Discogs Seller Fees Explained
Discogs seller fees are simple in structure but easy to miscalculate when setting prices. This guide breaks down every fee, shows you how to calculate your net on any sale, and compares the cost of selling on Discogs vs eBay.
Overview
Discogs charges sellers two types of fees on each completed sale:
- Seller fee - a percentage of the item price (not shipping)
- Payment processing fee - a percentage of the total transaction (item + shipping)
There are no listing fees. You pay nothing to add records to the marketplace.
The Seller Fee (8%)
The Discogs seller fee is 8% of the item price for most sellers. Calculated on the item price only - not on the shipping amount.
Example:
- Item price: $50 → Seller fee: $50 × 8% = $4.00
- Shipping charged: $12 → not included in the seller fee calculation
Payment Processing Fee
Discogs Payments (recommended)
~3.5% + $0.30 on the total transaction amount (item + shipping).
Example on a $50 item + $12 shipping ($62 total):
($62 × 3.5%) + $0.30 = $2.17 + $0.30 = $2.47
PayPal
~3.49% + $0.49 on the total transaction. Slightly higher than Discogs Payments.
Calculating Your Net on Any Sale
Worked examples
$30 record, $10 shipping:
| Item price | $30.00 |
| Shipping charged | $10.00 |
| Seller fee (8% of $30) | -$2.40 |
| Processing (3.5% of $40 + $0.30) | -$1.70 |
| Total fees | -$4.10 |
| You receive | $35.90 |
| Minus actual shipping cost (~$9) | -$9.00 |
| Net profit | $26.90 |
$100 record, $12 shipping:
| Item price | $100.00 |
| Shipping charged | $12.00 |
| Seller fee (8% of $100) | -$8.00 |
| Processing (3.5% of $112 + $0.30) | -$4.22 |
| Total fees | -$12.22 |
| You receive | $99.78 |
| Minus actual shipping cost (~$11) | -$11.00 |
| Net profit | $88.78 |
Quick estimate: assume 11.5% total fees on item price
- $20 item → net ~$17.70 before shipping cost
- $50 item → net ~$44.25 before shipping cost
- $100 item → net ~$88.50 before shipping cost
Working backwards from a target net
Required listing price = Target net ÷ (1 - 0.115)
- Want to net $25: $25 ÷ 0.885 = $28.25
- Want to net $50: $50 ÷ 0.885 = $56.50
- Want to net $80: $80 ÷ 0.885 = $90.40
Discogs Fee Tiers for High-Volume Sellers
| Monthly sales volume | Seller fee |
|---|---|
| Under $500 | 8% |
| $500-$2,000 | 7% |
| $2,000-$5,000 | 6% |
| Over $5,000 | 5% |
Tiers are applied automatically based on rolling monthly sales. No application required. At $5,000+/month, you're paying 3.5% less per sale than a new seller.
Discogs Fees vs eBay Fees
For a $50 record with $12 shipping ($62 total):
| Discogs | eBay | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee calculation | 8% on $50 + 3.5%+$0.30 on $62 | 13.25% on $62 |
| Total fee | $6.47 | $8.22 |
| You receive (before shipping cost) | $55.53 | $53.78 |
| Net advantage | +$1.75 on Discogs |
For a $100 record with $12 shipping ($112 total):
| Discogs | eBay | |
|---|---|---|
| Total fee | $12.22 | $14.84 |
| You receive (before shipping cost) | $99.78 | $97.16 |
| Net advantage | +$2.62 on Discogs |
Key takeaway: Discogs is consistently cheaper in fees. However, eBay often yields higher sale prices for mainstream titles due to its broader buyer base and auction dynamics. A record that sells for $50 on Discogs might fetch $70 on eBay - making the eBay net better despite higher fees (see our full breakdown of eBay fees). Cross-list on both and let the market decide.
How Fees Affect Your Pricing Strategy
- Don't price below your fee floor. A $10 record incurs ~$1.45 in fees plus shipping costs. Set a minimum order value in seller settings ($5-$10) to avoid transactions that cost you money.
- Free shipping vs buyer-paid shipping. If you build shipping into the item price, your seller fee is slightly higher because the item price is higher. The difference is small but worth knowing.
- Factor fees into sourcing decisions:Break-even listing price = Purchase price ÷ (1 - fee rate) + shipping costIf you buy a record for $20:
$20 ÷ 0.885 + $12 shipping = $34.60 minimum listing price to break even
FAQ
Does Discogs charge to list records?
No. Listing is free. Fees only apply when a sale completes.
Are Discogs fees charged on shipping?
The seller fee (8%) is charged on item price only. The processing fee (3.5% + $0.30) is charged on the total including shipping.
How does Discogs pay out earnings?
With Discogs Payments, earnings accumulate and are paid out to your bank account weekly or on-demand. Fees are deducted automatically.
What's the total percentage I'll pay?
For most sellers using Discogs Payments: approximately 11-12% of the item price.
Does Discogs charge tax?
Discogs collects and remits sales tax in applicable US states as a marketplace facilitator. This doesn't affect your seller fee - it's collected from the buyer.
Summary
Discogs seller fees: 8% on item price + ~3.5% + $0.30 processing on total. All-in ~11-12% of item price - consistently lower than eBay's 13.25%. Cross-list to eBay to capture the broader market while keeping inventory synced via CrateFlow.