Mercari

Is Mercari worth it for online resellers and casual sellers?

Listing on Mercari is free, and you pay a 10% selling fee when an item sells. Mercari has changed its prepaid label prices in Jul 2025, Jan 2026, May 2026 and again from Oct 19, 2026, so check the current label price for each item before you list.

How much Mercari takes from your pay

Mercari's fee page says the selling fee applies to the item price plus any shipping the buyer pays, so shipping you pass on to the buyer is part of what gets charged. Buyers pay a separate Buyer Protection fee on top of the price, and you don't pay it. Listings created before Jan 6, 2025 follow older fee rules until they are updated, and Mercari's own fee wording conflicts on when that update happens.

How and when Mercari pays you

Money from a sale isn't available the day you ship. Mercari holds the funds until the buyer rates the order or the review window after delivery closes, so the sale date and the date you can cash out differ.

Instant Pay needs an ID check, and Direct Deposit needs your checking account details.

Mercari requirements and how long approval takes

You must be 18 or the age of majority in your state. Teens ages 13 and up can sell only through an account owned by a parent or guardian, and under 13 isn't permitted. Mercari says federal law requires it to verify identity. If you don't supply requested details, it may stop processing your transactions or close the account. Mercari doesn't publish an approval wait for new accounts. Account holders must reside in the U.S. Mercari's Terms of Service list a new version effective Nov 5, 2026.

How much you can make on Mercari

Mercari doesn't publish average seller earnings or typical days to sell. The only figure it publishes is a user count.

That count combines buyers and sellers, and Mercari doesn't say how it defines a monthly user, so it can't be turned into income per seller.

Can Mercari deactivate your account?

Mercari's help pages say accounts can be limited or closed for prohibited items, prohibited conduct or multiple violations.

Its Prohibited Items page (last updated 2021) says listing a banned item is a violation whether or not it was intentional. Mercari may remove the listing, cancel related transactions and go as far as suspension or termination. The banned list includes counterfeits, gift cards, recalled products and items not in your possession, including dropshipping. Its Prohibited Conduct page (last updated Jan 2023) lists off-platform payments, multiple accounts, creating a new account after a ban, invalid tracking, selling to yourself and false W-9 information. Mercari may suspend users pending verification and may hold funds after a suspension or termination to cover chargeback or refund risk.

Account issues such as ID verification, prohibited items or tax forms can be handled by web form or by mail to a Palo Alto PO box. Mercari doesn't publish a formal appeal process. Sellers who cancel often after a purchase may be charged a cancelation fee of 5% of the item price, up to $25.

Buyer Protection matters once you ship. Buyers have 72 hours after delivery to report an item that is damaged, wrong or significantly not as described. Approved claims get a free return label, and the return must ship within 3 days of approval to qualify for a refund. Shipping Protection requires a Mercari prepaid label. Only Mercari may file a carrier claim, and sellers who file one lose coverage. Claims can take up to 2 weeks, and Mercari may deny excessive claims at its sole discretion.

Is Mercari legit?

Mercari's Terms of Service (Platform) list Mercari, Inc. as the U.S. contracting entity, and its corporate site lists Mercari (US) as a group company of the Tokyo-based Mercari, Inc. In 2018, Vermont's financial regulator issued a consent order that Mercari settled without admitting anything.

Scams that use Mercari's name

Mercari's scam guidance says what it will and won't do, which helps you spot impersonators:

For general warning signs, see how to spot side-hustle scams.

Taxes on Mercari income

Mercari says it issues Form 1099-K only to sellers who meet the IRS reporting threshold. Its 1099-K FAQ (dated Aug 2025) gives the tax year 2025 figure as more than $20,000 and more than 200 transactions, with forms due by January 31. The IRS lists the same threshold for online marketplaces and says platforms may send a form below it. Mercari says it may request a W-9 before you reach the threshold and files 1099-K with the IRS and state taxing authorities. Its policy page says states may have different thresholds.

Mercari vs other resale marketplaces

Mercari takes a flat 10% selling fee; eBay charges 13.6% plus $0.40 per order in most categories. For where resale stock comes from, see retail arbitrage and thrift store flipping.