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Ticketing platform fees on a 200-ticket event, compared

Fees on 200 tickets at $25 on five ticketing platforms, card processing included: from about $335 to $703.75, who pays, and when the money arrives.

Box Office Fees EditorialPublished 13 min readEditorial policy
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On this page
  1. The standard event and the platforms we priced
  2. The fees on one event, platform by platform
  3. How each figure is made
  4. Who pays: buyers on top, or out of your payout
  5. Card processing: inside the fee or on top
  6. When the money arrives
  7. Flat fee or percentage at your ticket price
  8. Selling at the door
  9. What happens to fees on a refund
  10. Etix, Tickeri and Ticketmaster: no rate to price
  11. Help on the night of the event
  12. Which platform for which organizer
  13. Questions organizers ask
  14. Sources

On a 200-ticket event at $25, Ticket Tailor costs least at about $335 in fees, card processing included, and Eventbrite costs most at $703.75 [1]. Between them sit TicketSpice at $373.00, TicketLeap at $450.00 and Humanitix at $508.00 [1].

Logos of Ticket Tailor, Eventbrite, TicketSpice, TicketLeap, Humanitix, Etix, Tickeri, Ticketmaster. 8 ticketing platforms compared.

The standard event and the platforms we priced

The standard event is 200 paid tickets at $25, sold two to an order (100 orders of $50), on a domestic online card [1].

On 28 October 2026 we listed 26 ticketing platforms, 8 of them in our ticketing platforms category [2]. Those 8 are Etix, Eventbrite, Humanitix, Tickeri, Ticket Tailor, TicketLeap, Ticketmaster and TicketSpice [1]. Five publish a rate we could price; Etix, Tickeri and Ticketmaster publish none [1].

The fees on one event, platform by platform

Buyers pay on top by default on 3 of the 5 priced platforms (Eventbrite, Humanitix, TicketLeap), and on Ticket Tailor and TicketSpice the fee comes out of the payout by default [1].

Platform Fee rule Total fees Paid by buyers on top Out of the payout Buyer’s price for one $25 ticket Money arrives
Ticket Tailor £0.60 (about $0.80) per ticket (+ VAT), your own card processor on top (Stripe US example 2.9% + $0.30) [3] about $335 (£120 (about $161) + $175) [3] $0 [3] about $335 [3] $25.00 [3] As tickets sell, into your own Stripe, PayPal or Square account [3]
TicketSpice 99¢ per ticket plus 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction [4] $373.00 [4] $0 [4] $373.00 [4] $25.00 [4] To your bank on a chosen schedule as tickets sell [4]
TicketLeap $1 + 2% per ticket plus 3% per order [5] $450.00 [5] $450.00 [5] $0 [5] $27.25 [5] 4-6 business days after the event [6]
Humanitix 5% + $1.29 per ticket, card processing included [7] $508.00 [7] $508.00 [7] $0 [7] $27.54 [7] Within 5 business days after the event [8]
Eventbrite 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket plus 2.9% per order [9] $703.75 [9] $703.75 [9] $0 [9] $28.52 [9] Three days after the event ends [10]

Fees on the standard event: 200 paid tickets at $25, 100 orders of $50, domestic online card, card processing included, each platform on its default setting. Rates from each vendor’s pricing page, checked 28 October 2026 [1].

Tax on the fee is outside the Ticket Tailor figure [3].

How each figure is made

Each total prices the standard event: 200 paid tickets at $25, sold in 100 orders of $50 [1].

Eventbrite, $703.75. The service fee is 200 × (3.7% of $25 + $1.79) = $543.00, and processing is 2.9% of each $55.43 order (tickets plus service fee) × 100 = $160.75 [9]. Eventbrite calculates processing on the total order, including service fees and tax [11].

Humanitix, $508.00. The fee is 200 × (5% of $25 + $1.29) = $508.00, with no separate card fee on the default gateway [7]. Humanitix says its booking fee includes all payment processing fees and taxes [12].

Ticket Tailor, about $335. Ticket Tailor’s part is 200 × £0.60 (about $0.80) = £120 (about $161), about $160, and Stripe’s part is 2.9% of $50 + $0.30 = $1.75 × 100 orders = $175, billed by Stripe, not Ticket Tailor [3]. The latest ECB reference rates on 28 October, dated 27 October 2026, were 1 EUR (about $1.12) = 1.1150 USD and 1 EUR (about $1.12) = 0.83658 GBP (about $112,092) [13]. Ticket Tailor’s US-English pricing page shows £0.60 (about $0.80) per ticket plus VAT, and still showed £0.60 (about $0.80) with no USD figure when loaded with ?currency=USD [3]. A third-party fee guide says Ticket Tailor charges US organizers $0.85 per paid ticket on pay as you go [14]. That is not a vendor source; we use the vendor’s £0.60 (about $0.80) [14][3]. Ticket Tailor labels the 2.9% + $0.30 Stripe rate as an illustrative example, not its own [3].

TicketLeap, $450.00. The ticketing fee is 200 × ($1 + 2% of $25) = $300, and the transaction fee is 3% of each $50 order × 100 = $150 [5]. The pricing page does not say whether the 3% also falls on the ticketing fee; if it does, the total is $459.00 [5]. TicketLeap’s comparison page says the 3% is always charged on “the ticket buyer’s total order” [15]. A third-party review from a competing ticketing company reports that TicketLeap’s calculator charges the 3% on the ticket price plus its own fee [16]. We use $450.00 from the pricing page wording and show $459.00 as the other reading [5].

TicketSpice, $373.00. The per-ticket fee is 200 × $0.99 = $198, and processing is 2.9% of $50 + $0.30 = $1.75 × 100 orders = $175 [4].

Who pays: buyers on top, or out of your payout

All 5 priced platforms let the organizer choose who pays; the default differs [1].

  • Eventbrite: buyers pay on top by default, and you can switch per ticket type to include the fees in your price [11].
  • Humanitix: buyers pay on top by default; you can pay it yourself, split it or let buyers choose [7].
  • TicketLeap: buyers pay on top by default, and you can switch an event to “Paid by Me” [17].
  • Ticket Tailor: you pay out of the ticket price unless you add a booking fee per ticket or a transaction fee per order [3].
  • TicketSpice: you choose to absorb the fees or pass them on, and a setting passes every TicketSpice and card fee to buyers [4][18]. TicketSpice warns that its separate line-item fee often breaks the FTC all-in rule [19].

Card processing: inside the fee or on top

Of the five priced platforms, Humanitix folds card processing into its ticket fee, at 5% + $1.29 on its default US gateway [12]. The other four add it:

  • Eventbrite: 2.9% of the total order, including its service fee and tax [11].
  • TicketLeap: a 3% transaction fee per order, with cards processed through Stripe [5].
  • TicketSpice: 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction through its in-house Webconnex Payments [4].
  • Ticket Tailor: your own Stripe, PayPal or Square bills you, on top of Ticket Tailor’s fee [3].

Connecting Stripe to Humanitix instead of its gateway means Stripe bills you separately [12].

When the money arrives

On Ticket Tailor and TicketSpice the money comes in as tickets sell [3][4]. On Ticket Tailor it goes straight to your own processor account, whose schedule then governs the bank transfer [3]. TicketSpice pays to your bank on a schedule you choose [4].

The others hold it until the event is over:

  • Eventbrite: three days after the event ends by default; weekly or twice-monthly payouts before the event need a previous paid event and payout, and hold back 20% of net sales [10].
  • TicketLeap: 4-6 business days after the event, 5-7 for Canadian sellers [6].
  • Humanitix: within 5 business days after the event, with no transfer fee; connecting Stripe pays you as tickets sell [8].
  • Tickeri: 3-5 business days after the event date [20].

Flat fee or percentage at your ticket price

Ticket Tailor and TicketSpice charge a flat amount per ticket with no percentage [21][4]. Eventbrite, Humanitix and TicketLeap add a percentage to a fixed amount [11][7][22].

TicketLeap caps its ticketing fee at $20 [22]. Its 3% transaction fee has no cap [5]. TicketLeap drops to 49¢ per ticket on tickets of $5 or less, with the 3% per order still on top [22]. TicketSpice drops to 49¢ on tickets under $5 [4].

Selling at the door

The five priced platforms charge these rates at the door:

  • TicketSpice: 49¢ per card ticket in the box office app, and no fee on cash [4].
  • TicketLeap: a flat $1 per ticket, or $0.49 on tickets of $5 or less; card payments carry the 3% transaction fee, cash and check do not [5]. The organizer must pay that 3% on site [22].
  • Humanitix: 3% + $1 per paid ticket on cards, and no fee on cash sales through the box office [7][12].
  • Eventbrite: $1 per paid US ticket plus 2.9% processing, and the processing fee cannot be passed to the buyer [23].
  • Ticket Tailor: the normal per-ticket fee on every door sale, card or cash recorded as an operator payment [24].

Etix, Tickeri and Ticketmaster each describe door-sale tools but publish no door-sale fee [25][26][27].

What happens to fees on a refund

On Eventbrite, Humanitix and Ticket Tailor the fee is kept when you refund, by default [28][29][21]. Eventbrite makes exceptions for cancellations, duplicate orders and refunds inside about 24 hours [28]. TicketSpice returns its fee and processing only on a full refund through Webconnex Payments [30].

TicketLeap’s own pages disagree. Its features page says refunds come “with no fees for anyone” [31]; its ticketing services agreement reserves an additional refund processing fee [31].

On a canceled event, Etix returns the ticket price and the per-ticket convenience charge but keeps the per-order delivery handling charge [32]. Tickeri refunds the order including ticketing fees [33].

Etix, Tickeri and Ticketmaster: no rate to price

These three publish no organizer rate, so the standard event cannot be priced on them [1].

  • Ticketmaster: “Service fees are generally negotiated and shared between various parties involved in organizing the event” [34]. No percentage, fixed amount or cap is published [34]. The first price a fan sees includes every required fee [35].
  • Etix: a per-ticket convenience fee plus possible delivery fees, with no amount, minimum or cap stated on its own sites [32]. Buyers pay it at purchase [32].
  • Tickeri: buyers see an all-in price at listing, seat selection and checkout [36]. The card rate is never published, only called a service charge [37]. Its terms let it deduct service charges from the money it passes on [37].

Help on the night of the event

TicketLeap publishes emergency support on nights and weekends, and Etix and Tickeri publish weekend phone hours [31][38][39].

  • TicketSpice: 8am-5pm Pacific, Monday to Friday, with limited weekend support [40].
  • TicketLeap: 9am-5pm Eastern on weekdays by phone and email, with emergency support nights and weekends [31].
  • Humanitix: live chat and an inquiry form; no phone line or hours published [41].
  • Ticket Tailor: advertises 24/7 human support; the pages we read name no phone number or hours [42].
  • Etix: phones Monday to Saturday 9am-8pm and Sunday noon-8pm Eastern [38].
  • Tickeri: phone support Monday to Sunday 10:00am-6:00pm EST [39].

Which platform for which organizer

You want the lowest fee and the money as tickets sell: Ticket Tailor (about $335) or TicketSpice ($373.00), the two lowest totals on the standard event, with the fee out of your payout unless you pass it on [1][3][4].

You want buyers to carry the fee and card processing in one rate: Humanitix, $508.00 on the standard event [7]. Registered not-for-profits and charities pay 3.9% + $1.29 per paid ticket on USD events [7]. The money arrives within 5 business days after the event [8].

You sell a lot at the door: TicketSpice charges 49¢ a card ticket there and nothing on cash [4].

Questions organizers ask

What do the fees come to on a small event of a couple hundred tickets? On 200 tickets at $25 in 100 orders, Ticket Tailor costs about $335 in fees, card processing included, then TicketSpice at $373.00 [1]. Ticket Tailor’s figure is £120 (about $161) to Ticket Tailor plus $175 to Stripe [3].

Do my buyers pay the fees, or do they come out of my payout? Your choice on all five priced platforms [1]. Buyers pay by default on Eventbrite, Humanitix and TicketLeap; on Ticket Tailor and TicketSpice the fee comes out of your payout unless you pass it on [1].

What will one $25 ticket cost my buyer at checkout? On default settings: $25.00 on Ticket Tailor and TicketSpice, $27.25 on TicketLeap, $27.54 on Humanitix, and $28.52 on Eventbrite [3][4][5][7][9].

Is card processing included in the platform fee or charged on top? Included on Humanitix’s default gateway, on top on the other four priced platforms [12][11][5][4][3].

When do I get my money: as tickets sell or after the event? As tickets sell on Ticket Tailor and TicketSpice [3][4]. After the event on Eventbrite, TicketLeap, Humanitix and Tickeri [10][6][8][20].

Are “free” ticketing platforms really free? Free to the organizer when buyers pay the fee [9][12][5][18]. Ticket Tailor issues up to 5,000 free tickets a year at no fee [3]. Tickeri is free to list, but its terms let it deduct unspecified service charges [37].

Do I get fees back if I refund tickets or the event is canceled? Not by default on Eventbrite, Humanitix or Ticket Tailor [28][29][21]. TicketSpice returns them on a full refund through its own processor [30]. On a canceled event, Etix returns the per-ticket convenience charge but keeps the per-order delivery handling charge, and Tickeri refunds the order including ticketing fees [32][33].

Is Eventbrite worth its higher fees for a small local event? On the standard event its buyers pay $703.75 in fees, $28.52 for a $25 ticket, and you are paid three days after the event ends [9][10]. If buyer price matters to you, price TicketSpice and Ticket Tailor first.

Why can’t I find Ticketmaster’s or Etix’s organizer fees? Ticketmaster says its service fees are generally negotiated and publishes no rate [34]. Etix names a per-ticket convenience fee but states no amount on its own sites [32].

Sources

  1. Calculated by Box Office Fees from the sources listed here, as of 28 October 2026
  2. boxofficefees.com, read on 28 October 2026 boxofficefees.com
  3. tickettailor.com/en-us/pricing, read on 28 October 2026 tickettailor.com
  4. ticketspice.com/pricing, read on 28 October 2026 ticketspice.com
  5. ticketleap.com/info/pricing, read on 28 October 2026 ticketleap.com
  6. support.ticketleap.com/en_US/fees-payments/when-do-i-get-paid, read on 27 October 2026 support.ticketleap.com
  7. help.humanitix.com, read on 28 October 2026 help.humanitix.com
  8. help.humanitix.com, read on 27 October 2026 help.humanitix.com
  9. eventbrite.com/organizer/pricing, read on 28 October 2026 eventbrite.com
  10. eventbrite.com, read on 27 October 2026 eventbrite.com
  11. eventbrite.com, read on 27 October 2026 eventbrite.com
  12. help.humanitix.com, read on 27 October 2026 help.humanitix.com
  13. ecb.europa.eu, read on 28 October 2026 ecb.europa.eu
  14. tixfox.co/blog/ticket-tailor-fees, read on 28 October 2026 tixfox.co
  15. ticketleap.com/compare/ticket-tailor-alternative, read on 28 October 2026 ticketleap.com
  16. tixfox.co/blog/ticketleap-fees, read on 28 October 2026 tixfox.co
  17. support.ticketleap.com, read on 27 October 2026 support.ticketleap.com
  18. help.ticketspice.com/en/articles/9006400, read on 27 October 2026 help.ticketspice.com
  19. help.ticketspice.com/en/articles/9299044, read on 27 October 2026 help.ticketspice.com
  20. docs.tickeri.com, read on 27 October 2026 docs.tickeri.com
  21. help.tickettailor.com, read on 27 October 2026 help.tickettailor.com
  22. support.ticketleap.com, read on 28 October 2026 support.ticketleap.com
  23. eventbrite.com, read on 27 October 2026 eventbrite.com
  24. help.tickettailor.com, read on 27 October 2026 help.tickettailor.com
  25. hello.etix.com/clients/mobile, read on 27 October 2026 hello.etix.com
  26. docs.tickeri.com, read on 27 October 2026 docs.tickeri.com
  27. business.ticketmaster.com/solutions/event-day, read on 27 October 2026 business.ticketmaster.com
  28. eventbrite.com, read on 27 October 2026 eventbrite.com
  29. help.humanitix.com, read on 27 October 2026 help.humanitix.com
  30. help.ticketspice.com/en/articles/5539462, read on 27 October 2026 help.ticketspice.com
  31. ticketleap.com/info/features, read on 27 October 2026 ticketleap.com
  32. etix.com/ticket/online3/purchase-policy.jsp, read on 27 October 2026 etix.com
  33. tickeri.com/help, read on 27 October 2026 tickeri.com
  34. help.ticketmaster.com, read on 27 October 2026 help.ticketmaster.com
  35. help.ticketmaster.com, read on 27 October 2026 help.ticketmaster.com
  36. docs.tickeri.com, read on 27 October 2026 docs.tickeri.com
  37. tickeri.com/terms, read on 27 October 2026 tickeri.com
  38. support.etix.com, read on 27 October 2026 support.etix.com
  39. tickeri.com/contact, read on 27 October 2026 tickeri.com
  40. ticketspice.com/support, read on 27 October 2026 ticketspice.com
  41. humanitix.com/us/pricing, read on 27 October 2026 humanitix.com
  42. tickettailor.com/free-events, read on 27 October 2026 tickettailor.com

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