When does a Mercari seller get paid? Ratings, Instant Pay and Direct Deposit
On Mercari, a sale isn’t money in your bank yet. There are two steps: the sale has to complete, and then you withdraw your balance. Here’s how long each takes, from Mercari’s help.
Step 1: the sale completes
After the item is delivered, the buyer has 72 hours to check it and rate the transaction. Once they rate it, the funds are released to your Mercari balance.
If the buyer doesn’t rate in time, Mercari rates you automatically (5 stars) to complete the transaction, so you aren’t stuck waiting on a silent buyer.
So the earliest you see the money is when the buyer rates; at most it’s about 3 days after delivery.
Step 2: withdraw your balance
Go to Settings → Balance → Transfer and choose:
| Instant Pay | Direct Deposit | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Usually minutes, up to 30 minutes | Processed the next business day, then up to 5 business days to arrive |
| Fee | $3 per withdrawal | Free (a $2 fee if the bank rejects it) |
| Limits | Up to $600 a month, once a day | Once a day |
| Where | Visa or Mastercard debit card | Checking account |
| Needs | Government ID verification | Your name, routing and account number |
Direct Deposits aren’t processed on weekends, bank holidays or Mercari holidays. You can cancel a Direct Deposit request until 11:59 PM PT the same day.
Why a payout is held or rejected
Mercari lists these reasons:
- missing or incorrect Direct Deposit information, or an outdated bank account;
- transactional irregularities or an account review;
- the sale of illegal or prohibited items.
If the bank rejects a Direct Deposit because the account details are wrong, the money comes back to your balance minus a $2 fee — it can take up to 10 business days. If your Direct Deposit privileges were revoked, Mercari may ask you to verify your identity (ID, SSN and other documents).
If the hold is part of a wider account restriction, see Mercari account limited.
Getting paid faster
- Ship quickly with tracking — the 72-hour clock only starts at delivery.
- Use Instant Pay when you need the money today; it costs $3 per withdrawal.
- Check what each sale leaves you after fees with the Mercari fee calculator.
At tax time, your 1099-K shows gross sales, not what you withdrew — see Mercari 1099-K.
Shipping fast starts the clock sooner — see Mercari shipping for sellers.