OfferUp Profit Calculator
Calculate your OfferUp seller profits including service fees, payment processing fees, and shipping costs. Compare local pickup vs shipping to maximize your profit margins.
Item Details
12.9% Service Fee on Shipped Items
OfferUp charges 12.9% of the item price for shipped transactions. This covers payment processing and transaction protection.
Your actual cost to ship each item (2025 USPS rates)
Your OfferUp Profit
Profitable Sale
This sale is projected to generate $0 in profit with a 0.0% profit margin.
Shipped Sale Comparison
If this were a local pickup, you would save $0 in service fees (12.9%). Local transactions are 100% free on OfferUp.
Total Revenue
$0
Sale price × quantity
Net Profit
$0
Revenue - Fees - Costs
Profit Margin
0.0%
Profit as % of revenue
Return on Investment (ROI)
0.0%
Profit vs. total investment
Cost Breakdown
Fee & Cost Breakdown
Understanding OfferUp Profit: Complete Guide to Local and Shipped Sales
What is OfferUp Profit Calculation?
OfferUp profit calculation is the process of determining your actual earnings after accounting for fees, shipping costs, and the cost of goods sold. Unlike many marketplace platforms, OfferUp has a unique fee structure that dramatically favors local in-person transactions over shipped sales.
Understanding the difference between local pickup (0% fees) and shipped sales (12.9% service fee) is critical to maximizing your profitability on OfferUp. Many sellers don't realize that the fee structure can swing a sale from highly profitable to barely worth the effort, depending on which fulfillment method you choose.
OfferUp's Unique Fee Structure: Local vs Shipped
OfferUp is one of the most seller-friendly platforms when it comes to local transactions, but charges competitive marketplace fees for shipped items. Here's the complete breakdown:
Local Pickup - 100% FREE
- •Service Fee: $0 (0% of sale price). OfferUp charges absolutely nothing for in-person transactions.
- •Payment Processing: $0 if you accept cash, Venmo, or Zelle directly from the buyer.
- •Shipping Costs: $0. The buyer picks up the item from you.
- •Total Cost: Only your cost of goods. You keep 100% of the sale price minus what you paid for the item.
Shipped Sales - 12.9% Service Fee
- •Service Fee: 12.9% of the item sale price. This covers payment processing, buyer protection, and transaction support.
- •Shipping Cost: Your responsibility. You pay USPS, UPS, or FedEx to ship the item to the buyer (typically $4.63-$15+ depending on size/weight).
- •Buyer Pays Shipping: You can pass shipping costs to the buyer, but your cost is your time to pack and ship.
- •No Listing Fees: Unlike eBay, OfferUp does not charge fees to list items regardless of fulfillment method.
Critical Insight: Local is 12.9% More Profitable
The difference between local and shipped is massive. If you sell a $100 item locally, you pay $0 in fees. If you ship it, you pay $12.90 in service fees PLUS shipping costs ($5-$15). That's roughly $18-$28 total, or 18-28% of your sale price. For low-margin items, shipping can turn a profitable sale into a loss. Always prioritize local pickup when possible.
When to Use Local Pickup vs Shipping
Best for Local Pickup
- •High-Volume, Low-Margin Items: Clothing, electronics under $50, household goods. The 12.9% fee kills thin margins.
- •Heavy or Bulky Items: Furniture, appliances, large electronics. Shipping costs would exceed the item's value.
- •Urban/Suburban Sellers: High population density = more potential local buyers within a 10-20 mile radius.
- •Items Under $25: The 12.9% fee plus $5+ shipping makes small purchases unprofitable for both buyer and seller.
- •Quick Sales: Local buyers can pick up same-day, eliminating the 3-7 day shipping window.
Best for Shipped Sales
- •High-Margin Items: Collectibles, designer goods, rare items with 50%+ margins can absorb the 12.9% fee.
- •Niche Products: Items with limited local demand but strong national interest (vintage games, hobby supplies).
- •Small, Lightweight Items: Items that ship First Class ($4-$7) where shipping is a small percentage of sale price.
- •Rural Sellers: Low population density means fewer local buyers, shipping expands your market 100x.
- •Buyer Pays Shipping: If buyers cover shipping costs, the 12.9% fee is your only expense.
How to Maximize OfferUp Profits
Pricing Strategies
- •Price Local Competitively: Since you pay $0 fees on local sales, you can undercut shipped competitors and still make higher margins.
- •Account for 12.9% on Shipped Items: If you want $50 profit after fees, price at $57.40 to cover the service fee.
- •Bundle Low-Value Items: Selling 5 items for $50 beats selling 5 items at $10 each due to per-transaction fees.
- •Offer Both Options: List as local pickup but offer shipping as an add-on. Let buyers choose based on convenience vs. cost.
Safety and Efficiency Tips
- •Meet in Public Places: Police stations, grocery store parking lots, busy coffee shops. Many police stations have designated safe exchange zones.
- •Use TruYou Verification: OfferUp's TruYou badge verifies buyer/seller identity, reducing scam risk.
- •Cash Only for Local: Avoid payment apps that can be reversed. Cash is final and instant.
- •Batch Local Meetups: Schedule multiple pickups at the same location/time to maximize efficiency.
Understanding OfferUp Promoted Listings
OfferUp's promoted listings work differently than other platforms. Instead of a percentage of the sale price, OfferUp charges a fixed cost per day or per impression to boost your listing visibility. Typical costs range from $1-$5 per promotion depending on your market and category.
When Promotions Make Sense
- •High-Value Items ($100+): A $2 promotion on a $200 sale is a 1% cost. Worth it to sell faster.
- •Competitive Categories: Electronics, furniture, collectibles where dozens of similar listings exist.
- •Mid-Value Items ($50-$100): Calculate if the faster sale justifies the $1-3 promotion cost.
- •Low-Value Items (Under $50): Promotions rarely worth it. A $2 promotion on a $20 item is 10% of your sale.
Who Benefits Most from OfferUp?
OfferUp's unique fee structure makes it ideal for specific seller types:
- •Declutterers: Selling used household items, furniture, appliances locally with zero fees.
- •Casual Resellers: People flipping thrift store finds, garage sale items, or clearance goods with minimal fees.
- •Urban Sellers: High local population density maximizes the pool of potential buyers within 10-20 miles.
- •Furniture/Appliance Sellers: Items too expensive to ship economically, perfect for local pickup.
- •Quick Sale Seekers: Local pickup enables same-day transactions, ideal when you need fast cash.
Common OfferUp Profit Mistakes
Mistakes That Kill Profit
- •Shipping Low-Value Items: The 12.9% fee plus $5+ shipping destroys margins on items under $30. Stick to local.
- •Not Factoring in Shipping Supplies: Boxes, tape, bubble wrap add $2-5 per shipment. Include this in your cost calculation.
- •Promoting Low-Margin Items: Spending $2 to promote a $15 item with $3 profit makes no sense mathematically.
- •Ignoring Your Time Value: Meeting buyers locally requires drive time. Factor this into your effective hourly rate.
- •Accepting Flaky Buyers: Local no-shows waste your time. Require confirmation 30 minutes before meetup.
Final Thoughts
OfferUp's zero-fee local model is unmatched among major marketplace platforms. Facebook Marketplace is the only competitor with similar fee-free local sales. If you live in a populated area and sell items that buyers can easily pick up, OfferUp is the most profitable platform available - you keep 100% of your sale price minus your cost of goods.
However, the 12.9% service fee for shipped items means OfferUp is less competitive than eBay (13.25%) or Amazon (15%) when considering additional seller benefits those platforms provide. Use shipped sales on OfferUp only for niche items where local demand is insufficient, or when you have high enough margins to absorb the fee.
The key to OfferUp success is understanding when to use which fulfillment method. For most sellers, local pickup should be your default, with shipping reserved for items that justify the cost. This calculator helps you understand exactly which approach maximizes your profit for each item you sell.
Additional Frequently Asked Questions
Does OfferUp charge fees for local pickup?
No, OfferUp charges ZERO fees for local in-person transactions. If you meet the buyer in person and exchange the item for cash or direct payment (Venmo, Zelle, Cash App), OfferUp does not take any percentage. This makes local pickup 12.9% more profitable than shipped sales, where OfferUp charges a service fee.
What percentage does OfferUp take on shipped items?
OfferUp charges a 12.9% service fee on shipped items. This fee covers payment processing, buyer/seller protection, and transaction support. The fee applies only to the item sale price, not shipping charges. For example, if you sell an item for $100 and charge $10 for shipping, the service fee is $12.90 (12.9% of $100), not calculated on the $110 total.
How does OfferUp compare to Facebook Marketplace fees?
Both OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace charge zero fees for local transactions, making them equally profitable for in-person sales. For shipped sales, Facebook charges 5% (items $8+) or $0.40 flat fee (items under $8), which is significantly lower than OfferUp's 12.9% service fee. However, OfferUp provides better buyer/seller protection and fraud prevention for shipped transactions.
Are promoted listings worth it on OfferUp?
Promoted listings can be worth it for high-value items ($100+) in competitive categories where faster sales justify the cost. OfferUp typically charges $1-5 per promotion depending on market and category. For a $200 item, a $2 promotion is 1% of your sale price - often worth it to sell days faster. For items under $50, promotions rarely make financial sense as they eat into thin profit margins.
Can I get scammed on local OfferUp transactions?
Local scams are rare if you follow safety protocols. Always meet in public places (police station parking lots, busy stores), inspect items before paying, and use cash to avoid payment reversals. OfferUp's TruYou verification helps identify legitimate users. Never accept checks, wire transfers, or shipping requests for items listed as local pickup. Cash-on-delivery in a public place is virtually scam-proof.
Who pays for shipping on OfferUp shipped sales?
You can choose whether the seller or buyer pays shipping when listing an item for shipping. If you offer free shipping, you pay the USPS/UPS/FedEx shipping cost and typically build it into your item price. If the buyer pays shipping, OfferUp calculates shipping based on the item's weight, dimensions, and destination, and adds it to the buyer's total at checkout. Either way, you still pay the 12.9% service fee on the item price.
Does OfferUp take a cut of shipping charges?
No, OfferUp does not take a percentage of shipping charges. The 12.9% service fee applies only to the item sale price, not the shipping cost. If you sell an item for $50 and shipping is $7 (whether you or the buyer pays), the service fee is $6.45 (12.9% of $50), not calculated on the $57 total. This is more seller-friendly than platforms that charge fees on the total including shipping.
What's the best way to avoid OfferUp fees?
Stick to local in-person transactions to avoid the 12.9% service fee entirely. List items as local pickup only, meet buyers in public places, and accept cash or direct payment apps (Venmo, Zelle) that bypass OfferUp's payment system. This strategy works best for furniture, appliances, electronics, and other items buyers can easily pick up within 10-20 miles. Reserve shipped sales for niche items unlikely to sell locally.
Can I sell items over $500 on OfferUp?
Yes, OfferUp has no listing price limits. High-value items like cars, jewelry, collectibles, and electronics frequently sell for $1,000+ on the platform. For expensive items, local pickup is often preferred as buyers want to inspect before paying and sellers avoid the 12.9% fee. For example, selling a $2,000 laptop locally saves $258 in service fees compared to shipping. Consider requiring cash or cashier's check for high-value local transactions.
How long does it take to get paid on OfferUp shipped sales?
For shipped sales, OfferUp releases payment 2 business days after the item is delivered to the buyer. The payment goes to your OfferUp balance, which you can then transfer to your bank account (typically takes 1-3 business days). Total time from delivery to bank account is usually 3-5 business days. Local sales with cash payment are instant - no waiting period. This faster payment is another advantage of local pickup.