StubHub is one of the largest online ticket marketplaces, allowing buyers and sellers to trade tickets for sports games, concerts, theater shows, and other events. As a leading secondary ticket marketplace, StubHub provides a platform for fans to buy and sell tickets, acting as an intermediary between buyers and sellers.
For sellers listing tickets on StubHub, the site does charge fees in order to facilitate the transaction. The amount of fees charged depends on the specifics of the sale, but in general StubHub collects both a commission fee from the seller and service and delivery fees from the buyer for each transaction.
Seller Fees
When listing a ticket for sale on StubHub, the seller is charged a commission fee based on the final selling price of the ticket. This commission varies based on the price of the ticket, the event, and the seller’s history on StubHub, but ranges from 10% to 20% of the ticket’s sale price.
Here are the key details on StubHub’s seller fees:
- The standard seller commission fee is 15% of the ticket’s final sale price.
- For very high-demand events or last minute sales, the commission may be 20% or higher.
- Seasoned sellers with a history of sales on StubHub may pay a reduced 10% commission.
- The minimum commission per ticket sale is $5.
In addition to the commission, StubHub charges a $5 fee per order to process the sale. This $5 transaction fee is deducted per order, not per ticket.
Sellers should factor in both the sliding commission and the $5 transaction fee when pricing their tickets on StubHub. The exact amount deducted will show up under “Seller Fees” in your account transaction history after the sale.
Buyer Fees
On the buyer’s side, StubHub also charges service and delivery fees to facilitate the ticket’s delivery. These include:
- Service Fee – This ranges from 10% to 25% of the ticket price. The exact percentage depends on the event, section, and demand.
- Delivery Fee – This covers the cost of getting tickets to the buyer via the delivery method chosen. Often $4.95 for mobile delivery or $14.95 for overnight shipping.
Buyers see these service and delivery fees added during the checkout process before finalizing the ticket purchase. Sellers don’t directly pay buyer fees, but often factor expected buyer fees into their ticket’s list price.
Additional Seller Fees
Beyond the standard commission and transaction fees, there are a few other scenarios where StubHub may charge sellers additional fees:
- Listing Fee – If you cancel a ticket listing before it sells, there is a $5 cancellation fee.
- Unfilled Order Fee – If your ticket fails to sell and the listing expires, there is a $5 expiration fee.
- Invalid Ticket Fee – If you attempt to sell an invalid ticket, there is a $100 fee.
These fees help compensate StubHub for the administrative costs of processing listings that ultimately do not result in ticket sales.
Seller Payouts
After the ticket sells and the event has passed, StubHub will issue the seller’s payout, minus the various fees. Payouts are typically issued:
- Within 3 business days after the event for electronic delivery tickets.
- Within 7 business days for tickets delivered by mail.
- Within 10 business days for tickets picked up locally.
Payouts are issued to the payment account specified in your StubHub seller account. You can select a bank account, PayPal, check, or donation to a charity partner.
Fee Avoidance Strategies
While StubHub fees are unavoidable, some sellers use strategies to reduce fees or increase their payouts:
- Price tickets higher to account for fees – List at a higher price so your profit remains the same after StubHub’s cut.
- Require electronic ticket transfer – Avoid delivery fees by requiring mobile ticket delivery.
- Sell more tickets – After selling 200+ tickets, sellers become “Bronze” level with 10% commission.
Fee Estimators
StubHub provides fee estimators on its seller tools page to help you understand the exact fees for a specific event and ticket price:
- Quick Estimate – Enter event and price to see estimated fees.
- Advanced Estimate – Enter additional details like section for a more precise estimate.
The fee estimator provides the estimated commission, transaction fee, and processing charge so you can calculate your potential payout before listing.
Is StubHub Worth the Fees?
For most sellers, StubHub’s fees are a necessary cost in order to access the site’s huge buyer base. As one of the largest secondary ticket marketplaces, StubHub provides sellers with high visibility and strong buyer demand.
The downside is that fees obviously cut into sellers’ profits. Sellers must decide if the tradeoff of lower per-ticket profit for quick sales and a large buyer pool on StubHub is worth paying the 15%+ fees.
Alternatives like selling through classified ads or Facebook groups can avoid fees, but typically involve more work and smaller potential buyer bases.
Conclusion
In summary, expect to pay the following fees when selling event tickets on StubHub:
Fee | Amount |
---|---|
Seller Commission | 10% to 20% of sale price |
$5 Transaction Fee (per order) | $5 |
Buyer Service Fee | 10% to 25% of sale price |
Buyer Delivery Fee | $4.95 to $14.95 |
While sellers do not directly pay the buyer fees, they impact final ticket prices. Sellers should factor these fees into their pricing strategies on StubHub.
The tradeoff for these fees is access to StubHub’s large buyer audience, fraud protection, and order management. Before listing, carefully consider if projected sales and payouts outweigh the fees for your specific tickets.