Blur once handled more than 70% of Ethereum NFT trading volume while charging traders nothing. According to CoinDesk, its monthly volume fell from about $1.43 billion in March 2023 to under $7 million in March 2026, and its website closes on November 12.

Activity has not disappeared, but it has changed shape. DappRadar recorded $546 million in NFT trading volume and 10.1 million sales in October 2025, while average prices dropped sixfold since January.

Smaller average prices make every fee more noticeable. A fixed network charge or a minimum commission takes a far larger share of a $15 sale than of a $15,000 sale.

This guide explains every cost behind an NFT trade, compares what leading marketplaces charge, and shows how to keep more of each sale. It also covers how EienVault and HeLa Chain approach fees.

What Are NFT Marketplace Fees

NFT marketplace fees are the combined charges paid to create, list, buy, sell, or transfer a non-fungible token on a blockchain-based platform. They include marketplace commissions, network gas fees, minting costs, creator royalties, and currency conversion charges.

Each charge goes to a different party. Commissions go to the platform, gas goes to the network that validates the transaction, royalties go to the artist, and conversion fees go to exchanges or payment providers.

This separation explains why a marketplace advertising low fees can still produce an expensive trade. Spark's marketplace fee comparison notes that listing is free on all major marketplaces, yet gas for on-chain approvals can still apply.

Fee levels should also be weighed against platform stability. Spark lists X2Y2, Foundation, Nifty Gateway, MakersPlace, and KnownOrigin among the once-prominent platforms that have closed, and a cheap venue that disappears creates costs of its own.

Types of NFT Marketplace Fees

NFT marketplaces rely on several fee categories, and each one is calculated differently. Some are percentages of the sale price, while others are fixed network costs that change with congestion.

The sections below separate these categories so that each cost can be estimated on its own.

Marketplace Commissions

A marketplace commission is a percentage of the sale price kept by the platform. On most major venues, the rate now sits between 0% and 2%, while curated platforms charge more.

SuperRare, for example, takes 15% on primary sales according to Spark. On a $1,000 sale, a 1% commission costs $10, and a 2% commission costs $20.

Gas and Network Fees

Gas fees are paid to the blockchain network rather than to the marketplace. They apply to actions such as minting, transferring, and accepting offers, and the Ethereum documentation explains that the total equals the gas used multiplied by the effective gas price.

Busy periods raise the price of block space, while quiet periods lower it. The marketplace has no control over this charge, which is why it should be tracked separately from commissions.

Minting and Primary Sale Fees

Minting creates the token on chain, and a primary sale is the first time it is sold. Some platforms take a larger share of this first sale, such as the 10% commission Spark reports on OpenSea primary drops.

Lazy minting can delay the on-chain cost until the first purchase. Creators launching large collections should still budget for contract deployment and repeated mint transactions.

Creator Royalties

Creator royalties pay the original artist a percentage every time the NFT is resold. They are no longer universal, because several marketplaces made them optional to compete for trading volume.

Academic work describes the problem clearly. A 2024 paper on arXiv notes that more than $1.8 billion was paid to creators as royalties even though payment depended on social agreement alone, and a Washington Journal of Law, Technology and Arts article argues that zero-royalty policies created a race to the bottom.

Read more: NFT Royalties: How They Work, Benefits, Challenges, and the Future of Creator Earnings

Withdrawal and Conversion Fees

These charges appear when sale proceeds move from a wallet to an exchange or into local currency. They come from payment providers, exchanges, or the network that carries the transfer.

Many sellers overlook this layer because it sits outside the marketplace. It should still be included when calculating the real result of a sale.

NFT Marketplace Fees Compared

A side-by-side view shows how different pricing philosophies lead to different outcomes. Some platforms charge nothing, some charge a flat percentage, and some use sliding scales.

The table below summarizes the main platforms using Spark's mid-2026 comparison and recent news reporting.

Fees on Major Marketplaces

Marketplace	Trading Fee	Key Notes
OpenSea	1%	Primary drops carry 10%, and creator earnings are optional or enforced depending on the collection
Magic Eden	2%	Focused on Solana after closing its Bitcoin and EVM marketplaces in early 2026
Tensor	0% maker, 2% taker	Royalties are enforced for pNFT collections and optional otherwise
SuperRare	15% on primary sales	Enforces a 10% royalty on secondary sales
Rarible	0.5% to 7.5% per side	Sliding scale that depends on transaction size
Blur	0%	Website closing on November 12

Platforms can change these rates at any time, so the fee schedule should be confirmed before each trade. A low commission also says nothing about royalties, gas, or conversion costs.

What the Blur Shutdown Reveals About Zero Fees

CoinDesk reports that Token Terminal recorded $0 in protocol revenue for Blur over three years. The same report notes that its incentive programs drew criticism for encouraging speculative trading and putting pressure on creator royalties.

This does not mean every fee-free model fails. It does show that a platform with no trading revenue depends on other funding, and that dependence can become fragile when volume falls.

Fees on EienVault and HeLa Chain

EienVault is an NFT marketplace built on HeLa Chain, a modular Layer 1 network developed in collaboration with A*STAR IHPC, as described in Alchemy's HeLa profile. According to HeLa Labs, the platform offers no-code minting, listing fees under 1 HLUSD per NFT, customizable creator royalties, live auctions, and wallet support for MetaMask and Binance Wallet.

Because HeLa Chain uses a fiat-backed stablecoin for gas, network costs are quoted in dollars instead of a volatile token. This makes budgeting simpler for artists who mint regularly.

How Network Choice Changes the Total Cost

The blockchain underneath a marketplace sets the floor for every trade. Two identical sales can carry very different network costs depending on where they settle.

Network fees have also fallen sharply, which shifts attention toward commissions and royalties. The comparison below reflects recent figures from each ecosystem.

Ethereum Mainnet and Layer 2

Ethereum fees dropped after the Fusaka upgrade in December 2025. The Block reported average gas near $0.15 per transaction in January 2026, and CoinTurk reported an average of $0.095 in September.

Layer 2 networks are cheaper still. Growthepie puts the median Layer 2 user fee at about 0.06 cents in April 2026, although minting and complex contract calls cost more than simple transfers.

Solana

Solana charges a base fee of 5,000 lamports per signature, which Blofin Academy describes as a fraction of a cent. On this network, the marketplace commission, not gas, makes up almost all of the cost.

Royalties are also treated differently. On most Solana collections, they are a buyer's choice rather than a fixed deduction.

Stablecoin Gas on HeLa Chain

HeLa Chain pays gas in a fiat-backed stablecoin, and GetBlock lists these costs at roughly $0.02. The price stays stable because it does not follow the value of a trading token.

For high-volume creators, predictable network costs make it easier to compare marketplace commissions on equal terms. They also remove the guesswork that often surrounds minting during busy periods.

How to Calculate What You Will Pay

Fee calculations become simple once each charge is separated. Seller proceeds equal the sale price minus the marketplace commission, any royalty, and the network fee.

The example below uses illustrative numbers to show how the pieces combine.

Seller Proceeds Example

Item	Amount
NFT sale price	$2,000
Marketplace commission (1%)	$20
Creator royalty (5%)	$100
Network fee (assumed)	$1
Final seller proceeds	$1,879

Real royalties and gas vary by collection and chain, so the numbers should be replaced with current values. The royalty is often the largest deduction, which is why it deserves attention before listing.

What Buyers Should Add Up

Buyers pay the listed price plus the network fee and, where optional, a royalty they choose to include. Some marketplaces display the commission inside the price, while others add it at checkout.

Checking the final confirmation screen avoids surprises. It also helps to confirm the collection and contract before approving a purchase.

Read more: How to Buy NFTs Safely: A Beginner's Guide

How to Reduce NFT Marketplace Fees

Fees cannot be removed entirely, but several habits keep them under control. The goal is to lower total cost, not only the headline rate.

The following approaches apply to both buyers and sellers.

Compare Total Cost Instead of Headline Rates

A platform with a 0% commission may still apply royalties, gas, or conversion charges. A platform with a 2% commission may offset it through lower network costs or smoother payouts.

Calculating the full cost on a sample sale gives a more honest comparison. It also reveals which fee has the largest effect on a particular trading pattern.

Match the Chain to Your Trading Pattern

Frequent traders benefit from networks with very low gas, while collectors who buy rarely may care more about audience reach. Liquidity, wallet support, and security matter alongside cost.

A cheap chain with no buyers does not help a seller. The best choice balances fees against the community that will actually see the collection.

Use Gasless Listings Where Available

Spark notes that some platforms support gasless listings through off-chain signatures. This means no gas is paid until the item sells.

Sellers who list many items can save meaningfully with this approach. It is worth checking whether a marketplace supports it before approving contracts.

Set Royalties Deliberately

Creators should choose a royalty rate that reflects the platform's enforcement policy. A very high rate can discourage resale on venues where royalties are optional.

Reviewing how each marketplace treats creator earnings avoids unpleasant surprises later. It also helps artists decide where to list their strongest work.

Read more: How to Sell NFT Art: Beginner Guide for Digital Artists

Frequently Asked Questions

What are NFT marketplace fees?

NFT marketplace fees are the charges paid to create, list, buy, sell, or transfer an NFT. They include platform commissions, blockchain gas fees, minting costs, creator royalties, and currency conversion charges.

Which NFT marketplace has the lowest fees?

Blur charges 0% but is closing its website on November 12. Among active platforms, OpenSea charges 1%, Magic Eden charges 2%, and EienVault lists NFTs for under 1 HLUSD with gas paid in a stablecoin.

Do NFT marketplaces charge listing fees?

Spark reports that listing is free on all major marketplaces, with only gas applying for on-chain approvals. Some platforms charge a small listing fee, such as the under 1 HLUSD figure published for EienVault.

Are NFT creator royalties still mandatory?

No. Many marketplaces treat royalties as optional, while others enforce them for eligible collections or contracts. SuperRare, for example, enforces a 10% royalty on secondary sales.

Does the marketplace receive the gas fee?

No. Gas goes to the blockchain network that validates the transaction, and the marketplace does not set or collect it.

Are NFT fees lower than they used to be?

Network fees are much lower after Ethereum's Fusaka upgrade and the growth of Layer 2 networks. Commissions and royalties now make up a larger share of the total cost.

Conclusion

NFT marketplace fees are a stack of commissions, gas, minting costs, royalties, and conversion charges, and the lowest headline rate rarely tells the full story. The Blur shutdown shows that sustainable pricing and platform stability matter as much as a zero percent label.

Creators and collectors who want predictable costs can explore EienVault, a marketplace on HeLa Chain with no-code minting, listing fees under 1 HLUSD, customizable royalties, and stablecoin gas.

Browse live collections on the EienVault NFT marketplace to see how transparent pricing works in practice.