How to Use This Calculator
This tool models your complete consignment payout across a 30/60/90-day markdown schedule. Fill in your item's original list price, the fees your shop charges, and the split + markdown percentages for each phase. The results update instantly.
- Set your list price — the price tag on the item when it first hits the floor.
- Enter any flat fees — a listing/intake fee (e.g. a $5 photo upload charge) is deducted once before the split. A buyer's premium is added to the buyer's total but does not enter the consignor pool.
- Enter the card processing rate — typically 2.6–3.5% for Shopify or Square. If the shop absorbs this cost, enter 0%.
- Configure each phase — set the end-day, the markdown %, and your consignor split % for phases 1, 2, and 3.
- Use the Sell-Day Explorer to model what happens if your item sells on a specific day — useful for furniture or higher-value items with a predictable sales window.
What This Calculator Solves
The most common complaint from consignors is surprise at how little they receive — not because the split was unfair, but because they didn't account for the combined effect of markdowns, card fees, and listing charges. A $100 item with a 60/40 split sounds like a $60 payout, but if it sells in Phase 3 at 50% off with a 2.9% card fee, the real number is closer to $28.
This calculator shows all three scenarios side-by-side so you can decide whether to consign an item, what minimum price to set, or whether to pick the item up before the next markdown kicks in.
Understanding Consignment Markdown Schedules
Most brick-and-mortar consignment stores use an automatic markdown schedule to move aging inventory. A typical schedule:
- Days 1–30: Full price, standard split (e.g. 60/40 in your favour)
- Days 31–60: Price reduced by 20–25%, split may stay the same
- Days 61–90: Price reduced by 40–50%, some stores shift the split to 50/50 or even 40/60 to protect their margin
- Day 91+: Item donated, disposed of, or returned — consignor receives nothing
Some furniture consignment shops use a gentler 10%/20%/30% markdown over 30/60/90 days and keep the 50/50 split throughout. Luxury online consignment platforms use tiered splits based on sale price, not time. This calculator covers all these variants.
Fee Structures to Know
- Listing / intake fee: A flat fee deducted from your proceeds once, regardless of which phase the item sells in. Common at online-enabled stores ($4.99–$9.99 per item).
- Credit card processing fee: Typically 2.6–3.5%. Many shops deduct this before calculating the split; some don't — always ask.
- Buyer's premium: An additional amount added to the buyer's total (e.g. $4.99 for items under $45). This money does not flow into the consignor pool at all — it is retained entirely by the shop.
- Markdown discount allocation: Shops vary on who absorbs a markdown. "Shared discount" means both parties proportionally lose; "consignor discount" means only your portion is reduced. This calculator assumes the split is applied to the already-reduced sale price, which is the most common real-world approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the typical consignment split percentage?
Most clothing consignment shops use a 60/40 split favouring the consignor — you receive 60% of the net sale price. Furniture shops often start at 50/50. Luxury consignment platforms like TheRealReal can pay consignors 55–85% depending on item value, with higher rates for pieces over $5,000. Children's clothing shops frequently keep 50–60% because of lower price points and seasonal turnover.
Are splits calculated on the gross price or after fees?
Professional consignment agreements calculate splits on net proceeds — the sale price minus card processing, shipping, and listing fees — not the gross selling price. However, many smaller shops apply the split to the gross price and then separately deduct card fees from the consignor's share only. Always confirm this in writing. This calculator lets you model both by adjusting the card fee % field (0% if the store absorbs it).
How does an automatic markdown schedule affect my payout?
Markdowns reduce the sale price, which directly lowers your payout in dollar terms even if the percentage stays the same. At 50% markdown and a 60/40 split, a $100 item earns you $30 instead of $60. Some stores also reduce your split percentage alongside the markdown to maintain their own dollar margin. This calculator shows you the exact dollar payout for each phase so you can make a pickup decision before the markdown date if needed.
What happens to my item after 90 days?
After the consignment period (usually 60–90 days), unsold items are typically donated to charity, disposed of, or returned to you upon request — often at your cost to retrieve. Some stores offer an extension; others automatically transfer ownership. Always check your contract's "expiry" clause. The IRS does not consider a donated item a tax deduction for the original consignor (since you didn't donate it — the shop did).
Should I set a minimum acceptable price before consigning?
Yes. Use the Phase 3 row of this calculator as your "floor" scenario. If the Phase 3 payout doesn't cover your minimum acceptable amount, you have two options: set a higher list price (so the discounted price still clears your floor), or negotiate a "pickup before markdown" clause in your agreement so you can retrieve the item before Phase 3 kicks in. Many shops allow pickup after the initial 30 or 60 days without penalty.
Does the store's buyer's premium come out of my payout?
No — a buyer's premium is an additional charge added to the buyer's total on top of the ticketed price. It is collected entirely by the store and does not enter the consignor pool. For example, if your item is priced at $40 and the shop charges a $4.99 buyer's premium, the buyer pays $44.99 but the consignor split is only calculated on the $40. This calculator models this correctly via the "buyer's premium" input.
Method & sources: Calculations follow the net-proceeds split formula documented by the National Association of Resale & Thrift Shops (NARTS) and standard consignment software practice (ConsignCloud, ResaleWorld). This tool provides estimates for planning purposes only; actual payouts depend on your consignment agreement. Always confirm fee-deduction order and markdown discount allocation in writing with your consignment shop.