If you’re serious about scaling your resale business, selling on Walmart Marketplace is a move worth considering. With over 120 million monthly visitors and a reputation for low prices and trust, Walmart has become a major force in the e-commerce world. But before you jump in, you need to understand how their fees work—and how they’ll impact your bottom line. Let’s break down Walmart Marketplace fees so you can make smart decisions and maximize your profits.
1. No Monthly Subscription Fee
This makes Walmart a low-risk way to expand your product reach. Whether you’re a part-time reseller or running a full-scale operation, the lack of monthly overhead gives you more breathing room to test listings, experiment with pricing, and scale strategically.
2. The Referral Fee: Your Main Cost
Walmart’s primary fee is the referral fee, a commission they take on each sale. This fee is category-based and ranges from 6% to 20%, depending on what you’re selling. You only pay when you make a sale—no sale, no fee.
Here’s a quick breakdown of common product categories:
Category | Referral Fee |
Apparel & Accessories | 15% |
Beauty | 15% |
Consumer Electronics | 8% |
Home & Garden | 10–15% |
Jewelry | 20% (<$250) / 5% (>$250) |
Toys | 15% |
Video Games | 8% |
Tools & Hardware | 12% |
Baby Products | 8% |
Note: These fees are only charged on the item price, not on the tax or shipping fees. That’s good news for your margins.
3. Shipping Costs: You’re in Control
Walmart doesn’t charge a shipping fee directly, but you’re responsible for shipping the item to the customer, and that cost comes out of your pocket unless you pass it on.
You can choose from:
- Seller-fulfilled shipping: You handle packing and delivery.
- Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS): Walmart handles storage, packing, and shipping (similar to FBA on Amazon).
If you fulfill orders yourself, you’ll need to price shipping into your strategy. Walmart does let you charge shipping to the buyer, but they heavily favor listings with free two-day shipping, so offering competitive shipping, or baking it into your price, is essential to winning the buy box.
4. Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) Fees
If you want to outsource fulfillment, Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) can streamline your operation, but it comes with its own costs. Here’s how it works:
WFS charges two main fees:
- Monthly storage fee: Based on volume (per cubic foot).
- Fulfillment fee: Based on weight and dimensions.
Example (as of 2025 estimates):
Item Weight | Fulfillment Fee |
<1 lb | $3.45 |
1–2 lbs | $4.95 |
2–3 lbs | $5.75 |
3+ lbs | Increases incrementally |
WFS can be worth it if you’re scaling and want fast shipping options without the warehouse stress. Plus, WFS listings get priority placement in Walmart’s search and eligibility for Two-Day delivery, which boosts conversions.
5. Other Potential Costs
While the main costs are referral fees and fulfillment (if you use WFS), there are a few additional charges to be aware of:
Returns
Walmart does not charge a fee for returns, but you’re responsible for the return shipping cost, unless the return is due to a Walmart error. This adds up quickly, especially with large or heavy items, so be strategic about the categories and price points you target.
Chargebacks
If Walmart has to refund a customer for an issue with your order (like late delivery or wrong item), they may issue a chargeback. These can eat into your profits, so maintaining good shipping and customer service standards is essential.
Advertising (Optional)
If you want to boost visibility, Walmart Connect offers paid advertising options. This includes sponsored listings and product ads. While not a required fee, it’s something to consider as your business grows.
6. Fee Comparison: Walmart vs. Amazon vs. eBay
Let’s compare the three giants to see how Walmart stacks up:
Platform | Monthly Fee | Referral Fees | Fulfillment Option | Shipping Control |
Walmart | $0 | 6–20% (avg. 15%) | WFS (optional) | Yes |
Amazon | $39.99 | 6–45% (avg. 15%) | FBA (optional) | Yes |
eBay | $0–$74.95 | 10–15% + listing fees | Seller-fulfilled | Yes |
Walmart offers low entry costs, high traffic, and trusted buyer confidence. That said, the platform is more curated and competitive; Walmart vets new sellers, and listing approval isn’t instant.
7. Increasing Profits on Walmart Marketplace
If you’re planning to resell on Walmart, here are a few tips to offset fees and enhance your profits:
- Bundle products to increase order value and reduce per-item shipping cost.
- Use WFS selectively for your bestsellers or fast-moving items.
- Offer free shipping, but price strategically to absorb the cost.
- Monitor return reasons and optimize product listings to reduce chargebacks.
- Test categories with lower referral fees (like electronics or baby products).
- Leverage pricing tools to stay competitive without racing to the bottom.
Sell on Walmart Marketplace
Selling on Walmart Marketplace isn’t completely free, but the fee structure is straightforward, and the lack of a monthly fee gives it a real advantage for resellers looking to expand.
Whether you’re flipping clearance finds or sourcing from liquidators, knowing the fee structure inside out lets you price smarter and profit more. If you’re ready to get your products in front of millions without breaking the bank on overhead, Walmart Marketplace is a platform worth taking seriously.
Want to learn more about optimizing your listings, winning the buy box, or integrating your Walmart store with tools like Shopify? Stick with Resale Pro—we break it all down!
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