The base commission per category
Mercado Libre charges a commission that depends on two things: the category of the product and the type of publication (Classic or Premium).
- Electronics, cell phones, cameras: 12% classic / 16% premium
- Clothing, footwear, accessories: 14% classic / 18% premium
- Home, furniture, garden: 14% classic / 18% premium
- Beauty and personal care: 16% classic / 20% premium
- Sports and fitness: 14% classic / 18% premium
- Tools, industry, business: 12% classic / 16% premium
- Auto parts: 12% classic / 16% premium
- Toys and hobbies: 15% classic / 19% premium
- Books, music, movies: 12% classic / 16% premium
The hidden costs that almost no one sees
On top of the sales commission, MeLi charges or discounts other concepts that easily add up to an additional 3-5%.
- MercadoPago (collection processing): 4.99% when the customer pays by card to MSI. It's already included in the total commission, but it's good to know.
- Free shipping: if your product is worth <$299 MXN, MeLi forces you to absorb the shipping cost. It can be $80-150 MXN depending on destination.
- Cost per premium post: Required in many categories if you want to compete. Raise your commission from 12-14% to 16-20%.
- Flex Shipping: if you choose Flex you pay for logistics. If you choose Full (MeLi warehouse) MeLi charges you storage $2-8/month/item + fulfillment per order.
- VAT on the commission: 16% applies to the commission that MeLi charges you. Example: commission 18% → 18% + 2.88% = 20.88% real.
Real example with numbers
You sell a pair of tennis shoes for $1,500 MXN in the Clothing category (18% premium with mandatory free shipping).
- Sale price: $1,500 MXN
- MeLi Commission 18%: $270
- VAT on commission: $43.20
- Free shipping (Mexico City, standard): $95
- Total discounts: $408.20 (27.2% of the price)
- What you receive: $1,091.80 MXN
How to reduce the cost of selling on Mercado Libre
You can't avoid the commission if you want MeLi traffic, but you can reduce it by up to 30-40% with these tactics.
- 1. Use Classic publication in categories where Premium does not make a real difference (products with already established demand). You save 4-6%.
- 2. Raise prices above $299 to avoid absorbing shipping. If your product is worth $250, raise it to $310 — better margin.
- 3. Win back the customer with your own store. A customer who found you on MeLi can repurchase directly from your own store without commission — up to 40% retention possible with good after-sales (email + WhatsApp).
- 4. Synchronize inventory with your own store (with Aura, Shopify, etc.). You sell on MeLi to attract customers and in your store to repurchase without commission.
- 5. Take advantage of Full Shipping only if you sell >30 units/month of the same SKU. Less than that, the storage cost eats into your margin.
Stop sticking tools. Operate your entire business with Aura.
ERP, CRM, point of sale, billing, WhatsApp and more — in a single system with AI that works for you. Try 14 days for $14.
Start your trial →Frequently asked questions
What is the average commission of Mercado Libre in Mexico?
Between 12% and 22% depending on category and type of publication. The actual average commission (including VAT, free shipping and hidden costs) is 20-25% for retail stores.
Is it worth selling only on Mercado Libre?
Not in the long term. MeLi gives you traffic but you do not own the client and you cannot do email marketing or retargeting. Combine MeLi (to attract) + own store (to retain and repurchase without commission).
Can I transfer my client from MeLi to my own store?
Yes, but with discretion. Post-sale (WhatsApp thank you with link to your store for their next purchase) is legitimate and does not violate terms. Contacting you before the order is closed does violate.
How much do I save with my own store + Mercado Libre vs just MeLi?
If 30% of your MeLi customers repurchase in your own store, you save 20-25% commission on that percentage. Example: $500k MXN/month of MeLi sales → if you recover $150k in your own store = $30-37k/month of commission saved.