The short version: Etsy advertises your products on Google and social media. If someone clicks that ad and buys within 30 days, Etsy takes an extra 15% (shops under $10K/year) or 12% (shops over $10K/year) — on top of all the normal fees. You don't choose when it happens. And if you're over $10K, you can't opt out.
Plenty of sellers discover this fee the same way: staring at a payout that's way smaller than expected, wondering what happened. Here's the full picture.
How it actually works
Etsy runs ads for your listings on Google, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Bing. You don't set them up, you don't approve them, you don't even see them. But if a shopper clicks one and buys your item within 30 days, the Offsite Ads fee kicks in — automatically.
- Under $10,000/year in sales: 15% fee. You can opt out.
- Over $10,000/year: 12% fee. Opt-out is not available — it's mandatory.
The part that stings: the 30-day window. Someone clicks your ad, doesn't buy, comes back 3 weeks later through a totally different route — you still pay the fee. Etsy attributes the sale to the ad.
The real math on a $50 sale
Let's say you sell a $50 item and it came through an Offsite Ad (shop under $10K, so 15%):
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transaction fee (6.5%) | $3.25 |
| Payment processing (3% + $0.25) | $1.75 |
| Listing fee | $0.20 |
| Offsite Ads (15%) | $7.50 |
| Total fees | $12.70 (25.4%) |
| You keep | $37.30 |
Without the ad, you'd keep $44.80. That one fee costs you $7.50 — more than every other Etsy fee combined.
Should you opt out? (If you can)
If you're under $10K/year, you have a genuine decision:
- Opt out if your margins are thin and most of your sales come from Etsy search anyway. The ads mostly find people who'd have found you regardless.
- Stay in if you're new and need visibility more than margin — the ads do bring fresh buyers, especially in competitive niches.
Whatever you choose, price for the worst case. Assume every sale could carry the Offsite Ads fee, and set prices so you still profit when it does. Hope for Etsy search traffic; price for ad traffic.
See your real Etsy numbers
Our calculator includes the Offsite Ads toggle — run your prices with and without it.
Open the Etsy calculator →Quick answers
Can I see which sales came from Offsite Ads?
Yes — your payment account shows an "Offsite Ads fee" line on attributed orders. Check it regularly; many sellers are surprised how many sales get attributed.
Does the fee apply to the shipping too?
The Offsite Ads fee applies to the item price. But remember the regular 6.5% transaction fee applies to the total including shipping — they stack.
I'm over $10K — any way out?
No opt-out exists for shops over the threshold. Your only lever is pricing: build the 12% into your margins across the board.
Fee rates: Etsy US, verified October 2026. Etsy changes its fee structure periodically — verify current rates in your seller dashboard.