Mercari shipping for sellers: prepaid labels, who pays, limits and 2026 rate changes
Shipping is the part of a Mercari sale that most often eats your profit — or gets an order cancelled. Here’s how it works, from Mercari’s help center.
Two ways to ship
When you create a listing, you choose:
1. A Mercari prepaid label
- USPS, UPS or FedEx;
- a fixed rate based on the weight and carrier you choose — the same across all 50 states, with no zone pricing;
- tracking included;
- Shipping Protection of up to $200 for standard, economy, Local and Media Mail labels, or $20 for First-Class Envelopes, when you follow the guidelines.
2. Ship on your own
- You pay all shipping costs yourself.
- You must enter a valid tracking number on the Order Status page. Without one, Mercari says the transaction may be cancelled — even if you already sent the item.
Who pays for shipping?
With a prepaid label you decide:
- buyer pays — the label cost is added at the buyer’s checkout; or
- you pay — offering free shipping, which comes out of your earnings.
Free shipping can help an item sell, but price it in. Check what you’d keep with the Mercari fee calculator.
Size and weight limits for prepaid labels
Prepaid labels cover packages up to:
- 50 lbs in actual or dimensional weight;
- 34″ on the longest side;
- 20″ on the second-longest side.
Bigger or heavier items have to be shipped on your own.
Two special options:
- USPS Media Mail for eligible media like books, movies and printed music — only media items in the box, and USPS may inspect it. You’re responsible for fees if it’s used improperly or the weight is wrong.
- First-Class Envelope labels for trading cards, up to 3 oz and no larger than 11½″ × 6⅛″ × ¼″.
Ship within 3 business days
Mercari asks sellers to ship within 3 business days of the sale. The buyer’s 72-hour rating window — and your payment — only starts once the item is delivered; see when Mercari sellers get paid. Late shipping can also lead to cancellation requests — see cancelling a Mercari order.
2026 rate changes
- From October 19, 2026, Mercari updated prepaid label prices for select weight categories, for both buyer-paid and seller-paid labels, on new and existing listings.
- Trading cards and paper collectibles: 1 oz First-Class Envelopes ship free, and 1–3 oz envelopes are 49¢, both through January 4, 2027 (terms apply).
- From May 7, 2026, USPS Ground Advantage and Priority Mail prepaid labels reflect an 8% USPS fuel surcharge.
For the exact current rate table, see Mercari’s shipping page in the references.