Return Rate Calculator
By order and by item, which differ.
Return rate by order
12%
11% by item
Order rate and item rate answer different questions. In apparel, bracketing — ordering three sizes to keep one — produces a high item rate and a low order rate, and only the item rate shows the handling cost you are actually paying.
How the Return Rate Calculator works
Order rate and item rate answer different questions. In apparel, bracketing — ordering three sizes to keep one — produces a high item rate and a low order rate, and only the item rate reflects the handling cost you actually pay.
Not financial advice. Marketplace fees change, and they vary by country, plan and seller status. Every rate here is an editable default, not a quoted price — check the platform's current fee schedule before you price a product against it. This is not tax or business advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal return rate?
Apparel commonly runs 20% to 40% by item; electronics and homeware far lower. The only useful comparison is against your own category and your own trend.
Should I measure by order or by item?
Both. Order rate tells you how many customers had a problem; item rate tells you how much work returns create. Bracketing shows up only in the item rate.
What causes high return rates?
Fit and sizing uncertainty above everything else, then photography that misrepresents colour or scale, then delivery damage. The first two are information problems with information fixes.
Is a low return rate always good?
Not necessarily — an unusually low rate can mean a restrictive policy that is also costing you sales. The right target is the rate that maximises contribution, not the lowest one.