ProfitPerShowHow shipping works on Whatnot
Whatnot generates a prepaid, tracked label after a sale. You set a default service for 1–5 lb shipments (Whatnot recommends USPS Ground Advantage at the $7.75 flat rate) and a default for shipments over 5 lb. Each listing needs an accurate shipping profile, because carriers price the packed weight, including the box and material.
Generate labels after the show ends so Smart Bundling can combine a buyer’s purchases into one shipment. Creating a label mid-show closes that bundle, and later purchases ship separately.
Source: Shipping for sellers in the US, checked November 13, 2026.
What buyers pay (rates effective July 31, 2026)
These are checkout prices and include Whatnot’s handling fee.
| Service | Packed weight | Buyer pays |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Advantage | Under 4 oz | $4.47 |
| Ground Advantage | 4 oz to under 8 oz | $4.85 |
| Ground Advantage | 8 oz to under 12 oz | $5.25 |
| Ground Advantage | 12 oz to under 16 oz | $6.75 |
| Ground Advantage | 1–5 lb, any US address | $7.75 flat |
| Ground Advantage | Over 5 lb | From $9.69, by weight and zone |
| Priority Mail | Any weight | From $11.45, by weight and zone |
| Flat Rate (any official box size) | Up to 70 lb | $12.99 temporary rate |
| First-Class Mail letter | Up to 3 oz, plain envelope | $0.78 / $1.09 / $1.39 by ounce |
Source: Whatnot Help Center, “Shipping for sellers in the US,” rates effective July 31, 2026, checked November 13, 2026. Whatnot says the $12.99 Flat Rate will stay until December, with advance notice before new rates. A 5 lb 1 oz package prices at the 6 lb rate, so staying at or under 5 lb is the biggest cost lever on heavier items. Signature confirmation is $4.36 plus tax and is automatic on orders over $500.
When you pay instead of the buyer
By default, buyers pay the rates above. Some sellers can change this for live shows only:
- Seller pays all shipping: you cover domestic shipping. Buyers still pay for international. For sellers in the contiguous US, this usually applies to the mainland only; buyers in Alaska, Hawaii, and US territories pay standard rates.
- Buyer pays up to a cap: you set a maximum, such as $7.75. If the label is $20, the buyer pays $7.75 and you pay $12.25.
- Buyer pays all (default).
These settings do not apply to giveaways or to orders placed outside a show. Source: Offer free or discounted shipping.
Free shipping can help conversion, but it is a show cost. Put the amount you expect to cover into the show profit estimator before you turn it on.
Giveaway shipping is always on you
Sellers pay shipping for physical giveaway items, including international shipping if it is enabled. The cost is deducted from your Whatnot balance when the giveaway runs, and the balance can go negative. Choose a shipping profile that matches packed weight so you are not overcharged. Ship giveaway orders within two business days, like any other order.
Source: About giveaways on Whatnot. Price a planned giveaway with the giveaway cost calculator.
Adjustments, bundling, and profit
Shipping Charges on the Weekly Orders Report are extra costs you owe Whatnot after the sale: label adjustments outside any weekly allowance, and Bring Your Own Label costs. They are not the same as the seller-paid shipping that was already taken at order time. Those adjustments belong in the show’s profit, which is why uploading the weekly report matters.
Buyer-paid shipping is not part of commission, but it is part of the processing base, so it slightly increases the 2.9% + $0.30 fee. See how Whatnot fees work.
Related guides and tools
Sources
- Whatnot Help Center, Shipping for sellers in the US (updated November 4, 2026; checked November 13, 2026)
- Whatnot Help Center, Offer free or discounted shipping
- Whatnot Help Center, About giveaways on Whatnot
- Whatnot Help Center, Seller Weekly Orders Report