Is Selling Clothing On Mercari Profitable

Mercari Fees for clothing Sellers

Mercari charges a flat 10% commission on all clothing sales, plus you pay actual shipping costs (you choose the carrier). For a $30 clothing item, Mercari takes $3 in fees. If shipping costs $5 via USPS Priority Mail, your total outlay is $8 before you factor in your acquisition cost. Returns are free to customers within 3 days, which means you may refund the full sale price but keep Mercari's 10% fee—a hidden cost that eats into margins on returned items. There's no listing fee, so your only upfront cost is acquiring the item itself.

Profit Margin Benchmarks

Good margins on Mercari clothing look like this: buy a used hoodie for $3 at a thrift store, sell it for $18, pay $1.80 in Mercari fees and $5 in shipping, net $8.20 profit (45% margin). Average performers make 25% to 35% net margins by selling mid-range items ($15 to $40) with reasonable acquisition costs. Poor performers sell brand-new retail items at 10% to 20% below retail, get hit with fees and shipping, and end up with negative margins or break-even after accounting for time and returns.

Verdict: Is It Worth It?

Selling clothing on Mercari is profitable if you source strategically—thrift stores, clearance racks, or your own closet with $5-$15 average acquisition costs per item. It's not profitable if you're buying wholesale or new inventory expecting retail margins. At scale (50+ listings), you can make $200 to $400 monthly in side income. It's not a get-rich scheme; it's a way to convert old clothes into cash with acceptable margins and low barrier to entry.

Frequently Asked Questions