Quick Answer: This guide covers how to sell on Mercari in Japan as a foreign resident: list photos and details, wait for payment, then pack and ship. Mark the item as shipped only after you hand it over, then exchange ratings. Mercari’s guide cites a 10% selling fee when the sale completes, and Mercari Bin can keep shipping anonymous. Fees and rules change—check Mercari’s official help site before listing.
Who is this article for?
- You want your first Mercari listing and a clear path from prep to ratings
- You are decluttering before a move or departure and need fee and shipping basics
- You want to avoid common mistakes around payment, shipping notices, and reviews
For what Mercari is and how buying works, see our
What should you prepare before listing?
Mercari’s seller guides assume you can gather the items below. Use what applies to your sale.
- Why it matters
- You must own it and describe its condition accurately
- Why it matters
- Photos, listing, messages, and Mercari Bin labels
- Why it matters
- Front, sides, and any damage (up to 20 images)
- Why it matters
- Search keywords plus one of six condition levels
- Why it matters
- Box, padding, tape
- Why it matters
- Convenience store, post office, carrier shop, or pickup
| Item or information | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| The item you will sell | You must own it and describe its condition accurately |
| Smartphone with the Mercari app | Photos, listing, messages, and Mercari Bin labels |
| Product photos | Front, sides, and any damage (up to 20 images) |
| Title, brand, model, size, condition | Search keywords plus one of six condition levels |
| Packing materials | Box, padding, tape |
| A place to ship from | Convenience store, post office, carrier shop, or pickup |
Also check Mercari’s guides for prohibited listings, identity verification when required, and shipping methods that fit size and category.
What is the step-by-step selling flow?
1. Create the listing
Mercari’s standard listing flow:
- Add photos (in-app camera or gallery)
- Enter a title (up to 40 characters) with brand, model, or color
- Set category and condition (six levels from “new” to “poor overall”)
- Set price (¥300–¥9,999,999), shipping, and days until you ship
- Review and tap List item
Barcode listing and AI listing assist may appear for some categories. Always verify auto-filled text yourself.
2. Wait for payment
- Card, Mercari balance, etc. — Payment often completes at purchase; you can ship next
- Convenience store / ATM payment — Wait until payment shows complete. If it is still unpaid after three days, Mercari’s guide suggests contacting the buyer via transaction messages
Do not ship before payment completes.
3. Pack, ship, then notify
After payment:
- Pack securely
- Complete shipping with the method you chose (Mercari Bin QR/barcode in the app)
- Tap Notify shipped only after the handoff is done
Your deadline is based on the “ship within” range you set at listing. If you will be late, message the buyer first.
4. Wait for the buyer’s review, then rate back
The buyer leaves a receipt review when the parcel arrives. When prompted, choose Good or Not good and add a short comment. When both sides have rated, the sale completes and sales proceeds post to your balance.
Fees, shipping, and payouts
Figures below reflect Mercari’s help articles as of 2026-07-20. Confirm current numbers before each sale.
- What Mercari’s guide says (summary)
- None
- What Mercari’s guide says (summary)
- 10% of the sale price when the order completes (shown on the listing screen)
- What Mercari’s guide says (summary)
- 10% of price after shipping is deducted
- What Mercari’s guide says (summary)
- Varies by method and size; you choose who pays at listing
- What Mercari’s guide says (summary)
- ¥200 per payout request (plus ¥200 for express transfer if used)
- What Mercari’s guide says (summary)
- 180-day transfer request window may apply until identity verification is complete; verified accounts are described as having no such limit
| Topic | What Mercari’s guide says (summary) |
|---|---|
| Listing fee | None |
| Selling fee | 10% of the sale price when the order completes (shown on the listing screen) |
| Pack & Ship Ta-no-Merubin | 10% of price after shipping is deducted |
| Shipping | Varies by method and size; you choose who pays at listing |
| Bank transfer | ¥200 per payout request (plus ¥200 for express transfer if used) |
| Payout deadline | 180-day transfer request window may apply until identity verification is complete; verified accounts are described as having no such limit |
Mercari suggests setting your price from what similar items sell for, plus any shipping you will cover. Use the in-app price research if it helps.
Transfer limits and bank registration depend on verification status—see Mercari’s payout guides.
When does anonymous shipping apply?
Mercari Bin (Rakuraku, YuYu, Pack & Ship Ta-no-Merubin, Eco Mercari Bin, etc.) lets you ship without exchanging personal addresses when that method stays selected through the transaction.
Keep in mind:
- Other carriers or cash-on-delivery (着払い) are not Mercari Bin and do not qualify for anonymous shipping per the guide
- If you switch to Mercari Bin mid-deal, the buyer’s address may have been visible earlier
Buyers who want anonymity may ask you to change the method via messages.
Furniture, appliances, and battery-powered items
Large furniture
Oversized items may exceed Mercari Bin size tables or Pack & Ship rules. Read “cannot accept” and “cannot ship” articles for your chosen method before listing.
Home appliances under Japan’s recycling law
Air conditioners, TVs, refrigerators, and washing machines are sometimes sold on Mercari. Whoever owns the unit when it is finally scrapped may face procedures and fees under the Home Appliance Recycling Law, and how much each side pays depends on how pickup is arranged—it is not something the seller can assign to the buyer at checkout. If you cannot sell them, follow our
Batteries and hazardous goods
Mercari’s prohibited-items guide (#883) lists examples such as products that need a PS mark but lack it, devices with swollen, damaged, or faulty built-in batteries, detachable batteries that are not new or nearly new, and non-genuine battery products—not a blanket ban on every battery listing. Carrier acceptance rules (Mercari Bin, Pack & Ship, etc.) may separately refuse items with fire risk; that is different from listing prohibition.
If listing is blocked or you see a warning, read the prohibited-items guide and do not force the listing.
Common troubles and how to reduce risk
- Practical response
- Official guidance says wait for payment; if it already happened, follow messages and support
- Practical response
- Cannot undo; explain to the buyer and share tracking in messages
- Practical response
- Mercari Bin comes with more platform support; items sent by other carriers may fall outside full compensation
- Practical response
- Show flaws in photos and text; answer pre-sale comments honestly
- Practical response
- Follow mutual agreement and Mercari’s cancel flow; no cancel after ratings complete
| Situation | Practical response |
|---|---|
| Shipped before payment | Official guidance says wait for payment; if it already happened, follow messages and support |
| Tapped “shipped” too early | Cannot undo; explain to the buyer and share tracking in messages |
| Delivery problems | Mercari Bin comes with more platform support; items sent by other carriers may fall outside full compensation |
| Item not as described | Show flaws in photos and text; answer pre-sale comments honestly |
| Cancel or return | Follow mutual agreement and Mercari’s cancel flow; no cancel after ratings complete |
Transaction messages may close after a quiet period noted in the seller guideline—record important agreements early.
What if the item does not sell?
- Photos — Bright, multi-angle, honest wear
- Title and description — Brand, model, size, accessories
- Price — Compare active listings and whether shipping is included
- Condition level — Matches the item
- Shipping — Buyer-friendly Mercari Bin and realistic ship window
Pause listings if you will be away for a long time. If appliances do not sell, switch to the recycling articles for your item type.
What to do next
- Confirm the item is allowed under Mercari’s rules
- Gather photos, packing, and a shipping plan with a price range
- List, then follow payment → ship → rate
- Track payout deadlines and consider identity verification for higher limits
New to the app? Start with
Useful Japanese phrases (transaction messages)
- Reading
- Shiharai kanryō shimashitara hassō itashimasu
- When to use
- You will ship after payment
- Reading
- Honjitsu hassō shimashita
- When to use
- You shipped today
- Reading
- Tsuiseki bangō wa … desu
- When to use
- Share tracking
- Reading
- Hassō made ichi–ni-nichi o-machi kudasai
- When to use
- Ask for a short ship delay
| Japanese | Reading | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 支払い完了しましたら発送いたします | Shiharai kanryō shimashitara hassō itashimasu | You will ship after payment |
| 本日発送しました | Honjitsu hassō shimashita | You shipped today |
| 追跡番号は〇〇です | Tsuiseki bangō wa … desu | Share tracking |
| 発送まで1〜2日お待ちください | Hassō made ichi–ni-nichi o-machi kudasai | Ask for a short ship delay |
Frequently asked questions
Does listing cost money?
No listing fee. Mercari takes a 10% selling fee when the order completes, plus ¥200 per bank transfer request.
Can I sell entirely in English?
Part of the app supports English, but messages are mostly in Japanese. Short Japanese plus a translation app works well. You may add English in the description, but many buyers read Japanese.
Is cash-on-delivery still anonymous?
No. Cash-on-delivery is not Mercari Bin and does not meet anonymous shipping rules. Choose Mercari Bin if you need anonymity.
What if my appliance does not sell?
That is outside this guide. Large appliances often cannot go in sodai gomi; start with
Sources
- Mercari — How to list and sell (verified 2026-07-20) — Listing steps and condition levels
- Mercari — After your item sells (verified 2026-07-20) — Payment, shipping, ratings
- Mercari — Fees (verified 2026-07-20) — 10% selling fee and ¥200 transfer fee
- Mercari — Anonymous shipping (Mercari Bin) (verified 2026-07-20) — When anonymity applies
- Mercari — What is a transfer request? (verified 2026-07-20) — Payout limits and verification
- Mercari — Sales balance transfer deadline (verified 2026-07-20) — 180-day window
- Mercari — Prohibited hazardous items (verified 2026-07-20) — PS mark and battery-related prohibitions
- Mercari — Items carriers may refuse (Mercari Bin) (verified 2026-07-20) — Shipping acceptance limits
- Mercari — Seller guideline (verified 2026-07-20) — Shipping, ratings, support scope