Flipkart's fee is a stack, not a single number
Flipkart charges a commission, but that's just the first layer. On top sit a fixed fee, shipping, and the cost of returns. Add them and the all-in cost often lands around 20–30% of the order value. Here's how the stack works, so you can price to keep a margin.
Commission varies by category
There's no single Flipkart commission. It depends on the category and the selling price. Flipkart's fee page now shows 0% commission on every product priced below ₹1,000, and across the whole Fashion category. Before you list, look up the exact commission for your category on Flipkart's current fee schedule. Guessing here is how sellers price themselves into a loss.
The fees on top of commission
Each fee is small alone. Together they turn a modest commission into a much bigger total. Read every line, not just the headline percentage.
Fees beyond commission
| Fee | Based on |
|---|---|
| FBF fee | Storage, packing and delivery by Flipkart |
| Shipping fee | Weight and distance |
| Fixed fee | Each order |
Returns cost you twice
A returned order means shipping out and shipping back, plus handling, on a sale you never kept. Categories like fashion return more, which is why their economics are tougher. Factor an expected return rate into your pricing, or the returns will factor themselves in later.
Work out your all-in cost on one order
Take a real product. Add commission, shipping, the fixed fee, and an allowance for returns. Compare that to your margin. Do this before you list, for each category, so you know which products can actually make money on Flipkart and which can't.
Price to survive the stack
Once you know the all-in cost, price for it. That might mean a higher listed price, a leaner product, or skipping categories where the fees don't leave a margin. Selling at a loss to win the buy box is a race you don't actually want to win.
Two fees on Flipkart's rate card
Flipkart's own fee page now lists two types of fee. The first is a fixed fee, also called the closing fee, set by your seller tier. The second is a commission, set by category. Flipkart says it charges 0% commission on every product priced below ₹1,000, in any category. The whole Fashion category is at 0% too, even above ₹1,000. Other categories have their own rates, which you see in the rate card after you create a seller account. Commission is the same whether Flipkart ships your order or you do. Listing is free, and you pay only when you make a sale.
Your seller tier sets the fixed fee
| Seller tier | Fixed fee |
|---|---|
| Platinum | Below the base rate |
| Gold | The base rate |
| Silver | The base rate |
| Bronze | Base rate + ₹10 |
Why 0% commission is not 0% cost
Zero commission under ₹1,000 sounds like a free ride, but it isn't. The fixed fee still applies, and so do shipping and returns. Flipkart doesn't publish the base fixed fee on its site. You see it in your seller dashboard. Better tiers pay less: Platinum sellers get a lower fixed fee, while Bronze sellers pay ₹10 more than the base rate. On a ₹499 T-shirt, a fixed fee and a shipping charge take a much bigger share than on a ₹4,999 jacket. So low-priced products feel the stack the most. Check your tier in the dashboard before you set a price.
Shipping: Flipkart packs it, or you do
Flipkart gives you two ways to ship. With Fulfilment by Flipkart, or FBF, Flipkart stores your stock in its warehouse, packs it and delivers it. FBF fees apply for that. With Non Fulfilment by Flipkart, or NFBF, you store and pack the product yourself, and a Flipkart agent picks it up. You then pay a normal shipping cost, based on whether the delivery is local, zonal or national. Either way, Flipkart manages customer returns. FBF products get the FAssured badge, which promises delivery within 2-4 days of ordering. NFBF sellers can earn it on their reliability score.
When Flipkart pays you
Flipkart pays you after it takes out its fees. Its fee page says the payment cycle starts when your product is picked up, with payment in as fast as 3 days. It adds that payment schedules depend on your seller tier. Its FAQ says as fast as 7 days, once the order is delivered. So plan your cash flow on the slower number. If you buy stock for a big sale, keep enough cash to cover a week or two before the money arrives.
What you need before you list
You need GST registration to sell on Flipkart. Its FAQ says a regular GSTIN is mandatory for most categories. Only book sellers can list with just a PAN. You also need your business details, an email ID, a phone number and a bank account for your payments. Listing products costs nothing, so you can load your catalogue before your first sale. If you are not registered for GST yet, sort that out first, then price your products.
Paid extras that add to the stack
The rate card is not the only cost. Flipkart also sells extras to help you grow. Flipkart Ads puts your products in front of more buyers. Paid account management gives you a dedicated manager. Catalogue and photoshoot services help with images and listings. Your seller account also gives you price and product recommendation tools. A paid extra may be worth it, but count it as a cost per order. An ad that wins one sale of a ₹499 product can wipe out the whole margin on it. Measure what each extra returns, and stop the ones that don't pay.
Price one product for Flipkart, step by step
- Log in to your seller dashboard and open the rate card for your category.
- Note the commission for your selling price, which is 0% below ₹1,000.
- Find the fixed fee for your seller tier.
- Add the shipping cost for a local, zonal and national order, or the FBF fees.
- Add an allowance for returns in your category.
- Compare the total with your margin, then change the price or skip the product.
Keep more of every sale
Flipkart reaches buyers you couldn't alone, but its stack takes a real cut of every order. Your own store keeps that margin with you. The Storemate lets you run one alongside your marketplaces - UPI, COD, and GST invoicing included - so you're not handing a fifth of every sale to fees. This is general guidance, not financial advice.