Reverb Profit Calculator
Calculate your Reverb seller profits including selling fees, payment processing, Reverb Bump promotion, and shipping costs for musical instruments and gear.
Sale Details
The price your gear sold for on Reverb
What you charged the buyer for shipping (selling fee applies to this too)
Preferred Sellers get slightly lower payment processing fees
Reverb Bump (Optional)
Pay a percentage of your sale to boost your listing to the top of search results. Only charged when you sell.
What you originally paid for the gear
Reverb offers discounted shipping labels through UPS, USPS, and FedEx. Your actual shipping cost may be lower than retail rates.
Track Advertising (ROAS/ACOS)
Calculate Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) and Advertising Cost of Sales (ACOS) metrics for your Reverb advertising campaigns.
Your Reverb Profit
Profitable Sale
This sale will generate excellent profit after all Reverb fees.
Profit
$0
After fees and costs
Profit Margin
0.0%
Excellent margin
Net Payout
$0
What you receive from Reverb
Total Fees
$0
0.0% of total sale
Detailed Breakdown
Revenue Breakdown
Current Status: Regular Seller (3.19% + $0.49)
Become a Preferred Seller to reduce payment processing fees to 2.99% + $0.49 and get priority support.
Understanding Reverb Fees: Complete Guide to Selling Music Gear for Maximum Profit
What is Reverb?
Reverb is the world's largest online marketplace for buying and selling new, used, and vintage musical instruments and gear. Founded by musicians for musicians, Reverb has become the go-to platform for guitarists, bassists, drummers, producers, and collectors looking to buy or sell guitars, pedals, synthesizers, amplifiers, recording equipment, and virtually any music-related gear.
Unlike general marketplaces like eBay or Facebook Marketplace, Reverb's focused audience means you're selling to knowledgeable buyers who understand the value of quality gear. This specialized marketplace often results in higher sale prices and faster transactions compared to broader platforms. Understanding Reverb's fee structure is essential for maximizing your profits when selling music equipment.
Reverb Fee Structure (2025)
Reverb uses a straightforward fee structure with three main components: a selling fee, a payment processing fee, and an optional promotional fee. All fees are deducted from your sale proceeds before funds are transferred to your account. Understanding each component helps you price your gear competitively while maintaining healthy profit margins.
Selling Fee: 5%
Reverb charges a 5% selling fee on the total sale amount, which includes both the item price and shipping charged to the buyer. This is Reverb's primary revenue source and covers marketplace operations, seller protection, and customer support.
- •Minimum Fee: $0.50 for very low-priced items like guitar picks or cables. This prevents the percentage-based fee from being too small to cover transaction costs.
- •Maximum Fee Cap: $500 for high-end vintage gear over $10,000. If you sell a rare 1959 Gibson Les Paul for $100,000, you pay the $500 maximum instead of $5,000.
- •Applied to Total Sale: The fee is calculated on the item price plus shipping. Selling a $500 guitar with $25 shipping means the fee is 5% of $525 = $26.25.
Payment Processing Fee
Reverb Payments processes all transactions and charges a payment processing fee to handle credit cards, bank transfers, and fund deposits to your account. The rate depends on your seller status.
- •Regular Sellers: 3.19% + $0.49 per transaction. This applies to all new sellers and most active sellers on the platform.
- •Preferred Sellers: 2.99% + $0.49 per transaction. Preferred status is earned through consistent sales, excellent customer service, fast shipping, and positive buyer reviews.
- •Fixed Fee Impact: The $0.49 fixed fee represents a higher percentage of low-price sales. On a $20 sale, it's 2.45% before the percentage fee is applied.
The 0.2% difference between Regular and Preferred processing fees may seem small, but it adds up quickly for high-volume sellers. On $10,000 in monthly sales, Preferred status saves you $20 per month, or $240 annually.
Reverb Bump (Optional Promotion)
Reverb Bump is a completely optional pay-per-sale advertising tool that promotes your listings at the top of search results and category pages. Unlike traditional ads with upfront costs, you only pay when your bumped listing results in a sale.
- •You Set the Rate: Choose your own bump percentage anywhere from 0.5% to 5% of the sale price. Higher rates don't guarantee more visibility - it's simply your willingness to pay.
- •Pay Only When You Sell: No upfront advertising costs. If your item doesn't sell, you pay nothing. The bump fee is deducted from your sale proceeds.
- •Premium Placement: Bumped listings appear at the top of search results with a "Bump" badge, giving you priority visibility over non-bumped competitors.
- •Completely Optional: Most listings sell fine without Bump. Reserve it for high-value items, competitive categories, or when you need faster sales.
When to Use Reverb Bump
- •Your gear competes with dozens of similar listings in the same price range
- •You have healthy profit margins (30%+) that can absorb 1-2% promotional costs
- •High-value vintage gear where faster sales justify the promotional cost
- •Seasonal items where timing matters (holiday gifts, summer festival gear)
- •You need quick cash and value speed over maximizing profit margin
Unlike many platforms, Reverb doesn't provide free shipping labels, but they offer heavily discounted rates through UPS, USPS, and FedEx partnerships - typically 30-50% off retail shipping costs. You can also use your own shipping account if you have negotiated better rates. This calculator accounts for your actual shipping expenses to give you accurate profit projections.
Reverb vs Other Platforms
While Reverb charges fees unlike some alternatives, its specialized music gear marketplace often results in higher sale prices and faster transactions. Understanding the trade-offs helps you choose the best platform for your specific gear and selling goals.
Reverb vs eBay
Reverb has significantly lower fees than eBay for musical instruments. eBay charges 6.35% for guitars and basses, or 13.25% for most other music gear categories, plus 2.35% + $0.30 payment processing and a $0.40 regulatory fee.
- •Reverb Total Fees: Approximately 8.2% (5% selling + 3.19% processing) for regular sellers, or 8.0% for Preferred Sellers.
- •eBay Total Fees: 8.7% for guitars/basses (6.35% final value + 2.35% processing + $0.70), or 16.3% for other gear (13.25% + 2.35% + $0.70).
- •Fee Savings: For a $500 guitar, fees are similar between platforms. However, for a $1,000 synthesizer, Reverb saves you $83 compared to eBay's 16.3% rate.
Beyond fee comparisons, Reverb's focused audience of musicians means your gear is seen by buyers who understand its value. eBay's general marketplace requires competing with unrelated products for search visibility.
Reverb vs Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace charges no seller fees, making it attractive for casual gear sales. However, Reverb offers significant advantages that often result in higher net profits despite the fees.
- •Targeted Audience: Reverb buyers are musicians actively searching for specific gear. Facebook reaches general users who may not understand vintage gear values.
- •Nationwide Reach: Ship to buyers anywhere in the US instead of limiting sales to local pickup radius. This expands your buyer pool dramatically.
- •Trust & Safety: Reverb provides seller protection, secure payment processing, and dispute resolution. Facebook Marketplace offers minimal protection.
- •Higher Prices: Dedicated musicians pay fair market value for quality gear. Local buyers often expect below-market "Craigslist prices."
Reverb vs Guitar Center Used
Selling to Guitar Center (or similar music retailers) provides instant cash with no effort, but you'll receive far less money than selling directly to buyers on Reverb.
- •Guitar Center Offer: Typically 40-50% of resale value for cash, or 50-60% for store credit. A $500 resale guitar gets you $200-250 cash or $250-300 credit.
- •Reverb Payout: Sell at full $500 market price, keep $460 after 8% fees. That's $210-260 more than Guitar Center's cash offer.
- •Time Trade-off: Guitar Center is instant. Reverb requires listing creation, buyer communication, and shipping, but the extra $200+ often justifies the effort.
Use Guitar Center for instant liquidity needs or gear that's difficult to ship. For anything with decent resale value, Reverb's higher payout more than compensates for the extra effort.
Who Benefits Most from Reverb?
This Reverb profit calculator is essential for sellers who want to make data-driven pricing decisions. You'll benefit most if you fall into one of these categories:
- •Vintage Gear Collectors: Sell rare instruments at fair market prices to serious buyers who understand vintage values and are willing to pay premium prices for authenticated gear.
- •Upgrading Musicians: Sell your old gear to fund new purchases. Calculate exactly how much you'll net after fees to know your upgrade budget.
- •Music Store Owners: Reach customers nationwide beyond your local area and compete with online retailers while maintaining profitable margins.
- •Boutique Pedal Builders: Sell handmade effects pedals to enthusiasts who appreciate custom gear and understand the value of small-batch craftsmanship.
- •Estate Sales: Liquidate large collections with targeted music buyers who can identify quality instruments and pay appropriate prices.
- •Gear Flippers: Buy underpriced gear locally at yard sales or pawn shops, then resell at market rates on Reverb. Calculate your profit margins before purchasing.
Maximizing Profit on Reverb
Understanding fees is only part of the equation. Successful Reverb sellers optimize every aspect of their listings to maximize profit while remaining competitive.
Pricing & Research Strategy
- •Research Sold Listings: Search for your exact model and filter by "Sold" to see actual sale prices, not just asking prices. Price 5-10% below recent sales for quick movement.
- •Work Backwards from Target Profit: Use this calculator to determine what sale price you need to hit your desired profit margin after all fees and costs.
- •Factor in Condition: Be honest about condition and price accordingly. Mint gear commands premium prices, while well-used items should be priced 30-50% below mint examples.
- •Include Original Accessories: Gear with original cases, manuals, and accessories sells faster and at higher prices. Mention these prominently in your title.
Presentation & Listing Quality
- •Take Quality Photos: Use natural lighting, neutral backgrounds, and multiple angles. Show serial numbers, wear patterns, and all included accessories. Professional photos increase sale prices by 15-20%.
- •Write Detailed Descriptions: Include model year, modifications, notable features, condition issues, and what's included. Answer questions before buyers ask them.
- •Use Accurate Condition Ratings: Reverb's condition system (Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor) builds trust. Overstating condition leads to returns and negative reviews.
- •Enable Make an Offer: Many buyers expect to negotiate. Set your price 10-15% above your minimum acceptable price and be open to reasonable offers.
Shipping & Reputation
- •Pack Extremely Well: Music gear is fragile and expensive. Invest in quality packing materials, double-box guitars, and use plenty of padding. Damage claims hurt your reputation.
- •Ship Quickly: Ship within 24-48 hours of payment. Fast shipping earns positive reviews and Preferred Seller status, which reduces your fees.
- •Build Seller Reputation: Every positive review makes future sales easier. Respond professionally to questions, be honest about condition, and resolve issues quickly.
- •Strategic Bump Usage: For high-end vintage gear ($2,000+), a 1-2% bump fee can dramatically reduce time to sale. Skip Bump for common items that will sell organically.
Tax Considerations
Selling gear on Reverb may have tax implications depending on your sales volume and whether you're operating as a business:
- •Hobby Sales at a Loss: Personal instruments sold for less than you originally paid are generally not taxable income. This includes selling your used guitar for $300 that you bought new for $500.
- •Hobby Sales at a Profit: If you sell personal gear for more than you paid, the profit may be taxable as capital gains. Vintage gear appreciation falls into this category.
- •Business Income: If you regularly buy and flip gear for profit, the IRS considers this self-employment income subject to income tax and self-employment tax.
- •Form 1099-K Threshold: Reverb will send you (and the IRS) a 1099-K if you have $5,000+ in sales in 2024 and beyond, regardless of profit or volume of transactions.
- •Deductible Expenses: If selling as a business, all Reverb fees, shipping costs, packing materials, and business-related expenses are tax-deductible.
Tax rules are complex and change frequently. Consult a tax professional to ensure proper reporting, especially if you're selling high volumes or operating as a business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fees does Reverb charge sellers?
Reverb charges a 5% selling fee (minimum $0.50, maximum $500) on the total sale including shipping, plus a payment processing fee of 3.19% + $0.49 for regular sellers or 2.99% + $0.49 for Preferred Sellers. Optional Reverb Bump promotion fees (0.5%-5%) apply only if you choose to use them.
How do I become a Reverb Preferred Seller?
Preferred Seller status is earned through consistent sales history, excellent customer service, fast shipping, and positive buyer feedback. Reverb invites eligible sellers to join the program - you cannot apply directly. Benefits include lower payment processing fees (2.99% vs 3.19%), priority customer support, and exclusive seller tools. Focus on fast shipping, honest descriptions, and responsive communication to qualify.
What is Reverb Bump and should I use it?
Reverb Bump is an optional pay-per-sale advertising tool that promotes your listing at the top of search results. You set your own rate (0.5% to 5%), and only pay when your item sells. Use Bump for high-value vintage gear ($2,000+) or items in competitive categories with many similar listings. Skip it for unique items or gear that will sell quickly anyway. Start with a 1-2% bump rate and adjust based on results.
Does Reverb provide free shipping labels?
No, Reverb doesn't provide free shipping labels like some platforms, but they offer heavily discounted rates through partnerships with UPS, USPS, and FedEx - typically 30-50% off retail shipping costs. You can also use your own shipping account if you have negotiated better business rates. The calculator accounts for your actual shipping costs to give accurate profit projections.
Is the selling fee calculated on shipping too?
Yes, Reverb's 5% selling fee applies to the total sale amount, which includes both the item price and the shipping cost you charge the buyer. For example, if you sell a $500 guitar with $25 shipping, the selling fee is calculated on $525 (total sale), resulting in a $26.25 fee. This is similar to how eBay and Etsy calculate their fees.
What is the maximum selling fee on Reverb?
The selling fee is capped at $500 maximum. This means if you sell a rare vintage guitar for $15,000, instead of paying $750 (5%), you only pay the $500 maximum. For a $100,000 vintage Gibson, you still pay just $500. This cap makes Reverb extremely attractive for high-end vintage gear sellers compared to other platforms.
How long does it take to get paid on Reverb?
Reverb releases your payment after the buyer receives the item and the return window closes (typically 7 days after delivery). First-time sellers may experience slightly longer hold periods for security. Payments are sent to your linked bank account via direct deposit or PayPal. Total time from sale to payout is usually 10-14 days, though Preferred Sellers may see faster payouts.
Can I accept offers on Reverb listings?
Yes, you can enable the "Make an Offer" feature when creating your listing. This allows buyers to submit offers below your asking price. You can accept, decline, or counter their offers within 48 hours before they expire. This feature is great for moving inventory faster, especially on higher-priced items where buyers expect negotiation room. Set your price 10-15% above your minimum acceptable price.
Are Reverb fees tax deductible?
Yes, all Reverb fees (selling fee, payment processing, Reverb Bump) are tax-deductible business expenses if you're selling as a business or reporting self-employment income. Keep detailed records of your fees and profits. Reverb provides downloadable sales reports with complete fee breakdowns for tax reporting. Personal sales of used gear at a loss are typically not taxable income. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What items sell best on Reverb?
Vintage guitars (Fender, Gibson, Martin), boutique effects pedals, analog synthesizers (Moog, Roland, Sequential), high-end audio interfaces, rare vintage amplifiers, and professional recording equipment tend to sell quickly at premium prices. Limited edition gear, discontinued models, and well-maintained vintage equipment attract serious collectors willing to pay fair market value. Unique or custom gear also performs well.
How does Reverb compare to eBay for selling gear?
Reverb typically has lower fees than eBay for musical instruments. Reverb charges around 8.2% total fees, while eBay charges 6.35% for guitars/basses or 13.25% for most other gear, plus payment processing and regulatory fees. Beyond fees, Reverb has a more targeted audience of musicians and collectors who understand gear values, often resulting in higher sale prices, faster sales, and fewer problematic buyers.
Can I sell gear internationally on Reverb?
Yes, Reverb allows international sales, but you control whether to enable international shipping on your listings. International shipping is more expensive and complex (customs forms, longer transit times, potential import duties for buyers). However, international buyers often pay premium prices for American vintage gear unavailable in their markets. Calculate shipping costs carefully and require signature confirmation for high-value international sales.
How does this calculator save my data?
Your inputs are automatically saved to your browser's local storage, so when you return, your previous values are restored. No data is sent to our servers - everything stays private on your device. Clear your browser data to reset the calculator. This works across sessions but not across different browsers or devices.