How to calculate your real eMAG profit: commission, VAT and costs

Many sellers find out they make no profit only after they've sold. The price looked good, but after commission and VAT nothing was left. Let's calculate it properly, step by step, so you know the real number before you list.

What your profit is made of

You start from the selling price (the one the customer sees) and subtract, one by one, all the costs:

• The eMAG commission, a percentage of the order value, different by category (generally 7%-25% in 2026).
• VAT, the standard rate in Romania is 21% (2026). VAT is included in the displayed price and paid to the state.
• The product cost, what the goods cost you.
• Shipping and packaging, courier, envelopes, labels.
• Variable costs, returns, any advertising.

A concrete example

Let's say you sell a product for 199 lei, in a category with a 15% commission, and the product costs you, including shipping and packaging, 88 lei.

• Selling price: 199 lei
• eMAG commission (15%): -30 lei
• VAT (21%, the relevant part): -35 lei
• Product cost + shipping: -88 lei
• Net profit: ≈ 46 lei (~23% margin)

With these numbers, the product is profitable. But notice how fast the margin disappears: if the product cost you 120 lei instead of 88, you'd be near zero. That's why the calculation must be done before, not after.

Common calculation mistakes

• Forgetting VAT. It's the biggest "surprise". At 21%, it completely changes the margin.
• Using a generic commission. Each category has a different percentage, use the real one for your product.
• Not accounting for returns. In some categories, returns seriously bite into profit.
• Estimating by eye. A difference of a few lei per unit means thousands of lei a year.

Calculate automatically, not on paper

You don't have to memorize percentages and formulas. The ZeffScout commission calculator takes the commission for the exact category, adds VAT and your costs, and shows net profit and margin, for RO, BG and HU. You can test several prices in seconds and see at what price you go negative.

And if you want to also check whether the product actually sells before you list it, read our guide on how to choose what to sell on eMAG.

In short

Real profit = selling price - commission - VAT - product cost - shipping - variable costs. Do this calculation for every product before you order stock and you'll never again sell at a loss without knowing it.

The profit calculation is one piece of a whole. See the complete guide to selling on eMAG for every step, from account to listing and ads.