Etsy is usually cheaper per sale and easier to start: a $0.20 listing fee, a 6.5% transaction fee and 3% + $0.25 payment processing in the US, about 10.8% on a $35 order. Amazon Handmade charges a 15% referral fee ($0.30 minimum) with no listing fee, but you must apply and be approved. Etsy's Offsite Ads fee can push its cost above Amazon's.
A note on sources: the fees below come from Etsy's Fees & Payments Policy and Etsy Payments Policy and from Amazon's own Handmade and seller pricing pages, checked in October 2026. AiArter, our product, appears only briefly, in the section on listing photos. Fees change and vary by country, so check current pricing in your seller dashboard before you set prices.
- Cheaper per sale: Etsy, in most cases. On a $35 US order, Etsy's standard fees are about $3.78 and Amazon Handmade's referral fee is $5.25.
- The exception: orders Etsy attributes to its Offsite Ads carry an extra 15% fee (12% once your shop passes $10,000 in yearly sales), capped at $100 per order.
- Easier to start: Etsy. Amazon Handmade needs an application, and approval, before you can list.
- Fulfillment: Amazon Handmade sellers can use Fulfillment by Amazon for ready-made items; custom products must be shipped by the seller.
- Many makers sell on both and price each channel for its own fees.
Etsy vs Amazon Handmade fees at a glance
These are the fees a US seller pays on each platform. Sellers in other countries pay different payment processing rates on Etsy, and Amazon Handmade's terms differ by marketplace.
| Fee | Etsy (US seller) | Amazon Handmade (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Listing fee | $0.20 per listing, renews every 4 months or after each sale of a multi-quantity item | None |
| Sales fee | 6.5% transaction fee on item price, shipping and gift wrap | 15% referral fee or $0.30, whichever is greater, per unit |
| Payment processing | 3% + $0.25 per order (Etsy Payments) | No separate fee listed |
| Monthly fee | None; Etsy Plus optional at $10/month | Professional plan $39.99/month, waived after the first month for approved makers |
| Advertising | Offsite Ads 15% (or 12%) on attributed orders; Etsy Ads optional | Optional Amazon ads, billed separately |
| Set-up | A one-time set-up fee may apply, shown during shop set-up | Application and approval |
| Other | 2.5% currency conversion if you list in another currency; regulatory operating fees in some countries | Optional Fulfillment by Amazon fees |
Etsy's and Amazon's fees, taken from their official policy and seller pricing pages, were checked in October 2026. Marketplaces change their rules, so confirm the current requirements in your seller dashboard before you upload a large batch.
How much does Etsy take from a sale?
On a typical US order, Etsy takes about 10–11% in standard fees. Etsy's policy lists three charges on most sales:
- Listing fee: $0.20 per listing, charged whether or not it sells. Listings expire after four months and auto-renew at $0.20 unless you switch renewal to manual. For multi-quantity listings, each sale renews the listing for another $0.20.
- Transaction fee: 6.5% of the price you display plus what you charge for shipping and gift wrap. US sellers don't pay it on sales tax.
- Payment processing: 3% + $0.25 for US bank accounts, charged on the total sale including shipping and tax. Rates differ by country; for example, the UK is 4% + £0.20 and most EU countries 4% + €0.30.
Then there's Offsite Ads. If Etsy advertises your listing on another site and a buyer orders within 30 days of clicking that ad, you pay 15% of the order. Shops under $10,000 in sales over the past 365 days can opt out. Once a shop reaches $10,000, the fee drops to 12% for the life of the shop, but participation becomes required. The fee on a single order never exceeds $100.
How much does Amazon Handmade take from a sale?
Amazon Handmade takes 15% per unit, or $0.30 if that's higher. Amazon counts shipping and gift-wrap charges as part of an item's total price, so the 15% applies to those too. There's no per-listing fee.
Handmade requires a Professional selling plan, which normally costs $39.99 a month. Amazon says the monthly fee is waived for approved Handmade sellers after the first month, so you pay it once. If you use Fulfillment by Amazon, its fees are separate and depend on size and weight.
Etsy vs Amazon Handmade: fees on a real order
Here's the same order on both platforms: a $30 item with $5 shipping, a $35 total, sold by a US seller. Sales tax is left out for simplicity.
| Order | Etsy fees | Etsy share | Amazon Handmade fees | Amazon share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35, no ads | $3.78 ($0.20 + $2.28 + $1.30) | 10.8% | $5.25 | 15% |
| $35, via Etsy Offsite Ads at 15% | $9.03 | 25.8% | $5.25 | 15% |
| $35, via Etsy Offsite Ads at 12% | $7.98 | 22.8% | $5.25 | 15% |
| $100, no ads | $9.95 ($0.20 + $6.50 + $3.25) | about 10% | $15.00 | 15% |
| $10, no ads | $1.40 ($0.20 + $0.65 + $0.55) | 14% | $1.50 | 15% |
So Etsy is cheaper on ordinary sales, and its fixed fees ($0.20 listing, $0.25 processing) matter most on cheap items. Amazon's flat 15% is predictable and doesn't change with ad attribution. Remember Amazon's one-time $39.99 first-month plan fee when you start. Run your own numbers in our free profit margin calculator, and see how to price handmade products for building fees into your price.
Which is easier to start selling on?
Etsy. You open a shop, pay any set-up fee shown, and list. Amazon Handmade uses an application: you confirm you'll follow the Handmade guidelines, then describe yourself, your products and your process, and wait for approval in Seller Central. Approved makers get a maker profile page shoppers can see.
Amazon Handmade also limits what qualifies. Products must be hand-altered, hand-designed, handcrafted, repurposed or upcycled, from categories such as jewelry and watches, home, kitchen and dining, clothing, shoes and handbags, beauty and personal care, artwork, baby, pet supplies, stationery and party supplies, and toys and games. Listings need a product ID or an approved exemption, and each country needs its own selling account.
Which is better for custom and personalized items?
Both allow personalization. On Etsy, a personalization fee is added to the listing price and charged the same 6.5% transaction fee. On Amazon Handmade, custom products must be fulfilled by you and can't use FBA, so you lose one of Amazon's main advantages for that part of your range. Made-to-order makers often find Etsy simpler; makers with ready-made stock can use FBA on Amazon.
Do you need different photos for Etsy and Amazon Handmade?
Usually, yes. Amazon's main image rules ask for a pure white background with the product filling most of the frame, while Etsy allows styled photos and crops thumbnails differently. See Amazon product image requirements and Etsy listing photo size. Our free Etsy image resizer handles the crop without an account.
Turn one product photo into an Amazon-ready white main image and an Etsy-style lifestyle shot, with your real product kept as photographed.
Try AiArter photos7 days free · 50 credits · No credit cardIf you'd rather not edit by hand, AiArter's Amazon white background tool makes the pure white 2000×2000 main image (4 credits). It's one option among many; a well-lit phone photo and a free editor also work.
If you sell the same item on both, a single price can lose money on one of them. Work out your fees per platform, including Etsy's Offsite Ads on some orders, and set each price so your margin holds on the more expensive channel.
How to choose between Etsy and Amazon Handmade
- Check eligibility. If your products don't fit Amazon Handmade's categories or definition of handmade, Etsy is the answer.
- Work out fees on your average order on both, with and without Etsy Offsite Ads.
- Look at fulfillment. Ready-made stock can use FBA on Amazon; custom work must be shipped by you on either platform.
- Think about volume. Etsy listing fees add up across a large, slow-selling catalog; Amazon has none.
- Start where it's easier, often Etsy, and apply to Amazon Handmade in parallel if you qualify.
New to Etsy? Our guides on getting your first Etsy sale and Etsy tags are good next steps.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to sell on Etsy or Amazon Handmade?
Etsy is usually cheaper per sale. A US seller pays a $0.20 listing fee, a 6.5% transaction fee and 3% + $0.25 processing, about 10.8% on a $35 order. Amazon Handmade charges 15% (minimum $0.30). Orders from Etsy's Offsite Ads add 12–15%, which can make Etsy more expensive.
What are Amazon Handmade's fees?
Amazon Handmade charges a referral fee of 15% or $0.30 per unit, whichever is greater, including on shipping and gift-wrap charges. It requires a Professional plan ($39.99/month), which Amazon waives after the first month for approved Handmade sellers.
What are Etsy's fees in 2026?
Etsy's policy lists a $0.20 listing fee, a 6.5% transaction fee on item price, shipping and gift wrap, and payment processing of 3% + $0.25 for US sellers. Offsite Ads cost 15% or 12% of attributed orders, and Etsy Plus is an optional $10/month.
Do I need to be approved to sell on Amazon Handmade?
Yes. Amazon uses an application process for Handmade. You describe yourself, your products and how they're made, and Amazon reviews it. Products must be hand-altered, hand-designed, handcrafted, repurposed or upcycled.
Can I sell the same products on Etsy and Amazon Handmade?
Yes, many makers do. Amazon's Handmade page tells existing Etsy and Amazon sellers to add the Handmade classification to their listings after approval. Price each channel for its own fees and keep stock counts in sync.
Can I use Fulfillment by Amazon for handmade products?
Yes, for ready-made items. Amazon says custom products must be fulfilled by the seller and can't use Fulfillment by Amazon. FBA fees are charged separately from the referral fee.
One photo can become an Amazon white main image, an Etsy-sized lifestyle shot and social sizes. Try it on a few products in the 14-day trial.
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