Restocking Fee Calculator: Fee Deducted From a Return
Work out the restocking fee on a returned item as a percentage of its price — and the refund you actually walk away with once the fee is deducted, whether you're a buyer checking a return or a seller setting a policy.
Adjust the inputs and select Calculate for a full breakdown.
Compare Common Scenarios
How the numbers shift across typical situations for this calculator:
| Scenario | Restocking fee | Price plus fee |
|---|---|---|
| 15% of $500 ($75 fee) | $75.00 | $575.00 |
| 10% of $1,200 (appliance) | $120.00 | $1,320.00 |
| 25% of $300 (special order) | $75.00 | $375.00 |
| 20% of $800 (opened electronics) | $160.00 | $960.00 |
How This Calculator Works
Enter the item price and the restocking fee rate. The calculator returns the fee in dollars. A buyer's refund is the price minus that fee; a seller can read the fee as the amount retained to cover the cost of processing and reselling the return.
The Formula
Percentage Add-On
Rate is the tax or tip percentage applied to the amount
Worked Example
A 15% restocking fee on a $500 item is $75 — so a buyer returning it gets back $425, not the full $500. Restocking fees are common on electronics, appliances, special orders, and opened items, typically 10% to 25%. Many sellers waive the fee for defective products or unopened returns, so check the policy: the fee usually applies to opened, used, or non-defective returns rather than every return.
Key Insight
Restocking fees exist because a return isn't free for the seller — the item must be inspected, repackaged, possibly sold as open-box at a discount, and the original shipping is often sunk. For sellers, the fee both recovers those costs and discourages casual returns, but set it too high and it deters purchases or generates chargebacks and bad reviews. For buyers, the key is reading the return policy before purchase: know whether the fee applies, whether it's waived for defects or unopened items, and whether return shipping is also deducted. A clearly disclosed, reasonable fee (often 15% to 20%) is standard for big-ticket and special-order goods; a surprise fee at return time is a sign of a policy you should have checked first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a restocking fee calculated?
Multiply the item price by the restocking fee rate. A 15% fee on a $500 item is $75, so the buyer's refund is $425. The fee is the amount the seller keeps to cover the cost of handling and reselling the return.
What's a typical restocking fee?
Commonly 10% to 25% of the item price. Electronics, appliances, special orders, and opened items tend toward the higher end; many retailers cap it around 15% to 20%. The fee should be disclosed in the return policy before you buy.
When can a seller charge a restocking fee?
Usually on opened, used, or non-defective returns — and only if the fee was disclosed at purchase. Most sellers waive it for defective products, unopened items, or returns due to the seller's error. Some jurisdictions require clear disclosure or restrict fees, so policies must be transparent.
Does the fee include return shipping?
Not necessarily — they're often separate. Some sellers deduct both a restocking fee and return shipping from the refund, others only one. Read the policy: the combined deduction (fee plus shipping) is what determines your actual refund, and this calculator covers the percentage fee only.
Why do sellers charge restocking fees?
Returns cost money: inspection, repackaging, often reselling as discounted open-box, and unrecoverable original shipping. The fee recovers some of that cost and discourages casual or abusive returns. Set fairly and disclosed upfront, it protects margin; set too high or hidden, it costs sales and goodwill.
Related Calculators
Methodology & Review
The fee is the restocking percentage applied to the item price; the total here represents the price plus fee for a seller's view, while the refund a buyer receives is the price minus the fee. It models a percentage-based restocking fee and does not handle flat fees or shipping deductions.
Written by Ugo Candido · Last updated May 22, 2026.