Purchase
Sale
Breakdown
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|
How NFT profit is calculated
Net profit has two sides:
- Total cost = purchase price + buy gas
- Net proceeds = sale price × (1 − marketplace fee % − royalty %) − sell gas
Net profit = net proceeds − total cost
Break-even price = (purchase price + buy gas + sell gas) ÷ (1 − marketplace fee − royalty)
The break-even formula accounts for the fact that fees are taken from the gross sale price, not the net. This means you need to sell for more than you paid + gas to recover costs.
Popular marketplace fees (2025)
- OpenSea: 2.5% platform fee + creator royalty
- Blur: 0% platform fee, royalties optional (0.5% or creator rate)
- Magic Eden (Solana): 2% platform fee + creator royalty
- Tensor: 1.5% platform fee
See also: Crypto tax calculator · Network gas fees · APY to APR
Frequently asked questions
How do marketplace fees affect NFT profit?
Marketplace fees (typically 2–2.5% on OpenSea, 0% on Blur for listings) are taken from the sale price. On a 1 ETH sale with 2.5% fee you receive 0.975 ETH before royalties. Over multiple flips, these fees compound and significantly erode returns.
Do I have to pay creator royalties when selling an NFT?
It depends on the marketplace and the NFT contract. OpenSea enforces on-chain royalties (0–10%). Blur lets sellers opt out of royalties (0%) on many collections. Some newer NFT contracts enforce royalties at the contract level regardless of marketplace.
Why is gas cost important when flipping NFTs?
Gas costs are fixed in ETH regardless of NFT price. On a cheap NFT, gas can represent 10–50% of the total cost. On Ethereum mainnet, a mint can cost $20–$200 at peak demand. Solana and Polygon have gas under $0.01. Always model gas as part of your cost basis.
What is the break-even price for an NFT flip?
Break-even = (purchase price + buy gas + sell gas) ÷ (1 − marketplace fee % − royalty %). This is the minimum sale price to recover all costs. Any sale below this number is a net loss even if the price appears higher than what you paid.
How do I calculate ROI on an NFT?
NFT ROI = (net proceeds − total cost) ÷ total cost × 100%. Net proceeds = sale price × (1 − marketplace fee − royalty) − sell gas. Total cost = purchase price + buy gas.