Consignment Shop Fee Calculator: The Shop's Cut vs. Your Payout
Work out how much a consignment shop keeps from an item's sale price — and how much you receive as the consignor — so you know your real payout before consigning clothing, furniture, or other goods.
Adjust the inputs and select Calculate for a full breakdown.
Compare Common Scenarios
How the numbers shift across typical situations for this calculator:
| Scenario | Shop's cut | Your payout |
|---|---|---|
| 40% of $200 (you keep $120) | 80 | 120 |
| 50% of $80 (clothing) | 40 | 40 |
| 60% of $500 (furniture) | 300 | 200 |
| 30% of $1,200 (high-end designer) | 360 | 840 |
How This Calculator Works
Enter the shop's commission percentage and the item's sale price. The calculator returns the shop's cut and your payout (the remainder). The split is on the actual sale price, so what you receive depends both on the commission rate and on the price the shop sets and ultimately sells at.
The Formula
Percentage of an Amount
Amount is the base value, Percentage is the rate applied to it
Worked Example
On a $200 sale with a 40% commission, the shop keeps $80 and you receive $120. Consignment splits commonly run 40%–60% to the shop (so you keep 40%–60%), varying by shop type — clothing/apparel resale, furniture, and high-end designer consignment all differ. Two things shape your real payout beyond the split: the price the shop sets (you typically don't control it, and they price to sell), and any automatic markdowns over time (many shops reduce the price the longer an item sits unsold, which lowers the base the split applies to).
Key Insight
Consignment is a hands-off way to sell, but understanding the split and the shop's incentives helps you decide whether it beats selling yourself. The commission (commonly 40%–60% to the shop) is the price of convenience — the shop displays, prices, markets, and handles the transaction, taking on the work and the risk that an item doesn't sell. Several factors affect your actual take: the shop usually controls pricing (they price to move inventory, which may be lower than you'd hope), many shops apply scheduled markdowns the longer an item stays unsold (so timing and the split interact), and unsold items are often donated or returned per the shop's policy after a set period — check that policy before consigning. Higher-end and designer consignment may offer better splits or higher prices for premium items, while general resale shops take a larger cut. The alternative is selling directly (online marketplaces, yard sales), which keeps 100% of the price minus any platform fees but requires your time, effort, and the hassle of listing, communicating, and shipping. Consignment makes sense when convenience is worth the cut, the shop reaches buyers you can't, or for items (like furniture or designer goods) where a specialist shop commands better prices. Run your payout here at the shop's rate, then weigh it against what you'd net selling it yourself.
Brick-and-mortar consignment splits and dynamics
TYPICAL SPLITS.
Standard women's clothing. Shop 50-60% / Consignor 40-50%.
Designer/luxury. Shop 30-40% / Consignor 60-70%.
Children's clothing. Shop 60-65% / Consignor 35-40%.
Furniture / large items. Shop 30-50% / Consignor 50-70%.
Antiques / collectibles. Shop 30-40% / Consignor 60-70%.
AGREEMENT TERMS.
Consignment period. 60-90 days typical. After period unsold items donate/return/discount.
Markdown schedule. Substantial. Common: 10% off day 30, 25% off day 60, 50% off day 75, then donate.
Consignor receives same % regardless of discount applied.
Substantial consignor risk — high markdowns reduce net.
PAYMENT TERMS.
Pickup vs auto-credit. Some shops require pickup of payment.
Substantial unclaimed payment retention rules vary state-by-state (consignor abandons after period).
Some shops bi-weekly or monthly payouts.
QUALITY CONTROL.
Substantial shops curate aggressively. Reject 30-50% of submissions.
Substantial consignor frustration but maintains shop quality.
BUSINESS ECONOMICS.
Shop revenue = 50% × $X total sales.
Substantial inventory cost = $0 (consignor provides).
Substantial labor — intake, photography, displays, sales.
Substantial rent (storefront).
Net margin shop 5-15% typical.
STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS.
Consignors with substantial higher-value items get better splits.
Consignors with substantial volume can negotiate (bulk submission, recurring).
Shops compete on split, marketing, customer base, brand.
Online marketplace fee comparison (2024)
POSHMARK.
$15+ sale: 20% commission.
<$15 sale: flat $2.95.
Substantial seller-friendly higher prices.
Substantial shipping included by buyer.
Substantial social marketplace dynamic.
THE REALREAL (luxury consignment).
Sliding commission. Beginner: 60% to seller. Frequent seller: up to 80%.
Authentication included (substantial value-add for luxury).
Substantial — handles photography, listing, fulfillment.
Substantial luxury goods focus — Chanel, Hermès, Cartier, etc.
Substantial substantial single platform for high-end resale.
THREDUP (mass-market clothing).
Sliding scale by selling price.
Under $5 sale: ~5% to seller.
$5-$13.99: ~15% to seller.
$14-$29.99: ~40% to seller.
$30-$49.99: ~50%.
$50+: ~80%.
Substantial — low-value items minimal seller proceeds.
Substantial mass-market low-friction for sellers (mail bag, no listings).
VESTIAIRE COLLECTIVE (European luxury, US presence).
13-25% commission depending on tier.
Substantial authentication. International reach.
EBAY (auction + Buy It Now).
13.25% final value fee most categories.
Substantial substantial established — 30+ years.
Substantial — seller manages everything.
DEPOP / MERCARI.
Depop 10% (US, 2024).
Mercari 10% + processing.
Substantial — younger demographic, fashion-focused.
FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE / CRAIGSLIST.
Free. Substantial. Local pickup typical.
Substantial — direct sales, no platform protection.
Consignment + resale fee comparison (2024)
Reference seller share / commission rates.
| Platform / Format | Seller share / Commission |
|---|---|
| B&M consignment standard | Seller 40-50% |
| B&M designer/luxury | Seller 60-70% |
| B&M furniture/antique | Seller 50-70% |
| Poshmark | 80% above $15, $2.95 flat below |
| The RealReal (beginner) | 60% seller |
| The RealReal (frequent) | Up to 80% seller |
| ThredUp low-value | 5-15% seller |
| ThredUp $50+ | ~80% seller |
| Vestiaire Collective | 75-87% seller |
| eBay | ~87% seller (13% fee) |
| Depop | 90% seller |
| Mercari | 90% seller |
Online platforms generally more seller-favorable than brick-and-mortar consignment but require seller effort (photos, listings, shipping). Luxury authentication adds substantial value (The RealReal, Vestiaire). Mass-market low-friction (ThredUp) trades effort for low payouts on cheaper items.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the consignment shop fee calculated?
Multiply the sale price by the shop's commission percentage to get the shop's cut; the rest is your payout. On a $200 sale with a 40% commission, the shop keeps $80 and you receive $120.
What's a typical consignment split?
Commonly 40%–60% to the shop (you keep the rest), varying by shop type — apparel resale, furniture, and high-end designer consignment differ. Premium/designer shops may offer better splits or higher prices; general resale shops often take a larger cut. Confirm the rate and any fees before consigning.
Who sets the price?
Usually the shop, not you. They price to sell their inventory, which may be lower than you'd hope, and your payout is the split applied to that actual sale price. Many shops also apply scheduled markdowns the longer an item sits unsold, which lowers the base the split applies to.
What happens to unsold items?
It depends on the shop's policy — after a set period, unsold items are often donated, marked down further, or returned to you. Check this before consigning, since policies vary and some shops keep or donate items you might have wanted back. Know the timeline and terms upfront.
Is consignment better than selling myself?
It's a convenience trade-off. Consignment is hands-off — the shop prices, displays, and sells — but takes a large cut. Selling directly (online marketplaces, yard sales) keeps more of the price but requires your time and effort. Consignment wins when convenience is worth the cut or a specialist shop commands better prices (furniture, designer goods).
When is this calculator unreliable?
Less reliable when sliding tiers based on item value (ThredUp 5-80%, The RealReal 60-80% by seller frequency), when authentication fees apply (designer/luxury items), when photography/listing fees deducted, when markdowns reduce final sale (consignor still gets same % of discounted price), when unsold-item disposition (donate/return/abandon) varies by state, or when platform-specific seller fees ($2.95 Poshmark flat below $15) not modeled.
References & Authoritative Sources
- Association of Resale Professionals (NARTS) — Consignment & Resale Industry Standards · consulted June 1, 2026 · Trade association
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) — Used Merchandise Stores NAICS 453310 · consulted June 1, 2026 · Federal industry data
- The RealReal / Poshmark investor filings — Public company seller fee schedules · consulted June 1, 2026 · Public marketplace fee disclosures
Related Calculators
Methodology & Review
Consignment shop fee = item sale price × consignment shop percentage. Typical split: shop 40-60%, consignor 40-60%. Higher-end designer consignment shop takes 30-40% (consignor 60-70%). Online platforms: The RealReal 50-70% commission decreasing with seller volume; Poshmark 20% above $15 + $2.95 flat fee below; ThredUp ~15-90% sliding scale. RELIABILITY: Reliable for documented split + sale price. Less reliable when (a) sliding tiers based on item value (lower-priced items higher commission); (b) authentication fees (designer goods); (c) photography/listing fees; (d) markdowns / sales reduce consignor share; (e) unsold-item disposition (donate, return, write-off); (f) platform-specific seller fees (Poshmark $2.95 flat below $15, etc.).
Updated