z fashion — and is willing to pay full market value for the right pieces. Mercari has a much more general buyer base that is less willing to pay premium prices for vintage items. For vintage clothing Depop's targeted audience combined with its lower fees makes it the clear winner.
Mercari is significantly better for general items like electronics, home goods, toys, games, and non-vintage clothing. Mercari's buyer base is large and diverse — buyers come looking for deals across every category. Depop's audience is specifically fashion and aesthetic focused meaning general items like kitchen appliances, gaming consoles, or sports equipment will get little to no visibility on Depop.
On a $50 sale Depop charges approximately $2.10 (3.3% of $50 + $0.45) and you keep $47.90. Mercari charges $5 (10% of $50) and you keep $45. The difference is $2.90 per sale in favor of Depop. On a $100 sale the difference grows — Depop charges approximately $3.75 while Mercari charges $10, a $6.25 difference in favor of Depop.
Neither Depop nor Mercari charge their seller fees on the shipping amount in 2026. Both platforms calculate their fees on the item sale price only. Depop charges 3.3% + $0.45 on the item price. Mercari charges 10% on the item price. This makes both platforms more favorable than eBay which calculates its 13.25% fee on the full transaction including shipping.
Mercari has a significantly larger and more diverse buyer base than Depop in 2026. Mercari has tens of millions of active users across all product categories. Depop's active user base is smaller and specifically concentrated in the fashion, vintage, and aesthetic clothing niche. For fashion items within Depop's niche the targeted audience quality often compensates for the smaller size. For everything outside fashion Mercari wins on sheer buyer volume.
Yes — crosslisting on both Depop and Mercari is one of the highest-leverage strategies for clothing resellers in 2026. Depop reaches vintage and Y2K buyers willing to pay premium prices. Mercari reaches general bargain-seeking buyers. Together they cover completely different buyer audiences for the same item. The key is pricing correctly on each platform — use Feescal to calculate your exact net profit on both before listing since their different fee structures require different prices to hit the same margin.
Both platforms process payouts at similar speeds. Depop typically releases funds 1-3 business days after the buyer confirms receipt or after a set period from delivery confirmation. Mercari typically processes payouts within 1-3 business days after delivery is confirmed. Both are faster than Poshmark which holds funds for up to 7 days and StockX which can take 5-10 business days due to authentication.
Mercari is better for beginners due to its simpler listing process, larger buyer base across all categories, and more forgiving algorithm for new sellers. Depop requires more aesthetic effort in photos and listing presentation to succeed — its algorithm favors active, visually curated sellers. For beginners who want to start selling quickly across multiple categories Mercari is the easier entry point. For beginners specifically interested in vintage fashion Depop is worth the learning curve.
This guide gives you the framework. But the real answer — for your specific item, at your specific price, with your specific shipping — requires running the actual numbers. And doing that math in your head for both Depop and Mercari, every time you list, isn't realistic at volume.
Feescal handles the calculation instantly. Enter your item price and see:
For crosslisting sellers who use both Depop and Mercari, seeing both payouts in one view in 5 seconds — before committing to a price — is the fastest way to ensure you're always maximizing your margin on every listing.
Depop or Mercari — See Which Pays More in 5 Seconds
Enter your item price and compare your exact payout across 8 platforms instantly — free, no account needed.
On pure fee math, Depop wins at every price point — and it's not close. A 3.3% + $0.45 processing-only fee versus Mercari's 10% all-in is a real and compounding advantage that translates to thousands of dollars annually for active fashion sellers. For vintage, Y2K, streetwear, and aesthetic fashion, Depop is both the better audience and the lower-fee platform — a rare double win.
Mercari earns back its 10% fee in every category outside fashion. Electronics, video games, home goods, toys, collectibles, and general merchandise — Depop buyers simply aren't there. For mixed-inventory resellers, Mercari's category flexibility often means faster sell-through that more than compensates for the fee gap.
The winning strategy: list vintage and fashion on Depop with styled photography and aesthetic presentation, list everything else on Mercari, and use Feescal to validate the right platform for every item before committing to a listing price.
Last updated: April 2026. Fee rates are subject to change. Always verify current rates in each platform's Seller Hub before listing.