What are the costs of selling on bol.com in 2026?
If you're considering starting to sell on bol.com, it's essential to understand the costs involved. The costs of selling on bol.com consist of multiple components: fixed commission, variable commission, potential logistical costs, and optional advertising budgets. In this comprehensive article, we'll give you a complete overview of all costs, so you know exactly what to expect and how to optimize your margin.
Bol.com, with over 13 million active customers and more than 52,000 sales partners, is the largest online platform in the Benelux. To keep this platform running, bol.com charges sellers costs. These costs are transparent and predictable - as long as you understand them. Below, we'll explain step by step what you need to consider when it comes to the costs of selling on bol.com.
Overview of all cost items when selling on bol.com
Before we dive deeper into each cost item, it's helpful to have an overall overview. The costs of selling on bol.com consist of the following components:
| Cost item | Type | Amount / Percentage | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed commission | Per sold item | €0,20 – €2,48 ex. btw | Yes |
| Variable commission | Percentage of sales price | 4.1% – 20.7% ex. btw | Yes |
| Media surcharge | Per sold media item | €1,00 ex. btw | Only for media |
| LVB fulfillment costs | Per shipment | From €2,39 | Only for LVB |
| LVB storage costs | Per m³ per month | Variable | Only for LVB |
| Advertising costs | CPC (cost per click) | From €0,10 | Optional |
| Return costs | Per return (own shipping) | Variable | For own shipping |
There are no monthly subscription costs for a bol.com sales account. You only pay when you actually sell. This makes bol.com particularly attractive to starters who want to take their first steps on the platform.
Fixed commission per sold item
For every sale, you pay a fixed commission to bol.com. The amount of this fee depends on the sales price of your product:
| Sales price (incl. btw) | Fixed commission (ex. btw) |
|---|---|
| Up to €10,00 | €0,20 |
| €10,00 – €20,00 | €0,40 |
| Above €20,00 (standard) | €0,85 |
| Above €20,00 (electronics, white goods, large furniture) | €2,48 |
Bol.com uses this tiered system to make selling cheaper products more attractive. Without the reduced fixed commission for lower price points, the margin on budget products would become unsustainable.
Media surcharge
For books, games, music, and films, a media surcharge of €1,00 ex. btw per sold item applies in addition to the fixed and variable commission. Keep this in mind if you want to sell in these categories - it can have a significant impact on your margin for cheaper media products.
Variable commission per product category
In addition to the fixed commission, you pay a variable percentage of the sales price. This percentage varies per product category. Below is an overview of the main categories and their commission percentages:
| Product category | Variable commission (ex. VAT) | Margin assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Power tools | 4.1% | Very favorable |
| Computers & electronics | 5.0% | Favorable |
| Pet food | 6.0% | Favorable |
| Camping gear | 10.8% | Average |
| Standard category | 12.4% | Average |
| Sports & fashion (above €50) | 13.0% | Average-high |
| Bedding | 14.1% | High |
| Beauty & care | 15.0% | High |
| Jewelry | 20.7% | Very high |
The difference in commission percentage can have a huge impact on your profitability. A product with a 4.1% commission will leave you with significantly more margin than the same product in a category with 15% or more. Use the Boloo Sales Dashboard to get insight into your actual margins per product.
Calculation examples: what's left for you?
To make the costs of selling on bol.com more concrete, we'll work out four calculation examples below for different price points and categories.
Example 1: Toy for €8.95
Selling price: €8.95 (incl. 21% VAT). VAT payment: €1.55. Fixed commission: €0.20. Variable commission (12.4%): €1.11. Total payment: €2.86. Net receipt: €6.09. Excluding purchase and shipping costs.
Example 2: Kitchen appliance for €34.95
Selling price: €34.95 (incl. 21% VAT). VAT payment: €6.07. Fixed commission: €0.85. Variable commission (12.4%): €4.33. Total payment: €11.25. Net receipt: €23.70. The purchase price determines whether this is profitable.
Example 3: Jewelry for €59.00
Selling price: €59.00 (incl. 21% VAT). VAT payment: €10.24. Fixed commission: €0.85. Variable commission (20.7%): €12.21. Total payment: €23.30. Net receipt: €35.70. Note: the high commission in the jewelry category eats away a large part of your margin.
Example 4: Power tool for €89.00
Selling price: €89.00 (incl. 21% VAT). VAT payment: €15.45. Fixed commission: €0.85. Variable commission (4.1%): €3.65. Total payment: €19.95. Net receipt: €69.05. Due to the low commission percentage, you're left with relatively more.
Logistics costs: own shipping vs. LVB
When selling on bol.com, you also need to consider your logistics costs. You have two options: shipping yourself or using Logistics via Bol (LVB).
Shipping yourself (Fulfilled by Seller)
When shipping yourself, you bear the costs of packaging materials, shipping labels, and possibly a shipping software subscription. Average costs per package range from €3.50 to €7.00, depending on weight, size, and carrier. You're also responsible for return processing. Use the LVB box-size checker to calculate whether LVB is more cost-effective for your products.
Logistics via Bol (LVB)
With LVB, bol.com stores your inventory and handles shipping, return processing, and customer service. The costs consist of:
- Fulfillment costs - from €2.39 per shipment, depending on weight and size
- Storage costs - monthly costs per cubic meter of storage space, which increase during peak periods (Q4)
- Label costs - €0.19 per item if bol.com applies the labels
- Return processing - is handled automatically, costs are included in the fulfillment rate
The major advantage of LVB is that your products get the "Shipped by bol.com" seal, which can significantly increase conversion. Plus, you'll rank higher in search results. The extra costs often pay for themselves through higher sales volumes.
Advertising costs on bol.com
An increasingly important cost factor when selling on bol.com is advertising. With Bol Sponsored Products, you pay per click (CPC) to get your product to appear higher in search results.
| Ad type | Costs | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsored Products | From €0.10 per click | All sellers |
| Display Ads | CPM basis (per 1,000 impressions) | Larger sellers |
| Branded Shelves | On request | Brand owners |
The average ACOS (Advertising Cost of Sales) on bol.com is between 8% and 15%. This means that for every euro in sales from ads, you'll spend around €0.08 to €0.15 on ad costs. With the Boloo Sponsored Products tool, you can optimize your campaigns and lower your ACOS.
Hidden costs to consider
Besides the direct costs of bol.com, there are other costs that beginners often overlook:
- Return costs - bol.com has a generous return policy. Depending on your category, the return rate can be 15-30%. If you handle shipping yourself, you'll pay for return shipping
- Packaging materials - boxes, filling materials, tape, and labels cost €0.50 to €2.00 per shipment
- Product photography - professional product photos cost €15 to €50 per product, but significantly increase your conversion rate
- EAN codes - if you sell your own products, you need EAN codes (€25 for 10 units at GS1)
- KvK registration - a one-time €75 fee for registering with the Chamber of Commerce
- Accounting - VAT returns and administration, manual or via software (€5-€30 per month)
Comparing costs: bol.com vs. your own webshop
Many sellers wonder if having their own webshop is cheaper than selling on bol.com. Let's compare the costs:
| Cost factor | Bol.com | Your own webshop |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly costs | €0 (only when selling) | €30-€300/month (hosting + platform) |
| Commission per sale | 5-21% + fixed amount | 0% (excluding payment costs) |
| Payment costs | Included | 1.5-3% per transaction |
| Marketing / traffic | Organic traffic included | Google Ads, social media (€500+/month) |
| Reach | 13+ million customers | Build your own |
| Customer trust | High (bol.com brand) | Build your own |
For most starters, bol.com is more advantageous because you don't have fixed costs and can immediately benefit from millions of visitors. Having your own webshop becomes more interesting with higher volumes or high-margin products where the commission weighs heavily.
10 tips to reduce your sales costs on bol.com
With the right strategy, you can significantly lower your costs and increase your net margin:
- Choose the right product category - check if your product falls into the category with the lowest commission percentage. Incorrect categorization can cost you unnecessary money
- Focus on higher price points - the fixed commission has a relatively lower impact on more expensive products. A €50 product with a €0.85 fixed commission is more favorable than an €8 product with a €0.20 commission
- Bundle products - by selling products as a set, you increase the average order value and only pay the fixed commission once
- Optimize your listings - better titles, bullet points, and images increase your conversion rate without extra costs. Use the Boloo AI Listing Generator for optimized content
- Reduce your return rate - accurate product descriptions, good photos, and honest specifications reduce returns
- Use LVB strategically - for products with a high turnover rate, LVB can be cheaper than shipping yourself, plus you benefit from the quality mark
- Optimize ad spend - set a maximum ACOS and pause campaigns for products that don't perform
- Negotiate with suppliers - sharper purchase prices have a direct impact on your margin. Consider larger orders for volume discounts
- Automate your administration - save time and money with automatic invoicing via Boloo's invoicing tool
- Continuously monitor your margins - use the Boloo Sales Dashboard to track your actual margin per product and make adjustments
What does bol.com use the commission for?
Bol.com invests the received commission in various areas that benefit you as a seller:
- Reach and marketing - TV campaigns, online marketing, and SEO attract more visitors and potential buyers for your products
- Platform innovation - continuous improvement of the platform, including search algorithms, product pages, and the sales partner portal
- Customer service - professional handling of questions and complaints, which maintains trust in the platform
- Logistical infrastructure - investments in fulfillment centers, LVB capacity, and delivery options like evening delivery
- Financial handling - bol.com takes on the risk of non-paying customers, ensuring you always get paid
Frequently asked questions about selling on bol.com costs
Are there monthly costs for a bol.com sales account?
No, a bol.com sales account is free. You only pay commission when you actually sell a product. There are no startup costs, monthly subscriptions, or minimum sales requirements.
Do I get my commission back in case of a return?
Yes, when a customer returns a product, the paid commission is fully credited. You don't pay commission on returned products. Note, however, that with self-shipping, you do bear the return shipping costs.
How do I calculate my net margin per product?
Net margin = selling price − VAT − fixed commission − variable commission − purchase price − shipping costs − packaging costs. Use a profit calculator to calculate this per product before you start.
Can I lower commission costs by selling more?
Bol.com doesn't offer tiered discounts on commission based on volume. The percentages are the same for all sellers. However, you can structurally lower your total costs by making smarter purchasing decisions, optimizing your packaging, and reducing your return rate.
Are bol.com's costs comparable to Amazon's?
Amazon charges a monthly subscription of €39 (Professional plan) plus similar variable commissions. For small sellers with few products, bol.com might be more cost-effective due to the lack of fixed monthly costs. At larger volumes, the costs are comparable.
Which category has the lowest costs?
Power tools have the lowest variable commission rate at 4.1%. Combined with relatively high selling prices, this category offers the best margin. Computers and electronics (5%) and pet food (6%) are also favorable categories in terms of commission.
Conclusion: are the costs worth it?
The costs of selling on bol.com are transparent and predictable. Although the commissions may seem high at first - especially in categories like jewelry or beauty - bol.com offers enormous reach, consumer trust, and a ready-made infrastructure for returns. For most sellers, the benefits far outweigh the costs, especially if you keep a close eye on your margin using tools like Boloo's Sales Dashboard. Start today and discover for yourself how profitable selling on bol.com can be.
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