Seller resources
Why ticket fees are so high
If you've ever been surprised by a checkout total that's 30–40% higher than the list price, you're not alone. Ticket service and resale fees add up quickly for both buyers and sellers.
This guide breaks down where fees come from, how marketplaces justify them, and what regulators have said about the current system. It's not legal or financial advice — just an overview to help you make more informed decisions.
Types of fees you'll see
A single purchase can include several different fees. On primary and resale marketplaces, common line items include:
- Service fees – platform fees for running the marketplace, handling support, and processing payments.
- Delivery or fulfillment fees – for transferring or shipping tickets, even when delivery is digital.
- Order or processing fees – catch-all fees that are sometimes a fixed amount per order.
- Seller fees – commissions taken from the seller's side on resale platforms.
In a U.S. government study, average fees across primary and secondary markets were found to be roughly 30% of the ticket price, with some purchases seeing even higher percentages.
How marketplaces justify high fees
Ticketing companies often point to the cost of technology, security, customer support, and fraud prevention to explain service fees. They argue that secure digital delivery, mobile ticketing, access control equipment, and 24/7 support require ongoing investment.
Resale platforms also take on risk when something goes wrong — for example, if tickets are invalid or a seller fails to deliver. Buyer guarantees and chargeback handling are baked into their economics, and some of that cost shows up in fees.
What regulators and watchdogs have said
Regulators and consumer advocates have raised concerns about drip pricing (showing a low price up front and adding mandatory fees late in checkout) and about how much of the total fee load is disclosed clearly to buyers.
Some high-profile cases have alleged that platforms benefit from resale activity by collecting fees on both the primary sale and the secondary sale, which can create incentives to keep prices and fees high. Ongoing policy debates focus on all-in pricing and clearer disclosure so buyers see the total cost earlier in the process.
What you can actually control as a seller
You can't change a marketplace's base fee structure, but you can choose where and how you list:
- Compare estimated seller fees across marketplaces before you list.
- Consider how buyer fees and audience size affect your likely sale price.
- Run the same ticket through multiple payout scenarios so you're not surprised later.
The ticket resale payout calculator is built for exactly this: it helps you turn fee structures into estimated take-home numbers so you can decide what feels fair.
Next reads: ticket seller fee comparison · best place to sell tickets
Ticket fee FAQ
Why do ticket fees sometimes feel higher than the ticket itself?
On some orders, especially lower-priced tickets, a mix of percentage-based and fixed fees can create extreme outcomes. A flat processing or delivery fee has a much bigger impact on a $20 ticket than a $200 one. When you stack multiple fees together, the total can rival or even exceed the face value of the ticket.
Are ticket fees different on the primary vs. resale market?
Yes. Primary ticket sellers (like the original box office) often charge their own service and order fees, while resale marketplaces add buyer and seller fees on top of whatever the initial price was. In some cases, the same major company participates in both the primary and secondary market, which is part of why regulators have scrutinized how fees are disclosed and structured.
Do ticket fees ever go away?
Even when you see marketing like “no fees,” the cost of running the platform still has to be covered somehow — often through higher base prices or fees shifted to the other side of the transaction. Policy efforts around all-in pricing are less about eliminating fees entirely and more about making total costs clearer up front.