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Kickstarter Fee Calculator: Creator Payout

Enter your total raised and backer count to see Kickstarter's platform fee, payment processing cost, and what you actually keep if your campaign gets funded.

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Kickstarter fee rates

These default to Kickstarter's published rates. Edit any field if your project uses a different processor or region.

Total Kickstarter fees
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Your net payout
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Platform fee
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Payment processing fee
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Average pledge
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Kickstarter's fee structure

Kickstarter charges a flat 5% platform fee on the total amount a successfully funded project raises. On top of that, payment processing (handled through Stripe) adds 3% plus $0.20 per pledge of $10 or more, or 5% plus $0.05 per pledge for smaller pledges under $10. Combined, most US campaigns lose roughly 8% to 10% of funds raised to fees, and none of this is charged if a project fails to reach its goal.

Why average pledge size matters

The processing fee schedule depends on the size of each individual pledge, not the campaign total. A campaign built on many small pledges under $10 pays the higher percentage-based micro-pledge rate on each one, while a campaign with fewer, larger pledges benefits from the lower 3% plus $0.20 rate. This calculator uses your average pledge (total raised divided by backer count) to pick a schedule, so a campaign with a wide mix of reward tiers will see a real result that differs slightly from this estimate.

What this calculator doesn't include

This tool estimates platform and processing fees only. It does not account for currency conversion if you collect pledges in a currency other than USD, refunds or failed payment collections, or the cost of manufacturing and shipping rewards, which for most physical products is a far larger expense than Kickstarter's own fees.

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FAQ

Kickstarter Fee Calculator: Creator Payout: questions, answered

How much does Kickstarter take from a funded campaign?
Kickstarter charges a 5% platform fee on total funds raised, plus payment processing of roughly 3% to 5% depending on pledge size, for a typical combined cost of 8% to 10% of the amount raised.
What happens if my project doesn't reach its goal?
Nothing is charged. Kickstarter uses all-or-nothing funding, so if a project does not reach its stated goal by the deadline, no pledges are collected and no platform or processing fees apply.
Does the processing fee change for small pledges?
Yes. Pledges of $10 or more are charged 3% plus $0.20 each, while pledges under $10 use a higher micro-pledge rate of 5% plus $0.05 each, since the fixed portion of a fee is proportionally larger on a small transaction.
Is the 5% platform fee charged on the goal or the amount raised?
It is charged on the actual amount raised, not the stated funding goal. A campaign with a $10,000 goal that raises $40,000 pays the 5% fee on the full $40,000.
Does this calculator account for taxes or fulfillment costs?
No. It calculates Kickstarter's platform fee and payment processing only. Sales tax collection, manufacturing, and shipping costs for rewards are separate expenses this tool does not estimate.

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