How the fee works
If a shopper clicks an Offsite Ad for one of your listings and buys from your shop within 30 days, the order is “attributed” and you pay an advertising fee on the order total, including postage. If their last click before buying was an on-site Etsy Ad, only the Etsy Ads cost applies instead.
The fee is capped at $100 USD per order, which only matters for orders above about $667 at 15%.
15% or 12%: the $10,000 threshold
Shops that have always made under $10,000 USD in sales over any rolling 365 days pay 15% and can opt out. Once a shop crosses $10,000, the rate drops to 12% but participation becomes compulsory for the lifetime of the shop, even if sales later fall. Etsy checks the threshold on the first day of each month, and counts item sales after discounts but not shipping or tax.
What an attributed sale costs
| Order total (item + shipping) | $50.99 |
| Listing fee ($0.20, converted) | $0.20 |
| Transaction fee 6.5% | $3.31 |
| Payment processing | $1.78 |
| Offsite Ads 15% | $7.65 |
| Total Etsy fees | $12.94 (25.4%) |
| Order total (item + shipping) | $50.99 |
| Listing fee ($0.20, converted) | $0.20 |
| Transaction fee 6.5% | $3.31 |
| Payment processing | $1.78 |
| Offsite Ads 12% | $6.12 |
| Total Etsy fees | $11.41 (22.4%) |
On this order the advert costs more than the rest of Etsy’s fees put together. Sellers in the UK, EU, Canada and Australia also pay VAT/GST on the advertising fee.
Should you opt out?
If you are under the threshold, compare your margin with and without the fee in the calculator. If an attributed sale leaves you close to zero profit, opting out (Shop Manager → Settings → Offsite Ads) may be sensible. If your margins are healthy, Offsite Ads can bring in buyers you would not otherwise reach, and you pay only when it works. Many sellers keep it on and set prices so an attributed sale still makes money.
Pricing so Offsite Ads never lose you money
Use the reverse calculator with Offsite Ads set to 15% (or 12%) and your minimum acceptable margin, for example 10%. The price it returns is your safe floor. Price at or above it and an ad sale can never lose money. Normal sales will then earn more.
Sources
- Etsy Fees & Payments Policy (listing fee, 6.5% transaction fee, 2.5% currency conversion, Offsite Ads)
- Etsy Payments Policy, section 9: payment processing fees by bank country
- Etsy Help: What are Payment Processing Fees for Selling on Etsy?
- Etsy Help: What is a Regulatory Operating Fee? (rates effective 22 June 2026)
- Etsy Community announcement: Regulatory Operating Fee updates (22 June 2026)
- Etsy Help: How Etsy’s Offsite Ads Work (15% / 12%, $100 cap)
All rates checked against these pages on 18 October 2026. Etsy can change fees at any time; your Payment account is the final word.
Run your own numbers
Plug in your real price, costs and country. Every fee updates as you type.
Open the Etsy fee calculatorFrequently asked questions
Can I choose which listings appear in Offsite Ads?
No. Etsy chooses which listings to advertise. Shops under the threshold can only opt the whole shop out.
Is the Offsite Ads fee charged on shipping?
Yes, on the order total including postage and gift wrap, excluding sales tax.
Do I get the fee back if I refund?
Etsy credits most fees proportionally on refunds, but rules differ for cases covered by Etsy’s Purchase Protection. Check the specific order in your Payment account.
Last reviewed: October 2026. General information only — check providers' official sites for current features and pricing.