Short answer: on a $20 card you paid $5 for, a Level 1-4 seller keeps about $11.90 after TCGplayer's fees, a stamp and supplies. On a $1 card you usually lose money, because the $0.30 order fee and the stamp cost the same on every sale. Run your own numbers in the flip profit calculator.
What comes out of every sale
TCGplayer charges Level 1-4 sellers a 10.75% marketplace commission on the items and on the shipping the buyer pays, capped at $75 per product, plus a transaction fee of 2.5% of the order total (including tax) and $0.30 per order (TCGplayer: Fees for selling). Then you pay for the stamp or label and the supplies: a penny sleeve, often a toploader, an envelope.
Three examples
| Bought for | Sold for | TCGplayer fees | Stamp + supplies | Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5.00 | $20.00 + $0.99 shipping | $3.12 | $0.97 | $11.90 |
| $0.25 | $1.00 + $0.99 shipping | $0.57 | $0.97 | about $0.20 |
| $40.00 | $60.00, free shipping | $8.35 | tracked label needed | depends on the label |
Figures use 7% sales tax, a $0.82 stamp and $0.15 of supplies, and the same rounding as TCGplayer's TCGplayer: Fee Calculation Examples. The last row is over $49.99, so it must ship tracked (TCGplayer: Shipping Guidelines for Sending Cards to Customers); put your label price into the calculator.
The break-even price
Every card has a price below which the sale loses money once fees, postage and supplies come off. For a card you paid $5 for, shipped in a stamped envelope with $0.99 shipping charged, that line is around $6.25. The calculator works it out for any card: below it, bundle the card with others or keep it.
How to keep more of each sale
- Bundle cheap cards. The $0.30 order fee and the stamp are per order, so three cards in one envelope pay them once.
- Charge shipping that covers the stamp. Commission is charged on shipping too, but a $0.99 charge still covers most of an $0.82 stamp.
- Buy supplies in bulk. Sleeves and toploaders by the hundred cost a few cents each.
- Save time on labels. Printing labels and packing slips from the TCGplayer export takes minutes, not an evening.
FAQ
How much does TCGplayer take per sale?
For Level 1-4 sellers, 10.75% commission (capped at $75 per product) plus 2.5% of the order total and $0.30 per order (TCGplayer: Fees for selling).
Is flipping $1 cards worth it on TCGplayer?
Usually not one at a time. The fixed $0.30 order fee and a stamp take most of the sale; sell cheap cards in bundles or lots instead.
How do I find my break-even price?
Enter what you paid, your postage and supplies into the free flip profit calculator; it shows the lowest sell price that does not lose money.
Sources
- TCGplayer: Fees for selling (checked October 24, 2026)
- TCGplayer: Fee Calculation Examples (checked October 24, 2026)
- TCGplayer: Shipping Guidelines for Sending Cards to Customers (checked October 24, 2026)