Walmart Marketplace is one of the fastest-growing eCommerce platforms in the world. With millions of visitors every day, thousands of sellers, and strong brand trust, it has become the next big destination after Amazon. But before joining, every seller asks one important question:

How much does it cost to sell on Walmart Marketplace?

In this detailed guide, we explore every fee, cost, and hidden expense. This will help you decide if Walmart Marketplace is profitable for your business and how you can start selling with the right budget.

Why Walmart Marketplace Is Worth Considering

Walmart.com receives over 100 million monthly visitors. These customers trust Walmart for fast delivery, competitive pricing, and great service.

For sellers, Walmart Marketplace offers several benefits:

• Massive exposure without owning a physical store
• No monthly subscription fee
• Transparent commission structure
• Fulfillment options through Walmart (WFS)
• Strong customer support system

Compared to marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart is newer for third-party sellers, so competition is still lower. This means more visibility and a better chance of ranking your products.

The Most Important Question:

How Much Does It Cost to Sell on Walmart Marketplace?

Walmart does NOT charge a monthly subscription fee. You don’t pay for:

• Monthly plan
• Listing fees
• Setup fees
• Annual membership

You only pay when you make a sale. This makes Walmart one of the most profitable and risk-free marketplaces to sell on.

Understanding Walmart Referral Fees

Walmart charges a referral fee on every sale. It is a percentage of the selling price, and the rate varies by category.

Here are the average referral fees:

Product Category	Referral Fee
Clothing & Accessories	15%
Beauty & Health	15%
Electronics	8%
Home & Kitchen	15%
Jewelry	20%
Sports & Outdoor	15%
Automotive	12%
Tools & Hardware	12%
Baby	15%

For most sellers, the fee is between 8% – 15%.

No Monthly Subscription Fee

Amazon charges:

• $39.99 monthly subscription for Professional Seller
• Extra FBA storage and fulfillment fees

But Walmart charges zero monthly fee. You can list unlimited products, upload inventory, and start selling without paying in advance.

For smaller brands and new sellers, this is a huge benefit because every dollar saved is profit.

Other Costs You Should Know About

Although Walmart doesn’t charge listing or subscription fees, there are other costs to consider.

These include:

• Shipping costs
• Fulfillment fees (if using Walmart Fulfillment Services)
• Storage fees (WFS warehouse)
• Returns & customer service
• Advertising

Let’s break them down.

1. Shipping Costs

If you ship orders yourself, you must manage:

• Packing
• Shipping labels
• Carrier charges (UPS, FedEx, USPS)

Walmart requires fast shipping. That means using reliable courier services. If your orders are late, your seller account will get penalties.

Many sellers include shipping cost inside product pricing, so it feels like Free Shipping to buyers.

2. Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS)

Similar to Amazon FBA, Walmart offers WFS.

You send your stock to Walmart warehouse. Walmart stores, picks, packs, and ships orders. They also handle returns.

WFS Costs Include:

• Storage fee (based on cubic feet)
• Fulfillment fee (based on weight/dimensions)

Example of fulfillment fee for 2-lb item:

$5.75 per unit + storage

Even though it costs money, conversion rates are higher because customers get:

• Fast delivery badge
• Reliable return handling
• Competitive shipping

Most sellers find WFS profitable because sales increase when customers see faster shipping.

3. Storage Fees

If your inventory is sitting in Walmart warehouse, storage fees apply monthly.

Average storage fee:

$0.75 – $0.95 per cubic foot

If products are slow moving and stay long in the warehouse, fees increase. The best solution is keeping smart inventory levels based on demand.

4. Return Costs

Returns are a reality in eCommerce.

When customers return products, you may incur:

• Return shipping fees
• Restocking cost
• Product damage

Walmart may handle some returns, but the cost of processing will affect your profit margin.

5. Advertising (Optional But Recommended)

Walmart has its own advertising platform called Walmart Connect.

You can run:

• Sponsored Products
• Display ads
• Search ads

Advertising is not mandatory, but if you want fast results and visibility, you will likely spend money on ads.

Typical starting budget:
$20 – $50 per day

The good news:

• Competition is lower than Amazon
• Cost per click is cheaper
• ROI is often better

What Is the Total Cost to Sell on Walmart Marketplace?

Here is a realistic example:

Product Sale Price: $100

Expense	Cost
Referral Fee (15%)	$15
Shipping or Fulfillment	$5 – $8
Advertising (optional)	$2 – $5
Return Risk	$1

Total Cost:

$23 – $29

Net Profit:

$71 – $77 per sale

This is highly profitable, especially when compared with Amazon or eBay where subscription and storage costs can be higher.

Can You Sell on Walmart Without Inventory?

Yes. Many sellers use:

• Walmart Dropshipping
• Walmart DSV
• 3rd-party fulfillment centers

This means you do not need to hold stock at home.

However, Walmart is very strict about delivery times. If your dropship supplier is slow, your account may get suspended.

Hidden Costs You Should Be Aware Of

There are no hidden fees from Walmart, but certain business expenses are often forgotten:

Product photography
Listing optimization
Inventory management tool
Branding & packaging
Customer service agents

These costs are normal for every eCommerce business. They help build a professional brand and increase conversion.

 

What About Ecommanagers? How We Help Sellers

Selling on Walmart Marketplace becomes easier when you have a professional team managing everything for you. At Ecommanagers, we offer complete Walmart account management services:

Our services include:

• Marketplace approval & setup
• Product listing and optimization
• Keyword research and SEO
• Order & inventory management
• Sponsored ad campaigns
• WFS setup & logistics
• Reporting and analytics
• Account health management

We make sure sellers grow faster, spend less, and earn more profit.

Is Walmart Cheaper Than Amazon?

In many cases, yes. Here’s a simple comparison:

Platform	Monthly Fee	Referral Fee	Fulfillment Option
Walmart	$0	8% – 15%	WFS
Amazon	$39.99	8% – 20%	FBA
eBay	$21+	10% – 12%	3rd-party

No monthly fee makes Walmart very attractive for new sellers.

How to Reduce Costs on Walmart Marketplace

Here are smart strategies:

1. Use WFS for Fast Shipping

Faster delivery increases sales and rankings.

2. Avoid Long-Term Storage

Keep your inventory moving.

3. Optimize Listings

A better product page means more conversion without extra ads.

4. Monitor Prices

Use competitive pricing tools.

5. Run Ads Only When Needed

Start small, then scale winning campaigns.

6. Maintain Account Health

Fewer penalties = fewer unexpected costs.

Final Recommendation

If you want to scale a profitable eCommerce business, Walmart Marketplace is one of the best platforms today. The overall cost is much lower compared to other marketplaces, while customer trust and demand are extremely high

Conclusion: Is Selling on Walmart Marketplace Worth It?

Absolutely.

Summary of Costs:

• No monthly subscription fee
• Only referral fee on sales
• Optional fulfillment and shipping costs
• Optional advertising

For most sellers, average total cost is 23% – 30% of selling price. Profit margins of 70%+ are very realistic.

Walmart gives sellers:

• High traffic
• Strong brand trust
• Lower competition
• Excellent growth potential

Whether you are a new seller or an established brand, Walmart Marketplace offers a profitable opportunity to grow your business.

Want Professional Help?

If you want expert assistance with:

Account approval
Product listing
WFS setup
Advertising & growth
Complete marketplace management

Then Ecommanagers is here to help.

Contact Ecommanagers Today

Start selling on Walmart Marketplace the smart way.
We help you minimize costs and maximize profits.