DTF Platform Fee Calculator — Etsy vs Shopify vs TikTok Shop
Where you sell your DTF apparel directly affects how much money you keep per sale. Platform fees range from nearly 0% on direct sales to over 15% on Amazon — and the difference on a $25 shirt adds up to thousands of dollars per year.
This calculator shows you the exact take-home profit for the same sale price across every major platform simultaneously, so you can make an informed decision about where to focus your selling effort.
Platform fee breakdown for DTF sellers
Etsy charges 6.5% transaction fee + $0.20 listing + 3% + $0.25 payment processing. Shopify charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction on the Basic plan, but has monthly subscription costs. TikTok Shop currently charges 6% with no listing fees, making it competitive. Amazon charges 15% referral fee which is the highest of the major platforms.
Direct sales are always most profitable
Selling directly to customers — via your own website, in person, or through a simple payment link — keeps 97%+ of the sale price. The trade-off is that you must drive your own traffic instead of relying on the platform marketplace. Many successful DTF sellers use platforms to get their first customers, then move repeat buyers to direct sales to maximize margins.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Etsy fees for selling DTF t-shirts?
Etsy charges: $0.20 listing fee per item, 6.5% transaction fee on the sale price + shipping, and 3% + $0.25 payment processing fee. On a $25 shirt with $5 shipping, total Etsy fees are approximately $2.90-3.20 depending on your location.
Is Shopify or Etsy better for DTF sellers?
It depends on your stage. Etsy provides built-in traffic from buyers searching for custom apparel — ideal for getting started. Shopify gives you more control and lower per-transaction fees but you must drive your own traffic. Most successful sellers use both: Etsy for discovery, Shopify for repeat customers.
What does TikTok Shop charge for sellers?
TikTok Shop currently charges a referral fee of approximately 6% with no listing fees. This makes it one of the lower-cost platforms for DTF sellers, plus the organic reach from TikTok videos can drive significant traffic without paid advertising.
Should I offer free shipping on Etsy?
Etsy gives a ranking boost to listings that offer free shipping on orders over $35. Building shipping into your product price and offering "free shipping" typically increases conversion rate and visibility more than it costs. Use this calculator with shipping set to $0 and add the shipping cost to your product price instead.