Whatnot Seller Fees in 2026: What Card Breakers Pay Under the New Tiers
ChronicCardsKey Takeaways
- US Whatnot commission starts at 8.00% for Sports and TCG, and Whatnot's tiered structure took effect September 21, 2026.
- Your four-week sales total sets your commission rate for the next four-week period.
- The published US rate for Sports and TCG goes as low as 6.50% at $500,000 or more in four-week sales.
- Payment processing is separate: 2.9% + $0.30 on the total order value, including buyer-paid shipping and taxes.
Table of Contents
Whatnot seller fees in the US are a commission that starts at 8% of the item's sale price in the Sports and TCG categories, plus a payment processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30 on the total order value. Since September 21, 2026, that commission is tiered: your total sales in a four-week period set your rate for the next period, and the published US rate for Sports and TCG goes as low as 6.50% at $500,000 or more in sales. Details verified as of October 6, 2026 against Whatnot's help center and seller page.
If you run card breaks or sell singles live, here are the official numbers, how the tiers work and a worked example for a break spot.
What Fees Does Whatnot Charge Sellers?
Whatnot's seller fees page describes two fees on each sale. The first is commission, which Whatnot describes as its share of the sale. The second is payment processing, which it describes as the standard cost of processing payments through its payment provider. Whatnot's seller page lists no signup fees and no monthly costs, and says you only pay commission after you have sold an item. The fees page also refers to other seller fees, which this post does not cover.
The two fees are calculated on different amounts:
- Commission is calculated on the sale price of the item. Shipping and taxes paid by the buyer are not included.
- Payment processing in the US is 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, calculated on the total order value paid by the buyer, including the item price, buyer-paid shipping and taxes.
What Changed With Whatnot Fees on September 21, 2026?
Whatnot's new commission rate structure took effect September 21, 2026 for existing sellers. For sellers who gain selling access after that date, it takes effect at 12:00 a.m. local time on the Monday after they gain access. Here is how Whatnot says it works:
- Your total sales across all categories over a four-week period determine your tier.
- Your tier sets your commission rate for the next period. Higher sales unlock a higher tier and a lower rate.
- Your rate is locked for the full period. Crossing into a higher tier lowers your rate for the next period, not right away.
- Tiers and rates reset every four weeks (28 days), and every period starts from zero.
- There is nothing to apply for or enroll in.
What Are Whatnot's US Commission Rates for Sports and TCG?
These are the US rates Whatnot publishes for four of its verticals: Sports, TCG, Other Collectibles and Coins. The sales ranges are your total sales in a four-week period.
| Tier | Four-week total sales | Sports | TCG | Other Collectibles | Coins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $0 to $14,999 | 8.00% | 8.00% | 8.00% | 4.00% |
| Tier 1 | $15,000 to $34,999 | 7.75% | 7.75% | 7.25% | 3.90% |
| Tier 2 | $35,000 to $49,999 | 7.50% | 7.50% | 6.50% | 3.80% |
| Tier 3 | $50,000 to $99,999 | 7.25% | 7.25% | 6.00% | 3.70% |
| Tier 4 | $100,000 to $249,999 | 7.00% | 7.00% | 5.00% | 3.60% |
| Tier 5 | $250,000 to $499,999 | 6.75% | 6.75% | 5.00% | 3.55% |
| Tier 6 | $500,000 or more | 6.50% | 6.50% | 5.00% | 3.50% |
Whatnot's US rate card also has Fashion and Other rows, and thresholds and rates are set per market, so sellers outside the US see different numbers. A few details matter for breakers and other live sellers:
- For live sales, the rate is based on the category of the show. For marketplace (non-live) sales, it is based on the category of the product.
- Sales in all categories count toward your total, even though the commission rate can differ by category.
- Whatnot considers deliberately listing in the wrong category to get a lower commission rate to be fee avoidance, and says it may result in enforcement action.
How Much Does Whatnot Take From a Break Spot?
Whatnot's help center uses this example: a $10 item with $4.99 shipping and $0.85 in sales tax. Applied to a $10 break spot in a show charged the Standard 8% rate, the math looks like this:
- Commission: 8% of the $10 sale price = $0.80
- Payment processing: 2.9% of the $15.84 order total is about $0.46, plus $0.30 = about $0.76
- Total fees: about $1.56, or about 15.6% of the $10 sale price
The fixed $0.30 per transaction weighs more on low-priced spots than on high-priced ones. At the US Sports and TCG rates, the commission alone on $100 of sale price is $8.00 at the Standard tier, $7.75 at Tier 1 and $6.50 at Tier 6. The processing fee does not change with your tier, because Whatnot says reduced rates apply to your selling commission only.
The processing and total figures above are our own calculations from Whatnot's published rates. You can see the full fee breakdown on each order in Seller Hub.
Sellers in some states and the District of Columbia have an extra deduction. Whatnot says state laws require it to collect sales tax on its commission in the District of Columbia, Hawaii, New Mexico and West Virginia, and on the payment processing fee in Connecticut, Hawaii, New Mexico, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas and West Virginia. Those taxes are deducted from US sellers' order earnings.
How Do You Track Your Tier?
- The Seller Hub home page shows your pace toward the next tier, your current tier and your projected rate.
- Whatnot projects your finish by dividing your total sales so far by the number of days that have passed and multiplying by 28.
- Cancelled orders are subtracted from your total for the period they were placed in. Private shows and local pickup orders do not count toward your total.
- For Premier Shop sellers, the Premier Shop discount applies on top of the new commission rate through October 31. Starting November 1, Whatnot says Premier Shop no longer includes a commission discount.
Where Does Your Break Setup Fit In?
Whatnot's Card Breaks Policy requires the full display of a break to be kept onscreen from the sale of an item to the end of the break, and the rules for the break must be shared in Show Notes or in the item listings.
We offer custom gear for that on-camera space. Our Custom Sports Card Break Mats are 4 mm thick neoprene with an anti-slip backing. You choose a color, add your logo and pick from three sizes: 12 x 18, 12 x 22 or 16 x 32 inches. You can pair a mat with a Custom Backdrop or browse all of our custom card breaker supplies. New to breaking? Start with our guide on how to become a sports card breaker.
Sources
Details verified as of October 6, 2026. Fees and promotions can change, so confirm current rates with Whatnot.
- Whatnot Help Center: Whatnot seller fees (dated October 1, 2026)
- Whatnot Help Center: Taxes on Whatnot commissions and fees (dated July 17, 2026)
- Whatnot Help Center: Card Breaks Policy (dated June 22, 2026)
- Whatnot: Selling on Whatnot
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