Redbubble Profit Calculator
Redbubble's pricing looks simple — you set a markup on top of a base price — but the fees introduced in 2025 take a big bite out of what you actually keep. This calculator shows your real earnings per sale after Redbubble's platform fee and excess markup fee, based on your account tier. Tip: Standard accounts lose 50% of earnings to the platform fee, so the tier you're in matters more than your markup.
Last Updated: June 2026
Reviewed for current platform fees and pricing rules.
- Free calculator
- Instant estimate
- No signup needed
- Beginner friendly
Find this by adding your own product to your cart while logged in — the price shown (before your margin) is the base price.
Redbubble's recommended markup is 20%. Markup above 20% triggers the excess markup fee.
Retail price
$24.00
Artist margin before fees
$4.00
Excess markup fee
$0.00
Platform fee
$2.00
Net earnings per sale
$2.00
8.3% of retail
Effective take-home
8.3%
This calculator provides estimates, not guaranteed earnings. Redbubble's base prices, fees, and tiers change over time and vary by product and country — verify current rates in your Redbubble artist account.
All calculations are estimates based on average platform fees. Real profits may vary depending on category, ads, and shipping.
Free worksheet for your next step
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How to use this calculator
- Enter your numbers in each field above — the calculator updates instantly as you type, so there's nothing to submit.
- Use your real figures when you have them, or sensible estimates while you're planning. If a field doesn't apply, leave it at zero.
- Compare the results, then change one input at a time to see how each lever (price, cost, fees, volume) moves the outcome.
Formula
Retail price = Base price × (1 + your markup) · Artist margin = Base price × your markup · Excess markup fee = 50% of earnings from any markup above 20% (Standard/Premium only) · Platform fee = 50% (Standard) / 20% (Premium) / 0% (Pro) of remaining earnings · Net earnings = Artist margin − excess markup fee − platform fee
Worked example
A Classic T-shirt with a $20 base price, 20% markup, on a Standard account.
- Retail price: $24
- Artist margin before fees: $4
- Excess markup fee: $0 (markup is at 20%)
- Platform fee (50%): $2
- Net earnings: $2 per sale — about 8% of the retail price.
Answer: $2 net per sale (Standard) · $3.20 (Premium) · $4.00 (Pro)
How it works
Redbubble sets a base price covering production and its service fee. You add a markup on top, and that markup is your gross margin. Then the platform fee (50% for Standard, 20% for Premium, 0% for Pro) is deducted from your earnings, plus a 50% excess markup fee on any markup above 20%. What's left is your net.
On a Premium account the same $20-base, 20%-markup sale nets $3.20; on Pro, the full $4. That tier difference is the single biggest factor in Redbubble profitability today.
How to interpret your results
- Dollar values are shown per sale, per order, or per item unless a result is explicitly labelled monthly, weekly, or daily.
- Percentages (margin, ROI, conversion rate) are easier to compare across products and price points than raw dollars — use them when you benchmark.
- A positive result means you're ahead after the costs and fees you entered. A negative result means the current numbers don't work — change a lever (raise price, cut a cost, lower ad spend) and recalculate.
- Treat the output as a planning estimate, not a guarantee. Fees, taxes, and conversion rates shift over time — re-run the numbers whenever a key input changes.
Common mistakes
- Assuming your markup is what you keep — Standard accounts keep only half of it after the platform fee.
- Pushing markup well above 20% to earn more — the excess markup fee takes 50% of that extra, and the higher price can cost you sales.
- Ignoring your account tier, which changes your earnings more than anything else.
Related Guides
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FAQ
- How much do you actually make on Redbubble?
- On a Standard account you keep your markup minus a 50% platform fee — so roughly half of your set margin. On a $24 shirt with a 20% markup that's about $2 per sale.
- What is Redbubble's platform fee?
- A fee on monthly earnings: 50% for Standard accounts, 20% for Premium, and 0% for Pro-tier artists. It only applies when you make sales.
- What is the excess markup fee?
- A 50% fee on the earnings from any markup you set above 20%. At or below 20% markup, it doesn't apply.
- Is there a limit on fees?
- Yes, account fees are capped at $150 per month.
- Should I set my markup above 20%?
- Usually not worth it for Standard/Premium accounts, since the excess markup fee halves those extra earnings and the higher price can reduce sales.
Why trust this calculator?
This tool uses standard mathematical formulas and commonly accepted calculation methods, shown openly in the Formula section above so you can verify the math yourself. Results are estimates based on the information you enter and do not account for every individual circumstance. For important financial, tax, legal, medical, or business decisions, please double-check with a qualified professional before acting on the numbers.
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