Ruby Lane Profit Calculator
Calculate your Ruby Lane antiques and collectibles profits with tiered service fees (9.9%-2.5%). Factor in monthly maintenance fee, payment processing, and shipping costs.
Ruby Lane Profit Calculator
Calculate your Ruby Lane antiques and collectibles profits with tiered service fees (9.9%-2.5%). Factor in monthly maintenance fee, payment processing, and shipping costs.
Sale Details
The price you sell the item for on Ruby Lane
Ruby Lane fees are calculated on total order value (item + shipping)
What you paid to acquire the item
Your actual cost to ship (postage, packaging, etc.)
Used to allocate $45/month maintenance fee per sale
Ruby Lane Fee Structure (2025)
Curated Antiques Marketplace
Ruby Lane specializes in antiques, vintage collectibles, art, and jewelry. More monthly sales = lower allocated fee per item.
Your Ruby Lane Profit
Excellent Profit
This sale will generate excellent profit after all Ruby Lane fees.
Net Profit
$0
After all fees and costs
Profit Margin
0.0%
Excellent margin
Total Revenue
$0
Item + shipping charged
Total Fees
$0
Service + PayPal + monthly
ROI
0.0%
Return on investment
Effective Fee Rate
0.0%
Service fee only (tiered)
Monthly Fee Per Sale
$45/month ÷ your monthly sales
$0
Detailed Breakdown
Revenue Breakdown
Understanding Ruby Lane Profit: Your Complete Guide to Selling Antiques and Collectibles
What is Ruby Lane?
Ruby Lane is a curated online marketplace exclusively for antiques, vintage items, and collectibles. Founded in 1998, it remains one of the most respected platforms for serious collectors and dealers. Unlike general marketplaces like eBay or Etsy, Ruby Lane maintains strict quality standards - every shop is vetted before approval, and items must meet authenticity and age requirements.
The platform attracts knowledgeable buyers willing to pay premium prices for authenticated antiques, vintage jewelry, rare collectibles, and quality vintage items. However, Ruby Lane operates on a unique fee model centered around a monthly maintenance fee rather than listing fees, making it critical to understand the true cost per item sold.
Understanding Ruby Lane's Fee Structure
Ruby Lane's fee model differs significantly from other marketplaces. Instead of charging per listing, they charge a flat monthly maintenance fee plus a commission on sales:
Ruby Lane Fee Breakdown
- •Monthly Maintenance Fee: $69 per month for your shop. This fee is charged regardless of whether you make any sales. Unlike eBay or Etsy, you pay even if you sell nothing.
- •Sales Commission: 9.9% of your sale price. This is significantly lower than eBay (typically 12.9%+) or Chairish (22-45%), making Ruby Lane attractive for higher-priced items.
- •Listing Fees: $0. You can list unlimited items at no additional cost. This encourages maintaining a large inventory to maximize your monthly fee value.
- •Transaction Fees: $0. Unlike many platforms, Ruby Lane doesn't charge separate payment processing fees beyond the 9.9% commission.
The Monthly Fee Reality
The $69 monthly fee is both Ruby Lane's advantage and its challenge. For high-volume dealers, it's incredibly cost-effective. For casual sellers, it can be prohibitive:
- •Sell 1 item/month: The $69 fee adds $69 to that item's cost structure, requiring significant markups to remain profitable.
- •Sell 10 items/month: The fee allocates to $6.90 per item - much more manageable and competitive with other platforms.
- •Sell 30+ items/month: The fee becomes negligible at ~$2.30 per item, making Ruby Lane one of the most profitable platforms available.
What Sells Well on Ruby Lane?
Ruby Lane maintains strict category requirements. Understanding what performs best helps maximize profitability and ensures your items meet platform standards:
Top Performing Categories
- •Antique Jewelry: Vintage and antique jewelry (especially Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco) consistently command premium prices. Authenticated signed pieces sell extremely well.
- •China and Glass: Depression glass, vintage Pyrex, antique porcelain, and collectible china patterns have dedicated buyer bases willing to pay shipping costs.
- •Vintage Clothing and Accessories: Designer vintage clothing, authentic vintage purses, and period accessories sell well to collectors and fashion enthusiasts.
- •Collectibles: Vintage toys, advertising items, militaria, postcards, and other niche collectibles find their target audiences.
- •Antique Furniture: Smaller antique furniture pieces that ship affordably perform better than large case pieces with prohibitive shipping costs.
Ruby Lane specializes in items with historical significance, provenance, or collectibility. Modern mass-produced items, even if vintage in age, typically don't meet platform standards or attract sufficient buyer interest to justify the monthly fee.
How to Maximize Ruby Lane Profits
Success on Ruby Lane requires understanding that profitability is a function of volume, pricing strategy, and operational efficiency - not just individual item margins:
Volume Strategy
- •Maintain Large Inventory: With unlimited free listings, list everything that meets Ruby Lane standards. More listings = more visibility = more sales to spread the monthly fee.
- •Price for Turnover: Don't chase top dollar on every item. Moving 20 items at decent margins beats selling 3 items at premium margins when considering the monthly fee.
- •Regular New Listings: Ruby Lane's algorithm favors active shops. Add new items weekly to maintain visibility and attract repeat buyers.
- •Calculate Break-Even: If you sell 10 items averaging $200 with $50 cost each, you need sales to cover the $69 fee. Know your minimum monthly sales target.
Sourcing and Pricing
- •Estate Sales are Gold: Authenticated antiques from estates often sell for 10-20% of retail value. A $20 estate sale jewelry purchase selling for $200 on Ruby Lane generates excellent margins.
- •Specialize in a Niche: Becoming known for specific categories (Depression glass, vintage brooches, postcards) builds reputation and repeat customers.
- •Research Comparable Sales: Ruby Lane buyers are educated. Overpricing drives them to competitors. Price competitively based on actual sold listings.
- •Account for Shipping: Antiques are often fragile. Professional packing materials and insurance add to costs - factor this into pricing.
Presentation Excellence
- •Museum-Quality Photography: Ruby Lane buyers expect multiple high-resolution photos showing condition, marks, signatures, and details. Invest in proper lighting and backgrounds.
- •Detailed Descriptions: Include maker marks, era, dimensions, materials, condition notes, provenance, and any authentication. Missing information kills buyer confidence.
- •Accurate Condition Reporting: Ruby Lane buyers expect honesty. Note all chips, cracks, repairs, or flaws. Surprises lead to returns and negative reviews.
- •Professional Shop Setup: Your shop banner, policies, and about page establish credibility. Treat your Ruby Lane shop like a professional business.
Who Benefits Most from Ruby Lane?
Ruby Lane isn't for casual sellers or those testing the antiques market. The platform works best for specific seller profiles:
- •Professional Antique Dealers: If you're sourcing inventory consistently and can sell 15+ items monthly, the $69 fee becomes negligible compared to the low 9.9% commission.
- •Estate Liquidators: Access to authenticated estate items at low cost + Ruby Lane's serious buyer base = excellent profit potential.
- •Niche Collectors Selling Down: If you have 50+ quality pieces to liquidate over 6-12 months, Ruby Lane connects you with knowledgeable buyers who appreciate authenticity.
- •Vintage Specialists: Dealers focusing on vintage jewelry, glass, or specific collectible categories benefit from Ruby Lane's targeted audience.
Common Ruby Lane Profit Mistakes
Mistakes That Kill Profit
- •Low Sales Volume: Selling only 1-3 items per month makes each item absorb $23-$69 in monthly fees. You need volume to justify the subscription model.
- •Listing Modern Items: Ruby Lane has age requirements. Listing items that don't meet authenticity or age standards wastes listing effort and risks shop suspension.
- •Poor Quality Photos: Blurry, poorly lit photos make valuable antiques look cheap. Ruby Lane buyers expect eBay-selling-museum-pieces quality photography.
- •Underestimating Shipping: Antique glass, china, and fragile items require professional packing. Skimping on materials leads to damage claims and returns.
- •Not Researching Values: Pricing a $500 item at $100 because you don't research leaves money on the table. Pricing a $50 item at $500 prevents sales.
- •Inactive Shops: Paying $69/month but only adding items quarterly means months of fees with zero return. Stay active or close shop during slow periods.
Ruby Lane vs Other Antiques Platforms
Understanding when to use Ruby Lane versus alternatives maximizes overall profitability:
When to Choose Ruby Lane
- •High-Quality Antiques: Authenticated pieces with provenance, maker marks, or historical significance command premium prices from Ruby Lane's educated buyer base.
- •Volume Selling: If you can list 30+ quality items and move 10+ monthly, the fee model becomes highly profitable compared to per-item listing fees.
- •Serious Collectors Market: Ruby Lane buyers expect authenticity and are willing to pay for it. Less price-sensitive than eBay or Facebook.
When to Use Alternatives
- •eBay: Better for lower-priced vintage items ($20-$100), modern collectibles, or if you sell infrequently. Pay-per-listing model works better for casual sellers.
- •Chairish: Better for vintage furniture and mid-century modern decor. Ruby Lane is stronger for traditional antiques and small collectibles.
- •Etsy Vintage: Better for casual vintage sellers doing low volume. Lower buyer expectations but also lower average prices than Ruby Lane.
- •Local Antique Malls: For very large furniture or items with high shipping costs, local consignment eliminates shipping complexity.
Final Thoughts
Ruby Lane can be exceptionally profitable for dealers who understand the fee model and maintain adequate sales volume. The $69 monthly fee is a fixed cost that becomes less relevant as you scale - at 20 sales per month, it's only $3.45 per item. Combined with the low 9.9% commission, Ruby Lane offers some of the best margins in the antiques industry.
However, the platform is unforgiving to low-volume sellers. If you can't sell at least 5-10 items monthly, the monthly fee makes profitability challenging. Use this calculator before committing to Ruby Lane - model your expected monthly sales and average prices to ensure the numbers work for your business.
Success on Ruby Lane requires treating it as a professional business: consistent sourcing, professional photography, detailed descriptions, and active inventory management. Done right, it connects serious dealers with serious collectors - a recipe for sustainable, profitable antiques sales.
Additional Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to sell on Ruby Lane?
Ruby Lane charges a $69 monthly maintenance fee for your shop plus 9.9% commission on sales. There are no listing fees, transaction fees, or payment processing fees beyond the commission. This fee structure differs from eBay or Etsy which charge per-listing fees. The monthly model works best for sellers with consistent inventory and regular sales volume.
Is Ruby Lane worth the monthly fee?
Ruby Lane is worth it if you can sell 8-10+ items per month. At that volume, the $69 monthly fee allocates to roughly $7-9 per item, which is competitive with other platforms. For casual sellers moving 1-3 items monthly, the fee makes profitability difficult. The platform works best for professional dealers, estate liquidators, and serious collectors downsizing large inventories over time.
What types of items can I sell on Ruby Lane?
Ruby Lane specializes in antiques (pre-1900), vintage items (1900-1999), and quality collectibles. Popular categories include vintage jewelry, antique glass and china, collectible dolls, vintage clothing, antique furniture (smaller pieces), art, and specialty collectibles. All items must meet age and authenticity requirements. Modern mass-produced items and reproductions are not accepted. Ruby Lane vets shops before approval to maintain quality standards.
How does Ruby Lane's commission compare to other platforms?
Ruby Lane's 9.9% commission is lower than most competitors. eBay charges 12.9% for most antiques/collectibles categories. Chairish charges 22-45% depending on seller level. Etsy charges 6.5% plus listing and transaction fees that total 10%+. However, Ruby Lane's monthly fee means you must factor volume into the comparison. At high volume, Ruby Lane is extremely competitive. At low volume, per-listing models may be more economical.
Do I need to be a professional dealer to sell on Ruby Lane?
No, you don't need to be a professional dealer, but Ruby Lane requires shop approval before you can list items. They evaluate your knowledge, item quality, and business approach. Serious collectors liquidating personal collections are welcomed. Casual sellers or those unfamiliar with antiques/vintage authentication may have difficulty gaining approval. Professional presentation and knowledge of your items is expected during the application process.
What happens if I don't make any sales in a month?
You still pay the $69 monthly maintenance fee even if you make zero sales. This makes Ruby Lane risky for inconsistent sellers or those with seasonal inventory. Many dealers maintain shops year-round because closing and reopening shops creates gaps in search visibility. However, if you know you won't have inventory for several months, it may be worth closing your shop temporarily to avoid paying fees during inactive periods.
How do I price items on Ruby Lane?
Research comparable sold listings on Ruby Lane, eBay, and specialty auction sites. Ruby Lane buyers are knowledgeable and expect fair market pricing. You can price slightly higher than eBay due to Ruby Lane's authentication reputation, but overpricing by 2-3x market value leads to zero sales. Factor in the 9.9% commission, your allocated monthly fee per item, shipping costs, and acquisition cost when setting prices. Aim for 30%+ profit margins after all fees.
Who pays for shipping on Ruby Lane?
Buyers pay shipping costs that you specify when listing items. You're responsible for packing items securely and shipping them after sale. Ruby Lane provides integrated shipping calculators to help set accurate shipping fees. For fragile antiques like glass or china, invest in professional packing materials - damage claims hurt your reputation and trigger returns. Many sellers offer combined shipping discounts to encourage multiple purchases.
Can I list the same items on Ruby Lane and eBay simultaneously?
Yes, many dealers cross-list items on multiple platforms to maximize visibility. However, you must actively manage inventory to prevent selling the same item twice on different platforms. Use inventory management software or manually remove sold items immediately. Cross-listing works well for large inventories but requires diligent tracking. Some sellers price items higher on Ruby Lane to account for the quality buyer base and lower commission.
How long does it take to get paid from Ruby Lane?
Ruby Lane pays sellers twice monthly via direct deposit or check. Payments include all sales from the previous period minus the 9.9% commission and monthly fee. Payment timing is more predictable than eBay but slower than instant payment platforms. Factor this into cash flow planning - unlike local sales where you receive payment immediately, Ruby Lane sales take 1-2 weeks from sale to payment.
What return policy should I have on Ruby Lane?
Most Ruby Lane sellers offer 3-7 day returns if items are not as described. Since buyers pay return shipping, unreasonable returns are rare. Clearly describe all flaws, damage, or condition issues in your listings to minimize return risk. Ruby Lane's buyer base expects authenticity and accurate descriptions. Returns due to poor descriptions damage your shop reputation. Being honest about condition upfront prevents most return issues.
Should I use Ruby Lane or Chairish for vintage furniture?
Ruby Lane is better for traditional antique furniture, small vintage pieces, and items that ship affordably. Chairish is better for mid-century modern furniture, larger pieces, and contemporary designer furniture. Ruby Lane's 9.9% commission beats Chairish's 22-45% significantly, but Chairish specializes in furniture logistics and white glove delivery. For smaller antique furniture under $1,000, Ruby Lane often delivers better margins.
How many items should I list to make Ruby Lane profitable?
Aim to have at least 50-100+ items listed and sell 10+ items monthly to make the monthly fee worthwhile. The more items you list, the more search visibility you gain. Many successful Ruby Lane dealers maintain 200-500+ active listings. Since listings are free, there's no penalty for large inventories. Calculate your break-even: if you sell items averaging $150 with $50 cost, you need 5-6 sales monthly just to cover the $69 fee before making profit.