GOAT seller fees have three main layers: a percentage commission based on seller rating and country, a fixed seller fee based on location and fulfillment route, and a percentage cash-out fee when available earnings are deposited. For a U.S. seller with a rating of 90 or above using prepaid shipping, the standard starting point is 9.5% commission plus a $5 seller fee. A standard 2.9% cash-out charge may then apply to the earnings being withdrawn.
This guide uses GOAT's official Fee Policy, last updated June 12, 2026 and effective August 1, 2026, plus current GOAT Support pages. The rates and calculator assumptions were reviewed on August 14, 2026. GOAT can apply promotions, account reviews, regional terms, different payout methods, and issue-related charges, so the fee shown in your seller account remains the final authority.
What percentage does GOAT take from sellers?
GOAT's standard commission for a seller in good standing is 9.5% in the United States and 12.4% for Canadian sellers. GOAT deducts that commission from the listing price only when the item is purchased. The separate fixed seller fee is added to the commission deduction. This means the common phrase '9.5% plus seller fee' describes two different components, not a 9.5% charge on top of shipping, tax, and every buyer payment.
The percentage rises when a seller rating falls. In the United States, ratings from 70 through 89 use 15%, ratings from 50 through 69 use 20%, and ratings below 50 use 25%. Canadian equivalents are 17.9%, 22.9%, and 27.9%. GOAT also says an account below 50 may be reviewed and suspended from submitting items. The higher rate is therefore both a direct cost and a warning that cancellation or verification problems need attention.
- United States rating 90 or above: 9.5% commission
- United States rating 70 to 89: 15% commission
- United States rating 50 to 69: 20% commission
- United States rating below 50: 25% commission and possible account review
- Canada uses the same rating bands at 12.4%, 17.9%, 22.9%, and 27.9%
How does the GOAT seller rating change commission?
All sellers begin with a rating of 90 and the minimum commission tier. GOAT says each seller cancellation deducts 10 rating points, while each successful sale adds 2 points. A single cancellation can therefore move a new seller from 90 to 80 and raise the U.S. commission from 9.5% to 15% until successful sales rebuild the rating. At a $200 listing price, that change increases commission from $19 to $30 before the fixed seller fee and cash-out charge.
Use the rating displayed in the seller account rather than estimating it from memory. The calculator includes all four U.S. tiers and all four Canadian tiers. If GOAT shows a different percentage because of a promotion, account action, country, or special program, select the closest preset only for comparison and treat the actual sale confirmation as authoritative. The tool does not predict whether GOAT will suspend or restore an account.
What is the fixed GOAT seller fee?
The fixed seller fee depends on the address associated with the account and, in several countries, whether the seller uses drop-off or prepaid shipping. The current U.S. schedule is $0 for eligible drop-off and $5 for prepaid shipping. Canada also lists $0 for drop-off and $5 for prepaid shipping. Other examples include $5 for Singapore, South Korea, and Mexico, $8 for Australia and Italy, $10 for Denmark and Japan prepaid shipping, and $30 for locations grouped as Other. GOAT publishes a longer country and territory table in its Fee Policy.
Do not substitute the buyer's shipping charge for this seller fee. GOAT describes the seller fee as a location-based deduction from the listing price. Buyer shipping is calculated separately at checkout and is not part of the listing-price commission model used here. Enter the exact fixed amount shown for your location and route. If you use drop-off, change the default $5 to $0. If your country is not one of the calculator presets, enter the official amount manually.
How is the GOAT cash-out fee calculated?
GOAT's Fee Policy says a 2.9% cash-out fee applies when earnings are deposited through ACH direct deposit or PayPal. GOAT may reduce or waive the fee during a promotional campaign. A GOAT Support article also warns that certain sellers in select locations may see a 3.1% cash-out fee depending on method and preferred currency. PayPal availability varies by region, and bank processing can take two to three business days.
The calculator estimates the cash-out charge on earnings left after commission and the fixed seller fee. For example, a $100 U.S. sale at 9.5% commission with a $5 prepaid-shipping seller fee leaves $85.50 in GOAT earnings. Applying 2.9% produces an estimated $2.48 cash-out charge and an $83.02 cash payout. GOAT does not publish every rounding or currency-conversion rule on the cited fee page, so compare the estimate with the in-app cash-out screen before relying on the final cent. Canadian presets use zero because GOAT's newer Fee Policy and older support article do not state Canadian treatment consistently; Canadian sellers should enter the rate shown in their account.
What is the GOAT seller payout formula?
For a standard sale, start with listing price. Subtract listing price multiplied by the applicable commission rate. Then subtract the fixed seller fee for the account location and fulfillment route. That result is the balance before cash out. If a cash-out percentage applies, multiply the remaining earnings by that rate and subtract the estimated charge. Profit requires one more step: subtract what you paid for the item, seller-paid shipping or handling costs, packaging, and any other expense not already included in GOAT's deductions.
In formula form: commission equals listing price times commission rate. Earnings before cash out equal listing price minus commission minus seller fee. Cash payout equals earnings before cash out minus cash-out fee. Profit equals cash payout minus item cost minus seller-paid shipping minus packaging and other costs. Margin divides profit by listing price. Return on cost divides profit by the costs you supplied. Keeping these measures separate prevents a positive payout from being mistaken for a profitable sale.
- Commission = listing price × commission rate
- GOAT earnings = listing price − commission − location seller fee
- Cash-out fee estimate = GOAT earnings × cash-out rate
- Cash payout = GOAT earnings − cash-out fee
- Profit = cash payout − item cost − seller shipping − packaging and other costs
What do worked GOAT fee examples look like?
Example one uses a $100 U.S. listing, rating 90 or above, prepaid shipping, and a standard cash out. Commission is $9.50. The seller fee is $5, leaving $85.50. A 2.9% cash-out estimate is $2.48, so the estimated cash payout is $83.02. If the item cost $45 and the seller spent $4 on packaging and handling, estimated profit is $34.02. The total GOAT fee estimate is $16.98 before those seller-controlled costs.
Example two uses a $200 Canadian listing with a rating of 90 or above and a $5 prepaid-shipping seller fee. Commission at 12.4% is $24.80, leaving $170.20 before any account-specific cash-out charge. The Canadian calculator preset uses zero for cash out until the seller enters the rate shown by GOAT. Example three shows the rating effect: a $200 U.S. seller in the 70 to 89 band pays $30 commission instead of $19. With a $5 seller fee and 2.9% cash out, the estimated payout is $160.21 rather than $170.90. That $10.69 difference can erase a thin resale margin.
Which GOAT costs are not included automatically?
The calculator does not automatically add currency conversion, taxes, duties, return shipping, cancellation consequences, verification problems, damage or penalty charges, promotional adjustments, or special-program terms. It also does not model GOAT Clean, which has a separate legacy fee structure, or account-specific arrangements. Add known out-of-pocket costs to the shipping or packaging fields, but do not invent a marketplace rate when GOAT has not published one for your situation.
GOAT's current policy also allows a $1 monthly maintenance fee after at least two years without registered account activity for accounts with return addresses in specified U.S. states and the District of Columbia. It does not apply to zero or negative balances and cannot reduce the balance below zero. This is not a per-sale cost, so it is excluded from the standard sale calculator. GOAT says sellers may cash out only when total earnings are greater than $25, which can delay withdrawal even when one sale is profitable.
How should a seller use the GOAT fee calculator?
Before listing or accepting an offer, enter the actual listing price and select the country and rating band shown in the account. Replace the default seller fee with the official amount for your location and shipping route. Confirm the cash-out percentage for the intended method. Then add acquisition cost, seller-paid shipping, packaging, and the profit target. The calculator separates commission, fixed seller fee, estimated cash-out charge, payout, profit, margin, return on cost, and a target sale price.
Recheck the inputs after any cancellation, successful-sale rating change, location change, policy update, or promotional notice. A target-price result is a planning figure, not a guarantee that an item will sell at that price. Marketplace Math is independent from GOAT and does not imply endorsement. Use GOAT's current Fee Policy and the fee shown in your account as the source of truth for a real transaction.
Sources
- GOAT Fee Policy: commission tiers, seller fees, cash out, and maintenance ↗
- GOAT Support: Current seller commission overview ↗
- GOAT Support: Cash-out methods and fee variations ↗
- GOAT Support: Seller shipping label process ↗
Frequently asked questions
How much does GOAT take from a $100 sale?
For a U.S. seller rated 90 or above using prepaid shipping, the standard estimate is $9.50 commission plus a $5 seller fee. If 2.9% cash out applies to the remaining $85.50, the estimated cash-out fee is $2.48 and payout is $83.02.
Does GOAT always charge 9.5%?
No. The 9.5% U.S. rate is the minimum tier for a rating of 90 or above. Lower ratings use 15%, 20%, or 25%. Canadian tiers are 12.4%, 17.9%, 22.9%, and 27.9%.
Is the GOAT seller fee separate from commission?
Yes. GOAT lists commission as a percentage of listing price plus a fixed seller fee based on the account location and, in some countries, drop-off or prepaid shipping.
Does GOAT charge a fee to cash out?
GOAT's current policy lists a 2.9% fee for ACH direct deposit or PayPal cash outs, although promotions can reduce or waive it. Some sellers or currencies may see a different rate.
Does buyer-paid shipping increase GOAT seller commission?
GOAT says commission and the seller fee are deducted from listing price. The calculator therefore does not add buyer-paid shipping, taxes, or duties to the standard commission base.