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Marketplace Fees Comparison (2026): Amazon, bol.com, eBay, Zalando, Allegro and Kaufland

This comparison is based on publicly available fee schedules, official marketplace documentation, and verified third-party sources as of mid-2026. Fees change regularly. Always verify against your platform’s seller portal before making pricing decisions.

TL;DR

Commission fees across major European marketplaces range from 5% to 25% of the selling price, depending on category and platform.
Amazon reduced its EU referral fees in early 2026 by an average of EUR 0.17 per unit, one of its largest-ever European fee cuts. Clothing now starts at 5% for items under EUR 15.

bol.com charges no monthly seller fee: you pay commission only when you sell. Rates run from 5% to 17% plus a fixed amount per transaction.

Zalando’s total selling cost is the highest of any platform reviewed here: commission of 8-25% plus a monthly fee of EUR 40, and additional marketing spend that partners call effectively mandatory for visibility.

The headline commission rate is never the full cost. FBA fulfillment, return processing, advertising, and monthly fees routinely add 10-20 percentage points to your effective cost per sale.

Marketplace fees are one of the most researched topics in e-commerce, and one of the most misunderstood. Most guides compare headline commission rates as if they were the only cost. In practice, the commission is one line in a fee stack that can include monthly seller fees, fulfillment costs, return processing fees, advertising spend, and payment processing charges.

This comparison covers the six most relevant marketplaces for European merchants: Amazon, bol.com, eBay, Zalando, Allegro, and Kaufland, with current 2026 rates, the hidden costs that rarely appear in overview tables, and a realistic total-cost model for a sample product to show what you actually pay per sale.

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Marketplace fee comparison: all platforms at a glance (2026)

Commission fees vary from 5% on bol.com electronics to 25% on Zalando fashion. The effective total cost, including fulfillment, monthly fees, and returns, is typically 15-35% of the selling price across most platforms and categories.

The table below provides a current overview of each platform’s fee structure. All figures are for EU business sellers. Rates are verified against official fee schedules as of mid-2026.

Sources: Amazon Seller Central EU (January 2026 fee schedule), bol.com Partner Platform commission page, eBay Seller Portal Germany (February 2026 update), Zalando Partner Programme, Kaufland Seller Portal, Allegro Seller Centre. All figures are approximations for planning purposes.

What are the hidden costs of selling on marketplaces that most fee guides don’t mention?

The hidden costs of marketplace selling are the fee layers that sit below the headline commission: fulfillment fees, return processing fees, advertising spend required for visibility, and monthly seller fees that apply regardless of whether you sell anything. In high-return categories, these can double your effective cost per sale.

Most fee comparison guides show the commission rate and stop there. That is enough to compare platforms directionally but not enough to build a margin model. Here are the cost layers that compound on top of commission:

Hidden costWhich platforms charge itTypical impact
FBA / platform fulfillmentAmazon (FBA), bol.com (LvB)EUR 2-6+ per unit; higher for large/heavy items
Return processing feeAmazon (clothing, shoes, high-return categories)50% of the FBA fee for each returned unit
Monthly seller subscriptionAmazon (EUR 39.99), Kaufland (~EUR 39.95), Zalando (EUR 40)EUR 40-480/year regardless of sales volume
Advertising / promoted listingsAll platforms (optional but often essential)Typically 5-20% of revenue for meaningful visibility
Payment processingeBay.de (1.9% + EUR 0.35 for orders above EUR 10)Adds 2-3% on top of final value fee
VAT on commissionsbol.com (21% Dutch VAT for NL sellers)Add 21% to your bol.com commission if NL-based
Long-term storage feesAmazon FBA (after 365 days)EUR 6.90+ per cubic metre for aged inventory
Return shipping costsZalando (100-day window, seller bears return freight)Significant for low-value fashion items returned from multiple countries
Bar chart comparing average seller commission rates across major European marketplaces in 2026, including Amazon (15.5%), bol.com (12%), eBay (13.5%), Zalando (19%), Kaufland (11%) and Allegro (14.5%).

Image prompt: Realistic hand-drawn infographic-style illustration of a colorful vertical bar chart comparing marketplace commission rates. Six bars in different colors, each topped with a simple icon (shopping bag, box, tag, hanger) representing Amazon, bol.com, eBay, Zalando, Kaufland, and Allegro, with bold percentage labels (5%-25%) above each bar. Clean white background with light grid lines, bold sans-serif typography, blue and orange color palette, flat design with subtle shadows, professional business infographic, e-commerce theme, high resolution, 4K quality.

Amazon seller fees in Europe (2026): what changed and what you actually pay

Amazon reduced its European referral fees in early 2026 by an average of EUR 0.17 per unit, one of its largest-ever EU fee reductions. Clothing now starts at 5% for items under EUR 15, and Home Products dropped from 15% to 8% for items under EUR 20.

The fee changes took effect in two waves: December 15, 2025 (clothing and FBA parcel fees) and January 5, 2026 (home products, grocery, vitamins, and expanded Low-Price FBA). The result is that several previously uncompetitive categories have improved margin profiles in 2026.

Amazon Europe referral fees by category (2026)

CategoryPrevious rate2026 rateNotes
Clothing & Accessories (under EUR 15)8%5%Reduced Dec 2025
Clothing & Accessories (EUR 15-20)15%10%Reduced Dec 2025
Clothing & Accessories (above EUR 20)15%15%Unchanged
Home Products (under EUR 20)15%8%New category; effective Jan 2026
Electronics7%7%Unchanged
Grocery & Vitamins (under EUR 10)8%5%Effective Jan 2026
Pet Clothing & Food (under EUR 10)15%5%Effective Jan 2026
Books, Music, DVD15%15%Unchanged
Consumer Electronics7-8%7-8%Unchanged
Toys & Games15%15%Unchanged
Amazon cost example: clothing item at EUR 40

Selling price: EUR 40Referral fee (15% for items above EUR 20): EUR 6.00

FBA fulfillment fee (standard small parcel): approximately EUR 3.20 (reduced from ~EUR 3.52 in 2025)

Monthly seller fee pro-rated (EUR 39.99 / 30 units sold): approximately EUR 1.33

Advertising (10% TACoS): EUR 4.00

Total platform cost: approximately EUR 14.53

Effective take rate: 36.3% of selling price. Gross product margin must exceed this to break even on Amazon before your own cost of goods.

FBA parcel fees were also reduced by an average of EUR 0.32 in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK in December 2025. From April 2026, a 1.5% fuel and logistics surcharge applies to FBA fees across most EU countries, partially offsetting the reduction. Net the changes, clothing and home product sellers see meaningfully lower effective fees; most other categories see modest improvement.

bol.com seller fees (2026): commission structure and what you actually pay

bol.com charges no monthly seller fee. You pay a commission per sale consisting of a fixed amount (EUR 0.20 to EUR 3.00) plus a percentage of the selling price (3% to 17% depending on category). There is no FBA equivalent required: Logistics via bol (LvB) is optional.

bol.com reaches over 13 million active customers in the Netherlands and Belgium. Its fee structure is among the most transparent of any major European marketplace: every category’s commission is published on the Partner Platform, and the two-component model (fixed + percentage) is applied consistently.

bol.com commission rates by category (2026)

CategoryCommission %Fixed amountNotes
Electronics (televisions, large appliances)5-6%EUR 0.83Lowest rates on the platform
Books, music, games (media)6-8%EUR 0.83 + EUR 1 media surchargeMedia surcharge per unit sold
Home & garden8-12%EUR 0.83Includes tools, garden furniture
Toys & games12-15%EUR 1.00One of the stronger-volume categories
Fashion & clothing10-14%EUR 1.00-2.00Lower return rate than Zalando
Sports & outdoor10-12%EUR 1.00Growing category on bol.com
Beauty & personal care10-13%EUR 0.83Strong repeat purchase category
Accessories & jewelry14-17%EUR 1.00-3.00Highest rates on platform

Source: bol.com Partner Platform commission page (verified February 2026). Exact rates vary by specific sub-category and product price: check the seller dashboard for your specific EAN before listing.

bol.com also operates a reduced commission programme for competitively priced items. If your selling price falls at or below the price point bol.com sets for a given product, the commission rate is automatically reduced. This incentivises competitive pricing and effectively means your platform cost can be lower for high-volume, price-competitive listings.

If you use Logistics via bol (LvB) for fulfillment, additional fees apply based on size, weight, and destination. These are separate from the commission and can range from EUR 2.50 to EUR 6+ per unit depending on product dimensions.

eBay Germany seller fees (2026): what changed in February and what you pay

eBay Germany raised final value fees in several categories from 11% to 12% effective February 12, 2026. Business sellers pay 6.5-12% final value fee depending on category, plus a payment processing fee of 1.9% + EUR 0.35 per order above EUR 10. There is no mandatory monthly fee for individual sellers.

eBay operates differently from other marketplaces in one important way: private (C2C) sellers in Germany pay 0% final value fees on most categories following the 2023 reform. Business sellers pay the standard rate card. If you are a business seller, the following rates apply.

eBay Germany final value fees by category (business sellers, 2026)

CategoryFVF ratePayment processingNotes
Electronics (cameras, consoles, computers)6.5%1.9% + EUR 0.35Threshold increased to EUR 500 for Shop sellers
Fashion & clothing12%1.9% + EUR 0.35Raised from 11% Feb 2026 in some sub-categories
Books, music, DVDs12%1.9% + EUR 0.35Raised from 11% Feb 2026
Home & garden11%1.9% + EUR 0.35Standard rate, unchanged
Sports & outdoor11%1.9% + EUR 0.35Standard rate, unchanged
Collectibles & fine art12%1.9% + EUR 0.35Specialist category
Motor parts & accessories9%1.9% + EUR 0.35Lower rate for automotive category

Source: eBay Germany Seller Portal, February 2026 rate card. Rates apply to business sellers registered in EEA countries.

eBay’s effective total cost for a business seller in a standard category (e.g., clothing at EUR 60) is approximately: 12% FVF (EUR 7.20) + 1.9% payment processing (EUR 1.14) + EUR 0.35 per-order fee = EUR 8.69 total, or 14.5% of the selling price. This is lower than Amazon for the same category, primarily because there is no FBA equivalent and no mandatory monthly fee.

eBay’s audience in Germany skews toward value-conscious shoppers and category specialists (electronics, collectibles, automotive). For fashion merchants targeting mainstream buyers, bol.com or Zalando typically deliver stronger conversion per listing.

Stacked bar chart showing the total cost of selling on major European marketplaces, including commission, advertising, fulfillment, returns handling and monthly subscription fees for Amazon, bol.com, eBay, Zalando, Kaufland and Allegro.

Image prompt: Realistic hand-drawn infographic illustration of a stacked tower of building blocks representing layered e-commerce fees. Bottom block labeled ‘Commission’, with blocks stacked above labeled ‘Fulfillment’, ‘Returns’, ‘Advertising’, and ‘Monthly Fee’, each block a different color with a small icon (parcel box, return arrow, megaphone, calendar). A rising red arrow beside the tower pointing upward to show increasing total cost. Warm color palette, clean white background, bold labels, professional e-commerce infographic style, highly detailed, 4K resolution.

Zalando seller fees (2026): why the effective cost is higher than the commission suggests

Zalando charges a commission of 8-25% depending on category, plus a monthly base fee of EUR 40 (EUR 480 per year). Zalando Marketing Services investment, widely described by partners as effectively mandatory for visibility, adds a further 5-15% of revenue. Total effective selling cost is typically 25-40% of the selling price.

Zalando’s fee model changed significantly in 2023 when it introduced the monthly base fee and expanded commission ranges. In 2026, the current fee structure for Partner Programme sellers includes three primary cost components.

Fee componentAmountNotes
Monthly base feeEUR 40/month (EUR 480/year)Applies regardless of sales volume; introduced 2023
Commission (fashion/apparel)20-25%Dominant category on Zalando; highest fee range
Commission (footwear)20-25%Tiered by price; lower rates for cheaper items
Commission (sports & outdoor)8-15%Lowest commission range on the platform
Commission (beauty)10-18%Growing category, mid-range fees
Commission (home & living)10-18%Expanding category with moderate rates
Payment Service fee1.45-1.55%Applied per transaction; on top of commission
Zalando Marketing Services (ZMS)5-15% of revenue (optional but widely used)Sponsored product placement; required for meaningful visibility in competitive categories
Return shipping costsSeller-borne; varies by country100-day return window; customers in 25 countries
Zalando cost example: fashion item at EUR 80

Selling price: EUR 80Commission (22%): EUR 17.60

Payment Service fee (1.5%): EUR 1.20

ZMS advertising (8% of revenue): EUR 6.40

Monthly base fee pro-rated (EUR 40 / 20 units): EUR 2.00

Return shipping allowance (30% return rate, EUR 4 per return): EUR 1.20

Total platform cost: approximately EUR 28.40

Effective take rate: 35.5% of selling price. Zalando is viable only for products with gross margins above 40-45%.

Kaufland Marketplace seller fees (2026): the underrated Central European option

Kaufland charges a monthly seller fee of approximately EUR 39.95 plus category commissions ranging from 6% to 16%. With 35+ million monthly visitors across Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Romania, its effective cost-per-sale is competitive with Amazon while offering lower seller competition in many categories.

Kaufland is one of the less-discussed marketplaces in Western European e-commerce guides, but its numbers are significant. For merchants targeting German-speaking markets or Central and Eastern European consumers, its fee structure offers better margins than Amazon or Zalando in most non-fashion categories.

Kaufland commission rates by category (2026)

CategoryCommissionNotes
Electronics6-8%Lowest rates; high competition but large volume
Home & garden8-12%Strong category across all 6 markets
Toys & games10-13%Seasonal peaks; strong Q4 volumes
Sports & outdoor9-12%Growing category, moderate competition
Fashion & clothing12-15%Lower than Zalando; open to more merchants
Books & media8-10%Lower average order value
Beauty & personal care10-13%Mid-range rates, growing demand

Source: Kaufland Seller Portal. Rates are indicative benchmarks: verify in your seller account before listing, as rates vary by sub-category and are subject to change.

The monthly fee of approximately EUR 39.95 is the same structure as Amazon‘s Professional plan. At low sales volumes (under 20-30 units per month), this fixed cost has a larger impact on effective margin. At higher volumes, it becomes negligible. Unlike Amazon, Kaufland does not offer a fulfillment service equivalent to FBA: merchants fulfill their own orders, which eliminates the per-unit fulfillment fee layer.

Allegro seller fees (2026): the dominant marketplace in Poland

Allegro is the leading marketplace in Poland with 21+ million registered buyers and over 35% of Polish e-commerce market share. Its fee structure combines a listing fee with a success commission, and varies significantly by category. For merchants targeting Polish consumers, Allegro typically delivers better conversion than Amazon.pl.

Allegro’s fee model is more complex than most other marketplaces because it applies a listing fee (charged when you list, regardless of outcome) in addition to a success commission on each sale. The combined cost depends heavily on your listing volume and sell-through rate.

Fee typeApplies toTypical amountNotes
Listing feeAll listingsPLN 0.00 – 2.00 per listingVaries by category; some categories are free to list
Success commissionSold itemsVaries by category (approx. 5-18%)Charged as % of transaction value when item sells
Allegro Pay processingAll transactionsIncluded in platform feePayment handled by Allegro; no separate PayPal required
Advertising (Allegro Ads)OptionalCPC-based; varies by categorySponsored product placement; important for visibility

Source: Allegro Seller Centre. Exact fees vary by category and are published in Polish in the Allegro fee schedule. Verify current rates in your seller account.

Allegro’s advantage for Central European expansion is its audience quality: Polish consumers are highly familiar with and trusting of the platform in a way that does not yet exist for Amazon.pl. For merchants with Polish-language product content and local shipping capability, Allegro’s effective conversion rate per listing often outperforms Amazon in the same category, partially offsetting higher listing fees.

Bar chart comparing the effective cost per sale for a €50 product across Amazon, Zalando, bol.com, eBay and Kaufland, including estimated marketplace fees, fulfillment, advertising and subscription costs.

Image prompt: Realistic hand-drawn infographic illustration of a horizontal bar chart comparing the total effective selling cost of a EUR 50 product across five marketplaces: bol.com, eBay, Kaufland, Amazon, and Zalando. Each bar a distinct color, labeled with the marketplace name and percentage value, small euro-coin icons scattered around the chart, clean white background, bold sans-serif typography, blue and gold color palette, professional business infographic style, e-commerce theme, high resolution, 4K quality.

Which marketplace has the lowest fees for European sellers?

There is no single cheapest marketplace: the answer depends on your product category, order volume, and whether you use platform fulfillment. For most non-fashion categories, bol.com and eBay.de offer the lowest effective fees. For fashion, Zalando has the highest fees but the strongest fashion-specific audience.

The question most sellers ask is which marketplace to prioritise for margin. The answer changes by product type. The table below shows the estimated effective cost per sale (commission + fulfillment + applicable monthly fee) for a EUR 50 product across each platform.

PlatformEUR 50 commissionFulfillment (FBA/LvB)Monthly fee (pro-rated)Effective cost% of sale
bol.com~EUR 6.50 (13%)EUR 0 (self-ship)EUR 0~EUR 6.50~13%
eBay.de~EUR 6.00 (12%)EUR 0 (self-ship)EUR 0~EUR 7.00*~14%
Kaufland~EUR 5.50 (11%)EUR 0 (self-ship)~EUR 1.30~EUR 6.80~14%
Amazon.de~EUR 7.50 (15%)EUR 3.20 (FBA)~EUR 1.30~EUR 12.00~24%
Zalando~EUR 11.00 (22%)EUR 0 (self-ship)~EUR 2.00~EUR 13.00+~26%+

* eBay includes 1.9% + EUR 0.35 payment processing. Estimates exclude advertising costs, which add 5-20% for most platforms. Pro-rated monthly fee assumes 30 units/month.

The practical verdict on fees

bol.com: lowest effective fees for NL/BE merchants who self-ship; no monthly fee makes it the most accessible starting point.eBay.de: competitive fees in most categories; best for electronics, collectibles, and automotive; lowest competition in specialist niches.

Kaufland: near-equivalent to eBay on effective fees; stronger audience for general merchandise in Central Europe; monthly fee applies.

Amazon: highest total cost when FBA is included; justified by the largest potential audience and Prime eligibility driving conversion.

Zalando: highest fees of all platforms reviewed; justified only for fashion/lifestyle brands with 40%+ gross margins and strong brand recognition.

How do you calculate your true cost per sale on a marketplace?

To calculate your true cost per sale on a marketplace, add the commission rate, fulfillment fee (if applicable), pro-rated monthly fee, advertising spend, and return cost allowance. Subtract this total from your selling price. The result must exceed your cost of goods for the channel to be profitable.

Use this formula for every SKU before you list it on a new marketplace:

True cost per sale = commission + fulfillment fee + (monthly fee / units sold) + advertising spend + (return rate x return cost)Then: net revenue = selling price – true cost per saleThe channel is viable if: net revenue > cost of goods sold

Model this for your three best-margin products before committing to a new marketplace. If none of the three work at current fee levels, the channel is not viable at your current pricing without renegotiating cost of goods or increasing selling price. If one or two work, list those products first and expand gradually as you understand the platform’s traffic and conversion patterns.

Image prompt: Realistic hand-drawn infographic-style flowchart illustrating the steps to calculate true cost per sale before listing on a new marketplace. Sequential connected boxes joined by arrows: ‘Selling Price’, ‘Commission’, ‘Fulfillment Fee’, ‘Monthly Fee ÷ Units Sold’, ‘Advertising Spend’, ‘Return Cost’, ‘Net Revenue’, ‘Compare to Cost of Goods’. Each box a soft pastel color with a small icon (euro sign, parcel box, megaphone, return arrow, checkmark). Warm office desk background with wooden texture, sticky notes and a calculator nearby, hand-drawn sketch style, colorful, highly detailed, professional, 4K resolution, e-commerce theme.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which marketplace has the lowest commission rate in Europe?

For most product categories, bol.com and eBay.de offer the lowest headline commission rates (5-12% depending on category). However, the effective total cost depends on whether you use platform fulfillment, how much you spend on advertising, and whether there is a monthly fee. bol.com has no monthly fee, which makes it the most accessible for low-volume sellers.

Did Amazon lower its fees in 2026?

Yes. Amazon reduced European referral fees effective December 2025 and January 2026. Key reductions include: Clothing and Accessories dropped from 8% to 5% for items under EUR 15 and from 15% to 10% for items between EUR 15-20; Home Products dropped from 15% to 8% for items under EUR 20; Grocery and Vitamins dropped to 5% for items under EUR 10. FBA parcel fees were also reduced by an average of EUR 0.32 in five major European markets.

Is it cheaper to sell on bol.com or Amazon?

For Dutch and Belgian merchants selling general merchandise at under EUR 50 per item and fulfilling their own orders, bol.com is typically cheaper. The absence of a monthly seller fee and lower commission rates in most categories make it the lower-cost entry point. Amazon becomes cost-competitive when its audience size justifies the FBA and monthly fee overhead, typically at higher volumes or in categories where Prime eligibility significantly improves conversion.

What is Zalando’s monthly fee for sellers?

Zalando charges EUR 40 per month (EUR 480 per year) as a base fee for Partner Programme sellers. This was introduced in 2023 alongside an expansion of maximum commission rates. Partners also pay a Payment Service fee of 1.45-1.55% per transaction on top of the category commission.

How much does it cost to sell on eBay in Germany?

Business sellers on eBay.de pay a final value fee of 6.5-12% depending on category (several categories were raised from 11% to 12% in February 2026), plus a payment processing fee of 1.9% + EUR 0.35 per order over EUR 10. There is no mandatory monthly fee for sellers without a Shop subscription. A basic Shop subscription (if needed for higher listing volumes) costs approximately EUR 25/month.

Are marketplace fees tax-deductible?

In most EU countries, marketplace commissions and fees are deductible as business expenses for VAT-registered merchants. Note that bol.com charges 21% Dutch VAT on commissions for Netherlands-registered sellers, which is reclaimable as input VAT on your Dutch VAT return. Always consult an accountant for your specific tax situation.

How do I reduce my marketplace fee burden?

The most effective methods are: (1) qualify for lower commission rates on bol.com by pricing competitively at or below their price points; (2) switch from FBA to merchant-fulfilled shipping on Amazon for products where delivery speed is not a conversion factor; (3) maintain strong seller metrics to avoid penalty fee increases (Amazon, eBay); (4) manage return rates, particularly on Zalando, by improving size guides and product descriptions to reduce avoidable returns; (5) allocate advertising spend to products with the strongest margin rather than distributing evenly across your catalog

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