If you’re planning to sell on Etsy from Australia, understanding the fee structure is one of the most important steps toward pricing products, protecting margins, and managing profitability. While Etsy provides access to a large global audience, it also charges a series of fees that add up with every listing and sale.
This guide explains all the Etsy fees Australian sellers encounter in 2026, including listing, transaction, payment processing, advertising, and hidden costs like currency conversion and GST. By the end, you’ll know exactly what Etsy charges you — and how those fees affect your bottom line.
This guide is designed for:
New Etsy sellers in Australia starting their first shop
Hobby sellers turning into part-time businesses
GST-registered Australian sellers
Sellers pricing handmade, digital, or print-on-demand products
Australian sellers planning to sell internationally
If you are calculating profit margins, comparing Etsy vs Shopify, or deciding whether Etsy is worth it in Australia, this breakdown will help you understand the true cost of selling.
Why Etsy Fees Matter for New Australian Sellers
Etsy is a marketplace that monetises sales and visibility. Unlike standalone eCommerce systems where you pay only for processing, Etsy charges fees at multiple stages of the selling process.
Understanding these fees upfront helps you:
Price products accurately
Calculate true profitability
Decide which products are worth selling
Avoid surprises in your payouts
Fees might feel small one by one, but they stack up quickly once you consider renewals, shipping, and optional advertising.
Overview of Etsy’s Core Fee Categories in Australia
Australian Etsy sellers typically pay:
Listing Fees
Transaction Fees
Payment Processing Fees
Offsite Ads Fees (optional or automatic depending on sales)
Currency Conversion Fees
GST on Etsy Fees
Each applies in a different way and affects your net revenue per order. If you want a more detailed explanation of how each fee works globally, read our Complete breakdown of Etsy fees before calculating your Australian costs
1. Listing Fees — Pay to Publish Your Products
Every time you publish a product on Etsy, you pay a listing fee.
Amount: ~AU$0.28–AU$0.30 per listing (billed in USD and converted to AUD)
Duration: Listings stay active for four months or until sold.
Renewals: If a listing expires or you manually renew, another listing fee applies.
Multi-quantity sales: If you list multiples and sell more than one, you pay the listing fee again for each additional sold quantity.
Tip: Avoid unnecessary renewals by reviewing slow-moving inventory. Quality over quantity helps control listing costs.
2. Transaction Fees — Etsy’s Share of Each Sale
When you make a sale on Etsy, there’s a transaction fee.
Rate: 6.5% of the total order amount (item price + shipping + gift wrap if charged)
How it applies: This fee is taken out automatically once a sale completes.
Unlike some platforms that charge only on product price, Etsy’s transaction fee applies to shipping too, so you should factor this into pricing.
3. Payment Processing Fees — Paying for Payments
To accept payments from customers, most Australian sellers must use Etsy Payments, which includes processing fees.
Domestic Australia: 3% + AU$0.25 per transaction
International transactions: 4% + AU$0.25 per transaction
Applied to: Total order amount (item + shipping + taxes).
These fees cover the costs of credit/debit card processing and alternative payment methods offered by Etsy.
4. Offsite Ads Fees — Optional but Potentially Large
Etsy promotes some listings across external platforms like Google and social media. If a buyer clicks an ad and buys your product, Etsy charges an additional fee.
Fee rate: Usually 15% of the order total — sometimes 12% for sellers with higher annual sales
When it applies: Only if a sale can be attributed to an offsite ad — and above certain sales thresholds, participation may be mandatory.
This fee is much higher than standard fees and can significantly reduce profit on individual sales, so sellers should monitor whether offsite ads are delivering ROI.
5. Currency Conversion Fees — Hidden Cost on International Sales
If your Etsy listings are in one currency but your payment account uses another, Etsy charges a currency conversion fee.
Rate: ~2.5% of the converted amount
When it applies: When Etsy needs to convert your earnings into your bank account currency.
Example: If you list in AUD but receive payouts in USD or another currency, Etsy converts funds and charges this fee. To avoid it, match your shop’s listing currency with your bank account’s currency.
To estimate your exact fees based on your product price, use the Australia Etsy Fee Calculator. It helps you calculate listing fees, transaction fees, payment processing charges, and GST impact in one place. This is especially useful before launching a new product or adjusting pricing.
6. GST on Etsy Fees — Don’t Forget Tax Impacts
Australian sellers are charged 10% GST on Etsy’s service fees (like listing, transaction, and processing fees). While this does not apply to product sales tax collected from buyers, it does increase the cost of selling:
You may be able to claim GST credits if you’re GST-registered
Non-registered sellers or hobby shops bear this cost directly
This adds to the effective fee you pay for using Etsy’s services.
7. Other Possible Etsy-Related Costs
Although not direct Etsy fees, new sellers should be aware of:
One-time shop set-up fee: Etsy may charge a small initial fee when registering your shop after onboarding.
Optional Etsy Plus subscription: ~$10 USD/month offering extra shop tools — deductible monthly.
Shipping label or carrier costs: If you buy labels through Etsy.
These costs don’t apply to every seller but are worth factoring into your annual budget.
How Etsy Fees Add Up : A Simple Example
Let’s say you sell a handcrafted product for A$50 (not including shipping):
Core fees:
Listing fee: ~A$0.30
Transaction fee: 6.5% × A$50 = A$3.25
Payment processing (domestic): 3% × A$50 + A$0.25 ≈ A$1.75
GST on fees (10% of Etsy service fees): adds a bit more
Offsite ad fee (if applied): up to 15% of A$50 (A$7.50) on top
Without ads, the total Etsy fee rate typically ranges around 9–11% of the sale (before shipping and GST adjustments) — and higher if you pay currency conversion or offsite ads.
To understand your real earnings after materials, shipping, and taxes, learn how to calculate Etsy profit after fees using a structured approach.
Common Etsy Fee Mistakes New Australian Sellers Make
1. Not Pricing for Fees
Many sellers price based on materials and labour, forgetting that transaction + processing + listing fees directly reduce net profit.
2. Ignoring GST on Fees
Some forget that Etsy charges 10% GST on its service fees — which increases the total cost.
3. Auto-Renewing Listings Without Review
Auto-renew keeps products live but also charges additional listing fees every four months if items don’t sell.
4. Selling Internationally Without Accounting for Conversion
Listing in the wrong currency can subject you to a 2.5% conversion fee.
5. Assuming Offsite Ads Always Help
High ad fees can outweigh benefits if sales through ads don’t bring sufficient profit.
If you’re looking for practical strategies to improve margins, explore these legal ways to reduce Etsy fees without violating platform rules.
Are Etsy Fees in Australia Worth It Compared to Other Platforms?
Many Australian sellers compare Etsy with:
Shopify
eBay
WooCommerce
Amazon Handmade
While Etsy charges listing + transaction + processing fees, it also provides built-in marketplace traffic. For low-volume sellers, this can offset marketing costs. However, as sales volume increases, platform fees become a larger share of revenue.
If you are evaluating whether Etsy is cheaper than Shopify in Australia, you should calculate:
Total monthly sales
Average order value
Marketing costs
Advertising spend
Using an Etsy fee calculator alongside a Shopify cost breakdown can help determine which platform delivers better margins for your business model.
Practical Tips to Manage Etsy Fees
Price With All Fees in Mind
That means building listing, transaction, processing, and GST implications into your prices.
Bundle or Increase Order Value
Higher average order values dilute fixed fees as a percentage of revenue.
Set Listing Renewals to Manual
Avoid automatic renewals if the item isn’t selling well.
Monitor Offsite Ad Performance
Only continue if the sales revenue after fee net profit is better than ordinary sales.
Align Your Currency
Match your listing and bank account currency to avoid conversion fees.
How Much Does Etsy Really Take Per Sale in Australia?
On average, Australian sellers pay between 9% and 12% of each sale in core platform and processing fees before optional advertising. When Offsite Ads or currency conversion apply, effective fees can exceed 20% on certain transactions.
This is why understanding Etsy’s fee breakdown is essential before scaling your shop or running paid ads.
Final Summary
Selling on Etsy from Australia involves several fees that affect your net profit:
Listing fee: ~A$0.28–A$0.30 per item
Transaction fee: 6.5% of sale total
Payment processing: 3% domestic / 4% international + A$0.25
Offsite ads: up to 15% on attributed sales
Currency conversion: ~2.5% when applicable
GST on Etsy fees: ~10% on service fees
Accurate fee knowledge helps you price smart, protect margins, and build a sustainable Etsy business from Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are Etsy fees in Australia higher than in the US?
Core structure is the same, but currency and local rates (like GST) can make the effective cost slightly different.
2. Does Etsy charge GST on sales?
Etsy charges GST on its own fees; tax on products you sell depends on Australian tax rules.
3. Do I pay listing fees if my item doesn’t sell?
Yes, listing fees apply regardless of whether the item sells.
4. Can I avoid payment processing fees?
Not if you use Etsy Payments — merchants must use this in most countries, including Australia.
5. Is Offsite Ads mandatory?
Only mandatory once you exceed certain sales thresholds; otherwise it’s optional.
6. What’s the best currency to list in?
Use the same currency as your bank account to reduce conversion fees
Recommendation:
Always verify details directly on the official company website before making any business or financial decision.