Calculate Bol Commission

Want to calculate the bol commission before you start selling? That's a smart move. The commission structure of bol.com is more complex than many beginner sellers think. In this comprehensive article, we'll break down all the costs, from variable commission percentages and fixed fees to hidden costs that can eat into your margin. With our step-by-step guide, you'll calculate exactly how much you'll keep per product sold.

How does the bol commission calculation work?

Bol.com uses a commission model that consists of two components: a variable percentage of the selling price and a fixed amount per sold item. The variable percentage varies by product category and ranges from 5% to 17%. The fixed amount is between €0.50 and €2.00, depending on the category. To calculate the total bol commission, you add both components together.

Additionally, as a seller, you don't pay monthly subscription fees - you only pay when you actually make a sale. This makes it easy to get started, but it also means that your commission costs directly affect your profit margin. That's why it's essential to calculate beforehand whether your product will be profitable after all costs.

The two components of the commission

Let's take a closer look at the two components of the bol.com commission:

• Variable percentage: This is a percentage of the selling price (including VAT). The percentage is determined by the product category your item falls into. For example, electronics have a lower percentage than clothing.
• Fixed amount: Regardless of the selling price, you pay a fixed amount per sold item. This amount covers bol.com's fixed processing costs and varies by category.

Commission rates per product category on bol.com

Below, you'll find an overview of the commission percentages and fixed amounts per popular product category on bol.com. These rates apply in 2026:

Product category	Variable percentage	Fixed amount per item	Example (€25 product)
Electronics & Accessories	8%	€1.00	€3.00
Computers & Tablets	5%	€1.50	€2.75
Books	12%	€0.50	€3.50
Clothing & Fashion	15%	€1.00	€4.75
Toys & Games	12%	€0.85	€3.85
Garden & DIY	10%	€1.00	€3.50
Sports & Leisure	11%	€0.85	€3.60
Home & Kitchen	13%	€1.00	€4.25
Beauty & Health	14%	€0.85	€4.35
Baby & Kids	10%	€0.85	€3.35
Pets	12%	€0.85	€3.85
Auto & Motor	10%	€1.00	€3.50

Note: bol.com regularly adjusts its rates. Always check the official partner page for the most up-to-date rates.

Calculating the bol commission step by step: a practical example

Let's use a concrete example to calculate the full bol commission. Say you're selling a kitchen product for €39.95, including VAT.

Step 1: Determine the product category

The product falls under the Home & Kitchen category. From the table above, we see: 13% variable percentage + €1.00 fixed amount.

Step 2: Calculate the variable commission

Variable commission = €39.95 × 13% = €5.19

Step 3: Add the fixed amount

Total bol.com commission = €5.19 + €1.00 = €6.19

Step 4: Calculate your net revenue

Net revenue after commission = €39.95 - €6.19 = €33.76. This is the amount you'll receive from bol.com, but keep in mind: other costs will still be deducted.

All costs besides commission: what you really pay

The bol.com commission is just one part of your total cost picture. To calculate your actual profit margin, you also need to consider the following costs:

Shipping costs

If you ship yourself (VVB - Shipped via Bol.com), you pay the shipping costs to your own carrier. Typical costs for a standard package up to 2 kg range from €3.50 to €5.50. If you use Logistics via Bol (LVB), you pay bol.com a fulfillment fee that depends on the weight and dimensions of your product. Find more information on our page about the LVB Box Size Checker.

Purchase costs

Your purchase price determines the foundation of your margin. The lower you buy, the more room you have after all commissions and costs. Do you work with suppliers from China? Read our article about purchasing in China for tips on negotiating better prices.

Packaging costs

Think of boxes, filling material, tape, and labels. These costs vary from €0.30 to €2.00 per package, depending on the size and type of packaging you use.

Return costs

At bol.com, you as the seller bear the costs for returns. The return percentage varies greatly per category - in clothing, it can be as high as 30-40%, while in electronics it's often below 5%. Each return costs you not only the shipping costs but also the original commission (which is not refunded). Also, check out the return policy of bol.com for more details.

Advertising costs (optional)

Want more visibility? With Sponsored Products on bol.com, you pay per click (CPC). The average CPC ranges from €0.15 to €0.50, depending on the competition in your category. These costs can significantly impact your margin if you don't keep an eye on them.

VAT

Don't forget that the selling price on bol.com includes VAT. When calculating your profit, you need to subtract the VAT (21%) from your selling price. The VAT payment is: €39.95 / 1.21 × 0.21 = €6.93.

The complete margin calculation: from selling price to profit

Let's map out the full picture for our kitchen product of €39.95:

Cost Item	Amount
Selling Price (incl. VAT)	€39,95
VAT Payment (21%)	-€6,93
Bol.com Commission (13% + €1,00)	-€6,19
Shipping Costs (VVB)	-€4,50
Purchase Price	-€12,00
Packaging	-€0,75
Return Costs (5% Return Rate)	-€0,45
Net Profit per Product	€9,13
Profit Margin	22,9%

In this example, you're left with €9,13 per sold product - a healthy margin of almost 23%. But what if your return rate increases to 15%? Or if you have to pay advertising costs? Your margin can quickly drop to 10% or less. Use a tool like the Boloo Profit Calculator to quickly calculate different scenarios.

Common Mistakes When Calculating bol.com Commission

Many sellers make the same mistakes when calculating their costs. Here are the five most common pitfalls:

1. Forgetting VAT: The selling price on bol.com includes VAT. If you forget to deduct VAT before calculating your margin, you'll overestimate your profit by around 17%.
2. Underestimating Return Costs: Especially with clothing and shoes, returns can completely wipe out your margin. Always calculate with a realistic return rate for your category.
3. Only Calculating Variable Commission: The fixed amount per item may seem small, but for cheap products (€5-€10), it can make up to 20% of the selling price.
4. Not Including Advertising Costs: Many sellers start without ads, but later discover they don't have enough visibility without Sponsored Products.
5. Ignoring Seasonal Costs: During peak periods (Black Friday, Sinterklaas, Christmas), advertising costs can increase and delays at LVB can cause extra costs.

When is Selling on bol.com No Longer Profitable?

There are situations where the bol.com commission and other costs are simply too high to sell profitably:

• Products Under €10: With a selling price of €8, you'll quickly pay €2-€3 in commission and €4 in shipping costs. There's nothing left.
• High Return Rate: Categories with more than 20% returns require an exceptionally high gross profit to remain profitable.
• Heavy or Large Products: Shipping costs for packages over 10 kg can add up to €10-€15, which virtually eliminates the margin on products under €50.
• Highly Competitive Categories: If you can only compete by lowering your price, your margin will decrease while the commission percentage remains the same.

Always do a profitability check before adding a new product. With the Boloo Product Tracker, you can estimate in advance what the competition is doing and what selling prices are realistic.

Tips to Optimize Your Margin Despite Commission Costs

Although you can't avoid the bol.com commission, there are strategies to improve your profit margin:

1. Selling Product Bundles

By selling multiple products as a single bundle, you only pay the fixed commission fee once. A bundle of three kitchen towels for €19.95 pays just one fixed fee of €1.00, instead of three times €1.00 if you were to sell them separately.

2. Category Optimization

Some products can be placed in multiple categories. Check if an alternative category has a lower commission percentage without compromising your visibility.

3. Negotiate Better Purchase Prices

Higher volumes with suppliers often lead to lower purchase prices. A difference of €1 per product on 1,000 sales per month is €12,000 extra profit per year.

4. LVB vs. VVB Comparison

Depending on your product dimensions, LVB can be cheaper or more expensive than shipping yourself. Calculate both scenarios. Use our LVB Box Size Checker to accurately estimate LVB costs.

5. Improve Ad Efficiency

Optimize your ACoS (Advertising Cost of Sale) by focusing on conversion-oriented keywords and excluding irrelevant search terms. Read more about ACoS optimization in our blog post.

Use Boloo to Keep an Eye on Your Commissions and Margins

Manually calculating commissions for hundreds of products is time-consuming and prone to errors. With Boloo's Sales Dashboard, you can see your revenue, costs, and margins per product at a glance. The dashboard automatically takes into account the current commission rates of bol.com, so you always know what you're really earning.

Whether you're a beginner seller launching your first product or an experienced entrepreneur with a wide range of products - accurately calculating your bol.com commission is the foundation of a profitable business. Start today by calculating your margins and avoid unpleasant surprises.

Frequently Asked Questions about Calculating bol.com Commission

Do You Pay Commission on the Selling Price Including or Excluding VAT?

The bol.com commission is calculated on the selling price including VAT. This is an important point that many sellers overlook. If your product costs €24.95 including VAT and the commission is 12%, you pay 12% on the full €24.95 - not on the price excluding VAT (€20.62). This difference can add up significantly for more expensive products and directly affects your profit margin.

Is the Commission Refunded in Case of a Return?

Yes, in the case of an approved return, bol.com refunds the variable commission. However, the fixed fee per item is not refunded. For products with a high return rate, these non-refundable fixed fees can add up. For example, if you sell 100 products per month in the Clothing category (fixed fee €1.00) with a return rate of 30%, that means 30 returns × €1.00 = €30 in fixed costs that you're out of pocket for, without getting anything back.

How Often Do Commission Rates Change?

Bol.com adjusts commission rates on average one to two times per year. This usually happens at the beginning of the year or around the third quarter. It's wise to keep an eye on bol.com's official communication and periodically review your margin calculations. A 1% increase in commission can mean thousands of euros in extra costs for large volumes.

Are There Discounts on Commissions for Large Sellers?

Bol.com doesn't offer standard volume discounts on commission rates. All sellers pay the same percentages and fixed amounts, regardless of their sales volume. However, large sellers can benefit from economies of scale in shipping (lower LVB rates for higher volumes) and purchasing (better supplier terms). Additionally, higher sales can lead to a better position in the buy block, which indirectly improves your conversion and overall profitability.

How does commission work with promotions and discounts?

If you temporarily offer a product at a discount, the commission is calculated based on the actual selling price (the discounted price), not the original recommended price. This means that during a promotion, your commission amount will be lower, but your margin per product will also be smaller. Make sure to calculate beforehand whether your promotion is still profitable after deducting all costs. A 20% discount promotion that reduces your margin from €9 to €2 only makes sense if the extra sales volume compensates for it.

Comparing commission: bol.com vs. other platforms

How do bol.com's commission rates compare to other sales platforms? Here's a comparison:

Platform	Commission	Fixed amount	Monthly subscription
Bol.com	5-17%	€0,50-€2,00	No
Amazon.nl	7-15%	No	€39/month (Pro)
Etsy	6.5%	€0,20 per listing	No
Shopify	0% (own site)	2% transaction costs*	€36/month (Basic)
Marktplaats Pro	No commission	Per ad	Variable

* Shopify transaction costs are waived when using Shopify Payments.

Bol.com is particularly interesting due to the lack of monthly costs - you only pay when you sell. This makes the platform low-threshold for starters. Amazon offers lower commission percentages in some categories, but the monthly €39 subscription costs weigh heavily if you don't sell much. For sellers with their own customer base, Shopify may be more beneficial, as you don't pay commission per sale.

The choice between platforms depends on your target audience, product category, and sales volume. Many successful sellers use multiple channels in addition to bol.com to spread their risk and increase their reach.