How Much Does Redbubble Charge to Sell

Redbubble is an ecommerce platform that empowers artists looking to sell their artwork online. Whether you choose to put your art on stickers, T-shirts, mugs, or phone cases, Redbubble’s marketplace lets independent artists upload their artwork, sell it via print on demand, and get paid for every sale!

But before you start selling, it's important to understand Redbubble’s fees, so you can optimize your pricing strategy and maximize your earnings. In this article, we’ll explore Redbubble’s fee structure compared to other print on demand platforms like Etsy and Printful; learn how to get started on Redbubble’s platform; and tackle some strategies for increasing your profits. 

How Your Earnings Are Affected by Redbubble Fees

Since Redbubble operates on a print on demand model, understanding how its fees are structured is essential for making informed decisions on pricing, as those fees have a direct impact on your profit margins. Redbubble takes a commission, deducts transaction fees, and may apply additional costs, all of which can significantly affect the amount you get paid for each sale.

Knowing how much to markup your prices is a key factor in ensuring that you earn enough to cover Redbubble's share and still make a reasonable profit for yourself and your online store. Additionally, understanding how Redbubble’s fees interact with shipping costs, payment processing, and currency conversion can help you minimize other unexpected charges that could cut into your earnings. By learning how to navigate Redbubble’s fee structure, you can optimize your prices and grow your print on demand business!

So… Just How Much Does Redbubble Charge to Sell?  

When you sell on Redbubble, you earn money by setting a product markup. This is your artist margin, which is essentially the cost of your materials or base product, plus the time cost of your labor (customizing, designing, etc.), plus any other expenses. 

Redbubble takes a base price for each item that covers the production and shipping costs. This base price varies depending on the type of product, such as T-shirts, mugs, or stickers; so your artist earnings then come from the markup that you set on top of Redbubble’s base price.

Here’s one example: you find that you can effectively sell a sticker for $3. Redbubble then charges $1.50 for production and shipping. So you set your markup at $2, making the retail price $5. That $2 markup is your artist margin, and you’ll get paid based on this margin for each sale, minus Redbubble's 20% commission.

The artist margin system gives you some control over your pricing, but keep in mind that Redbubble's 20% commission is deducted from your earnings, so it’s important to factor this in when setting your markup.

In addition to the artist margin and base price, Redbubble also charges payment processing or transaction fees, which cover the cost of transactions via platforms like PayPal or credit cards. These fees typically range from 2.9% + 30¢ for online transactions, depending on your location and the payment method chosen by the customer.

Shipping fees are another important cost to consider. Redbubble offers a variety of shipping options, and the fees depend on factors like the destination and the product. These shipping costs are usually passed on to the customer, so it’s also important to factor them into your pricing strategy.

There may be some hidden or additional costs that you should be aware of, too, such as currency conversion fees and country-specific charges. If you’re selling to international customers, Redbubble may apply currency conversion fees based on the exchange rate between your local currency and the buyer’s currency. These charges can again slightly reduce your earnings on international sales, so keep them in mind when considering global sales opportunities. Planning ahead is definitely your friend here!

Redbubble Fees: A Comparison 

Redbubble vs. Fourthwall

Compared to Fourthwall, Redbubble’s fees can seem a bit complicated. As noted above, Redbubble charges a commission plus transaction fees, shipping fees, and potential currency conversion charges, all of which you’ll need to keep in mind as you’re setting your artist margins. Fourthwall’s payment processing fees are basically the same as Redbubble’s, at 2.9%-3.9% plus 30¢.

Fourthwall lets you launch your Fourthwall store for free, and you’ll pay zero monthly costs; Fourthwall only makes money when you sell products; the cost of a product from their catalog gets deducted from the sales price that you set, and you keep the difference. The only other Fourthwall fees are if you choose to list digital products (3%) or offer memberships (5%.)

Redbubble vs. Society6

While Redbubble works with a commission of 20% plus transaction and shipping fees, Society6 has recently standardized their pricing, removing the ability for artists to set their own markups/margins, which has both advantages and disadvantages. As of 2025, Society6 artists will earn 5% to 10% of the net sale amount on each product purchased featuring their designs (dependant on the product.)

Redbubble has a broad product selection that includes a wide range of home decor, accessories, and apparel; Society6 focuses on a more narrow niche of high-end art prints and home decor. While Society6 does have a smaller selection of products, it may be a better option for artists specifically focused on art prints, wall tapestries, and exclusive designs.

Redbubble vs. Etsy

Etsy, another popular marketplace for artists, operates differently from Redbubble. Etsy charges listing fees of $0.20 per product listing, and transaction fees on each sale (6.5% of the total sale price) in addition to payment processing fees, which vary by location, and possible currency conversion fees. 

Unlike Redbubble’s passive income model, Etsy requires sellers to manage their listings and fulfill orders themselves or through third party print on demand fulfillment services like Printful. Redbubble’s advantage here is its no upfront costs, passive income, and Redbubble handling all aspects of production and shipping. This makes Redbubble a better option for independent artists who want to focus their artwork without managing inventory or shipping logistics.

Redbubble vs. Printful

Printful is a print on demand platform that offers a long list of customization options for artists, including the ability to create a branded storefront and more control over product design. But Printful requires an integration with an external platform (e.g., Etsy, Shopify, or WooCommerce) to handle sales. While Printful doesn’t charge upfront costs, it does take a portion of the sale to cover production and shipping costs, plus fulfillment fees on top of the base price.

Redbubble’s advantage against Printful is its built in marketplace, where your artwork is exposed to a large audience of potential buyers. Redbubble’s platform handles everything from production to customer service, making it ideal for artists who want a simple, hassle-free way to sell their artwork.

Start Selling on Redbubble in 3 Steps

Step 1: Creating Your Redbubble Account

Getting started on Redbubble is simple. The first step is to create an account, which is free. You’ll need to provide basic information like your email address, a username, and payment details for getting your earnings. After setting up your account, you can immediately start uploading your artwork and creating your product listings.

Step 2: Setting Up Your Artist Profile

The next step is to customize your artist profile. Choose a memorable username that reflects your brand or artistic style; then upload a professional profile pic and cover image to make your profile really stand out. Write an interesting, friendly bio to introduce yourself and explain what kind of artwork you create. An engaging profile can really help attract potential buyers to your Redbubble store!

Step 3: Uploading Your Artwork

Now you’re ready to upload your artwork to Redbubble! You can upload artwork for a variety of products such as T-shirts, stickers, prints, phone cases, and more. 

Be sure to follow Redbubble’s guidelines on resolution and file type - Redbubble accepts a wide range of file formats, including PNG and JPEG, but you’ll want to make sure that your designs are high quality and meet the platform's requirements. Redbubble will automatically generate product templates for each design, making it easy for you to set up your Redbubble store.

Pro Tips for Maximizing Your Redbubble Earnings

Optimize Your Pricing

To max your Redbubble earnings on Redbubble, you’ll need to optimize your pricing strategy. Setting competitive prices that include a reasonable profit margin is key. Consider factors like production costs, shipping and transaction fees, and Redbubble’s 20% commission when determining your markup. It's important to strike a balance between offering affordable prices and making a solid profit.

Leverage Marketing Strategies

Promote your Redbubble store on social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok to increase your visibility and attract more customers. You can share both your artwork and also some behind the scenes or “art in progress” content to help an engaged following. Using content marketing strategies like blogging or email lists can also help you reach an even wider audience, driving traffic to your Redbubble store.

Focus on Popular Products

You’ll find that certain products on Redbubble, like T-shirts and stickers, are consistently best sellers. Increase your earnings to always offering options in the most popular categories, focusing on offering a variety of designs and products that appeal to different niches and different types of buyers. Add trending designs, colors, and themes to your artwork to increase your chances of making sales.

The Redbubble Bottom Line

Redbubble can be an ideal choice for independent artists who want to sell their artwork without the hassle of managing inventory, fulfillment, or customer service. Redbubble’s passive income model, low upfront costs, and wide marketplace exposure are definite advantages, making Redbubble a low risk platform for new artists looking to test the ecommerce waters.

But while Redbubble offers many advantages, there are also some limitations to consider. Redbubble’s 20% commission, more complex pricing calculations, and limited branding options might not be suitable for artists looking for more control over their business. Redbubble is good for artists who want simplicity, but may not be the best choice for those who want a highly customizable storefront or higher profit margins.

Boost Your Art Sales with Fourthwall!

If you want a beautiful custom storefront, more control over your branding, and higher profit margins, Fourthwall is a great alternative to Redbubble! With Fourthwall, you can create your own shop; sell your art directly to your customers by both print on demand and by bringing in your own products; and keep a larger share of your profits. 

Fourthwall offers plenty of flexibility in branding and design, and lets you connect your streaming platforms and socials, allowing you to build an even stronger connection with your audience. Put your artwork on T-shirts and other apparel, mugs, pillows, postcards, or turn it right into print on demand wall art. Grab your art portfolio and get started on Fourthwall today!

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