The short answer
For the same item, Mercari takes less from the seller at every price in this comparison. Poshmark's 20% is double Mercari's 10%, and Poshmark's flat fee is large on small sales.
The comparison is fees only, with no item cost. Both buyers pay $6.49 shipping, which is Poshmark's flat label rate. On Mercari we assume your label costs exactly what the buyer paid, so only the 10% on that shipping reaches you.
| Item price | Poshmark fee | You keep on Poshmark | Mercari fee | You keep on Mercari | Keeps more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $2.95 | $7.05 | $1.65 | $8.35 | Mercari |
| $14.99 | $2.95 | $12.04 | $2.15 | $12.84 | Mercari |
| $15.00 | $3.00 | $12.00 | $2.15 | $12.85 | Mercari |
| $25.00 | $5.00 | $20.00 | $3.15 | $21.85 | Mercari |
| $50.00 | $10.00 | $40.00 | $5.65 | $44.35 | Mercari |
| $100.00 | $20.00 | $80.00 | $10.65 | $89.35 | Mercari |
Computed by the Poshmark and Mercari calculators. Direct deposit is free on both. Item cost is zero so the figures show what each platform leaves of the sale.
How Poshmark charges
Poshmark takes a flat $2.95 when the final order price is under $15.00, and 20% of the price from $15.00 up. Shipping is not part of the price: the buyer pays a flat $6.49 for a prepaid USPS Ground Advantage label.
The flat fee is a cliff. A $14.99 sale pays $2.95, which is 19.7% of the price. A $15.00 sale pays $3.00, and above that the cost rises with the price.
The rule reads "under" for the flat fee and "at or above" for the percent, so a sale of exactly $15.00 pays the percent. The fee is worked out on the order price after any discount you give.
How Mercari charges
Mercari charges a 10% selling fee on the item price plus any shipping the buyer pays, and no listing fee. Since 6 Jan 2025 the buyer also pays a 3.6% Buyer Protection fee on the same base.
On a $25.00 item with $6.49 buyer shipping, the selling fee is $3.15 and the buyer fee is $1.13. If you pay for shipping instead, the selling fee is on the item price alone.
What the buyer pays changes the answer
Sellers do not set prices in a vacuum. The Mercari buyer fee makes the same list price cost the buyer more, so a fair test lowers the Mercari price until the buyer pays the same total as on Poshmark.
At the same $25.00 list price the Mercari buyer pays $32.62 and the Poshmark buyer pays $31.49, which is $1.13 more.
| Buyer pays | Poshmark price | You keep on Poshmark | Mercari price | You keep on Mercari | Mercari keeps more by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $21.49 | $15.00 | $12.00 | $14.25 | $12.18 | $0.18 |
| $31.49 | $25.00 | $20.00 | $23.91 | $20.87 | $0.87 |
| $56.49 | $50.00 | $40.00 | $48.04 | $42.59 | $2.59 |
| $106.49 | $100.00 | $80.00 | $96.30 | $86.02 | $6.02 |
The Mercari price is the highest whole-cent price whose buyer total does not exceed the Poshmark total.
Mercari still keeps more, though by less than the first table suggests. Buyers who compare prices across apps may behave differently, and we do not model that.
What to list at for the amount you want
Work backwards from what you need to keep. The table gives the list price on each platform that leaves you with the amount shown, using Find price in each calculator.
| You want to keep | Poshmark list price | Mercari list price | Poshmark needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $12.95 | $11.83 | $1.12 |
| $20.00 | $25.00 | $22.94 | $2.06 |
| $50.00 | $62.50 | $56.28 | $6.22 |
Same assumptions as above: free direct deposit, buyer-paid shipping on both.
Payouts and the fees at the edges
| Platform | Method | Fee per withdrawal |
|---|---|---|
| Poshmark | Direct deposit | Free |
| Poshmark | PayPal or Venmo | $0.35 |
| Poshmark | Instant Transfer | $2.00 |
| Mercari | Direct deposit | Free |
| Mercari | Instant Pay | $3.00 |
Both platforms charge per withdrawal. The calculators assume one withdrawal per sale. Mercari Instant Pay is limited to $600 a month.
- Poshmark Texas tax. Sellers with a Texas return address pay a tax on 80% of the commission, from 1 Oct 2025.
- Poshmark hazmat fee. USPS charges $50.00 when it flags a shipment, and since 19 Oct 2026 Poshmark covers none of it.
- Poshmark Canada. The flat fee is C$3.95 under C$20.00, and 20% above.
- Sales tax, cancelation fees and any shipping label above or below what the buyer paid on Mercari.