Informational · Industry fee comparison
Commission rates track one thing: who does the work — and who keeps the upside.
Marketplaces take 10-15% and you do everything. Consignors take 15-25% and do it for you. Brokers who buy outright run 30-50% margins and keep the upside. The transparent comparison — including our own 20% rate and where it honestly sits. No marketing spin.
Related: is ticket consignment worth it — the real numbers. For context on where industry fees are headed, read the federal monopoly verdict against Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
Every path you can take to sell a ticket has a cost. Marketplaces take 10-15% as seller commission plus buyer fees that raise the effective spread. Consignors take 15-25% but handle active pricing, delivery, and disputes. Traditional brokers who buy your inventory outright operate on 30-50% margins. Each model exists because different sellers have different needs — knowing what you’re actually paying across all of them is how you pick correctly.
This is the transparent comparison, including our own 20% standard rate and where it fits. No marketing spin.
TL;DR
Figures on this page last verified June 2026.
- Marketplaces (self-list): 10-15% seller commission, with the largest platform at the top of that range and most others near 10%. Buyer fees layered on top vary 10-40%.
- Consignors (full-service): 15-25% commission; in exchange, you get multi-marketplace exposure, active pricing, and dispute absorption.
- Traditional brokers (outright purchase): 30-50% effective margin. They buy from you at a discount and keep the upside.
- Ticket transfer fees: typically $0 on mobile, $0-5 on team-managed transfers, higher on paper or overnight.
- Our rate: 20% standard, 15% Tier-1 championships, first regular-season sale commission-free for new STHs. Honest about where we sit; the argument is what you net, not the label on the commission.
The three-tier industry map
Every ticket resale path fits into one of three tiers, and the commission rate roughly mirrors how much operational work the other side does. Knowing which tier you’re buying service from is the key to evaluating whether you’re paying correctly.
Tier 1: Marketplaces (DIY)
The big self-service resale marketplaces. You list, price, deliver, and handle disputes. The marketplace takes a cut of the sale. Commission 10-15% on the seller side, plus buyer fees that affect effective demand at each price point. Payout typically 5-10 business days after the event.
Tier 2: Consignors (managed)
Full-service agents who list across every marketplace, actively manage pricing, handle delivery, and absorb disputes. Commission 15-25% on successful sales only — no listing fees, no monthly fees. Payout varies, typically faster (weekly ACH) than marketplace payouts. This is the tier we operate in.
Tier 3: Brokers (outright purchase)
Traditional ticket brokers buy your inventory outright at a discount and resell it themselves. You get a single check immediately; they bear the pricing risk and keep the upside. Effective margin 30-50% below expected market clear. Makes sense if you want one-and-done liquidity and are willing to trade downside protection for upside participation.
Marketplace commissions, side by side
| Marketplace | Seller commission | Buyer-side fees | Payout timing | Payment processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| StubHub | 15% (10% for high-volume sellers) | ~15-25% variable | 5-8 business days post-event | 2.9-3% deducted |
| Vivid Seats | 10% | 20-40% variable | 7-10 business days | Included in commission |
| SeatGeek | ~10% | 10-25% variable | 5-7 business days | Included |
| TickPick | 10% seller-only | $0 buyer fee | 5-7 business days | Included |
| Ticketmaster Resale | ~15% effective | 20%+ typical | 5-10 business days | Varies by account |
| Gametime | ~10-15% | ~20% variable | Within 7 days | Included |
Two patterns to watch. First, the seller-side commission range across major US marketplaces has compressed to roughly 10-15%. Second, the buyer-side is where most of the market’s margin actually lives — and it’s highly variable. A 10% seller commission on one marketplace can look cheaper than a 15% fee on another, but higher buyer fees often suppress effective clear prices, so the net-per-ticket math doesn’t always favor the lower-seller-fee platform.
All-in pricing and what it changed
In May 2025 the FTC’s Junk Fees Rule required marketplaces to display the full price including all mandatory fees in the first price a buyer sees. StubHub paid $10 million in an April 2026 settlement for violating it. The practical effect: buyer-side fees are now visible from the first page, and the anchoring power of a low list price has weakened. For sellers, this means optimizing against a “landed price” that buyers see, not just your listed amount.
Consignor commissions, side by side
The consignor tier is less standardized than marketplaces because there’s no public-facing pricing page. Rates are negotiated, tied to volume, and tiered by inventory type. Typical ranges from our industry survey:
| Consignor profile | Standard rate | Premium/championship rate | Volume-tiered discount | Payout cadence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service, STH-focused (us) | 20% | 15% Tier-1 | First regular-season sale free for new STHs | Weekly Friday payout (PayPal or wire) |
| Enterprise broker-facing platforms | 10-15% | Often flat | Scaled to broker volume | Monthly |
| Regional/boutique consignors | 20-25% | Varies | Negotiated case-by-case | Weekly or per-event |
| Secondary managed-listing services | 15-20% | Usually flat | Minimal tiering | Bi-weekly or monthly |
The honest observation about where we sit: 20% is the middle of the full-service consignor range, not the bottom. We’re not the cheapest seller-commission option in the industry — the lowest-fee self-list path (10% seller / $0 buyer) will always beat 20% consignment on a pure fee comparison. What the 20% pays for is operational leverage (multi-marketplace distribution, active pricing, dispute absorption, weekly payouts) that consistently produces higher net-per-ticket on premium inventory than self-listing.
On Tier-1 championship inventory (Final Four, Super Bowl, Masters, League Championship games), our rate drops to 15% because the pricing work required is different — narrower window, sharper demand signal, bigger absolute dollars per seat. First regular-season sale is commission-free for new season ticket holders; that’s not a gimmick, it’s a proof-of-value mechanism. You see the net payout yourself before any commission applies.
Broker margins, side by side
Traditional ticket brokers buy inventory outright from STHs and secondary sellers. They’re not taking commission — they’re taking margin, which is structurally different and usually larger in absolute terms.
| Broker type | Typical offer as % of market | Effective margin | When it makes sense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volume broker, off-season buying | 50-65% of expected clear | 35-50% | Whole-season liquidation, you want cash now |
| Premium-event broker (Masters, Super Bowl) | 65-75% of expected clear | 25-35% | Scarce inventory, hard-to-price events |
| Retail broker storefront | 40-55% of expected clear | 45-60% | Rarely optimal for the seller; convenience sale |
The broker path is the right one when you want a single check and are willing to sacrifice upside in exchange for downside protection. It’s the wrong one when your inventory has real demand curve and an active-pricing consignor would capture 30-40% more gross at a 20% commission.
Simple test: multiply the broker’s offer by 1.25 (to back out their target margin). If the result is less than you think the inventory clears at in a managed listing, consignment almost always wins the math. If the result is close to your estimate, take the broker check; you’re losing marginal upside in exchange for operational certainty, and that can be worth it.
Ticket transfer fees and what sellers actually pay
A sometimes-overlooked line item: the cost of transferring tickets to the buyer. For most digital tickets this is $0 in 2026, but it’s worth knowing where fees can crop up.
- Ticketmaster mobile transfer: $0 to sender and receiver. Team-managed transfers also generally free.
- AXS and SeatGeek Enterprise transfers: Free for most teams; a handful still charge $2-5.
- Paper and mail tickets: postage + tracking, $5-20 depending on speed.
- Overnight delivery (day-of): $25-40 via FedEx or messenger, usually buyer-charged but sometimes split.
- TicketTransfer on some primary platforms: a 5-10% optional fee for enhanced transfer guarantees; usually not worth it for mobile tickets.
What a realistic net payout calculation looks like
Here’s a worked example comparing the three tiers for a $500 ticket in a competitive market.
| Model | Gross clear | Seller fee | Processing | Net to seller |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-list on StubHub only | $475 (single-venue discount) | $71 (15%) | $12 (~2.9%) | ~$392 |
| Self-list across multiple marketplaces (manual sync) | $500 | $50-75 | $12-15 | ~$410-435 |
| Consignment, 20% commission | $525 (multi-marketplace + active pricing) | $105 | Absorbed | ~$420 |
| Broker sells at 60% of expected | $500 expected | $200 margin | Absorbed | $300 (fixed) |
| Consignment on Tier-1 championship, 15% | $800 (premium capture) | $120 | Absorbed | ~$680 |
The example isn’t universal — specific events move the numbers — but the pattern holds: consignment’s commission is higher than self-listing, and its net payout is typically higher too because the gross clearance is higher. Broker outright sale is the floor of the range and the right path when certainty is worth more than upside.
Got a broker offer in hand?
Run the ×1.25 test — or send us the inventory and the offer, and we will tell you straight which tier wins for your specific seats.
How this applies to your tickets
Which tier you belong in isn’t a taste question — it’s a function of inventory volume, value, and your time. Short version:
1-2 tickets a year, low face value
Self-list on one marketplace.
A handful of premium single events per year ($200+)
Self-list on multiple marketplaces, or consign.
Full-season package, suite, or partial plan you can’t fully attend
Consign. This is where the math of active pricing and multi-marketplace distribution dominates.
One-shot urgent liquidation (selling your whole season mid-year)
Broker sale is fastest; consign if you have 7+ days.
For context, our structure: 20% standard commission, 15% on Tier-1 championship events, first regular-season sale commission-free for new season ticket holders. Nearly 20 years in the ticket market, 100,000+ tickets sold. Every major marketplace, always evolving.
Cite or republish this data
This page is maintained as a reference. The figures are re-verified whenever a marketplace changes its fee structure, and the verification date is always shown. Writers, forums, and publishers are welcome to cite or republish the summary below — all we ask is attribution with a link to this page.
One-paragraph citation (copy freely):
Ticket resale fees, verified June 2026: self-listing marketplaces charge sellers 10–15%, with buyer-side fees varying 10–40% on top. Full-service consignment runs 15–25%. Outright broker buyouts carry an effective margin of 30–50%. The seller’s real question is net payout, not the headline commission. — SellTicketsFast, Commission Rates in Ticket Resale, sellticketsfast.com/ticket-broker-commission-rates/
Embeddable summary table (copy the code, paste into any site):
<table> <tr><th>Route</th><th>Seller cost</th><th>Notes</th></tr> <tr><td>Marketplace self-listing</td><td>10–15% seller fee</td><td>Buyer fees add 10–40% on top, compressing achieved prices</td></tr> <tr><td>Full-service consignment</td><td>15–25% commission</td><td>Multi-channel listing, managed pricing and transfers</td></tr> <tr><td>Broker buyout</td><td>30–50% effective margin</td><td>Instant cash at a discount; buyer keeps the upside</td></tr> </table> <p>Source: <a href="https://sellticketsfast.com/ticket-broker-commission-rates/">Commission Rates in Ticket Resale — SellTicketsFast</a>, verified June 2026.</p>
Need a figure that isn’t here, or spotted a fee change before we did? Tell us — keeping this page accurate is the point.
FAQs about commission rates in ticket resale
What’s the cheapest way to resell a ticket in 2026?
On a pure seller-fee basis, the lowest-cost marketplace runs 10% seller with $0 buyer fees. Most others are around 10% seller with higher buyer fees, and the largest runs 15% seller with buyer fees usually above 15%. Cheapest fee isn’t always highest net payout – it depends on where demand actually sits for your specific event.
Is a 20% consignment commission high?
Nominally yes compared to marketplace self-listing. In practice, a managed consignment typically clears 10-25% higher gross through multi-marketplace exposure and active pricing, and absorbs delivery/dispute risk, which usually more than offsets the commission delta on premium inventory.
What’s the difference between a commission and a margin?
Commission is a percentage taken from the successful sale price; you keep the rest. Margin is the difference between what the buyer paid and what the seller received; with a broker who buys your tickets outright, that margin belongs to the broker.
Do marketplaces ever waive seller commissions?
Occasionally as promotions (some marketplaces have run $0-seller-fee weekends on select events) and for enterprise/high-volume sellers via negotiated rates. Not generally for individual STHs on a standard account.
Can I negotiate the consignment commission?
Sometimes. High-volume sellers (multiple season packages, suites, championship inventory) can typically negotiate below the standard 20% rate. Individual STHs usually get the standard rate with the first-sale-free starter.
What fees should I watch out for beyond commission?
Payment processing (2.9-3% on most marketplaces), delivery fees on paper tickets ($5-20), refunds/chargeback losses (variable), and 1099-K reporting thresholds that affect year-end tax math ($600 in 2026).
Related pages
Fees & comparisons
StubHub seller fees vs consignment · Vivid Seats seller fees vs alternatives · NBA Finals hub (15% tier example)
Getting started
How ticket consignment works · Start selling on STF · Is consignment worth it?
Want to see what your net payout actually looks like?
Send us what you hold. We’ll review your inventory within 24 hours, price each date against current comps, and show you exactly what you’d net through our consignment model versus self-listing on the major marketplaces. 20% standard commission, 15% for Tier-1 championship inventory, first regular-season sale commission-free for new season ticket holders.
Get Started →Nearly 20 years in the ticket market · 100,000+ tickets sold · Every major marketplace · Paid every Friday