Calculate your true profit per sale on bol.com. Go beyond commission rates — see how product cost, shipping, and Dutch BTW (VAT) affect the real money you keep from every Benelux order.
Last updated: March 2026
What you pay your supplier per unit
Your cost to ship (PostNL, DHL, or LVB fee)
Includes commission, fixed fee, COGS, shipping, and BTW for a complete profit picture.
| Item | Rate | Amount (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Selling Price (Revenue) | - | €50.00 |
Commission On selling price | 8% | -€4.00 |
Fixed Transaction Fee Per order | Fixed | -€1.00 |
Product Cost (COGS) Your supplier cost | - | -€18.00 |
Shipping Cost Per-unit delivery expense | - | -€5.00 |
Dutch BTW (VAT) Included in selling price | 21% | -€8.68 |
Net Profit Per Unit | 26.6% | €13.32 |
Bol.com is the dominant marketplace in the Benelux region, serving over 13 million active customers across the Netherlands and Belgium. With average order values of 40-60 EUR (higher than many competing platforms), bol.com offers strong revenue potential for sellers who understand their true cost structure. However, profitability depends on more than just the commission rate.
Commission (7-15%): Bol.com charges a percentage-based commission that varies by product category. Computer & Gaming has the lowest rate at 7%, while Fashion and Books carry 15%. Unlike Allegro, bol.com also charges a fixed transaction fee of 1.00 EUR per order (0.50 EUR for Books), which has a proportionally larger impact on lower-priced items.
Product Cost (COGS): Your cost of goods sold is typically the largest expense. For sellers sourcing from China or other Asian manufacturers, factor in import duties (which average 3-12% for consumer goods entering the EU), customs clearance fees, and quality inspection costs. Sellers sourcing within the EU avoid these but may face higher per-unit costs.
Shipping to Benelux: Domestic Dutch shipping via PostNL costs 4-7 EUR for standard parcels. DHL Benelux rates are 5-9 EUR. If you ship from outside the Netherlands, cross-border logistics add 8-25 EUR per order. Logistiek via bol.com (LVB) — their fulfillment service — costs 3-5 EUR per standard item but provides the "Bezorgd door bol" badge, which improves conversion by 15-25%.
Dutch BTW (VAT) at 21%: The Netherlands applies a standard VAT rate of 21% (reduced rate of 9% applies to food, books, and some other categories). If your selling price includes VAT — which is the standard for B2C sales — a 50 EUR item actually generates 41.32 EUR in revenue after BTW. Non-EU sellers must register for VAT via the IOSS scheme for orders under 150 EUR or via a fiscal representative for higher values.
Returns and Customer Service: Bol.com has a mandatory 30-day return policy. Average return rates on bol.com are 5-8% for electronics, 15-25% for fashion, and 3-5% for home goods. Each return costs you the original shipping plus return processing. Building a 5-10% return buffer into your pricing strategy helps protect margins.
Input your bol.com selling price in EUR, product cost (what you pay your supplier), and shipping cost per unit. Use your actual PostNL, DHL, or LVB rates.
Choose your bol.com product category for the correct commission rate. Toggle BTW on if you are VAT-registered in the Netherlands or selling B2C to Dutch consumers.
The results show net profit per unit, profit margin, and a complete cost breakdown. If margin is below 15%, consider adjusting pricing or switching to LVB for better conversion.
LVB costs more per order than self-fulfillment, but the "Bezorgd door bol" badge increases conversion rates by 15-25%. For products with margins above 20%, LVB typically pays for itself through higher sales volume. Calculate both scenarios in this tool to compare.
Bol.com serves both the Netherlands and Belgium. Belgian buyers often face less competition from sellers, meaning you can maintain higher prices. Shipping to Belgium adds only 1-2 EUR over Dutch domestic rates. Consider offering separate pricing for BE customers.
Bol.com's Buy Box algorithm favors sellers with competitive pricing, fast delivery, and high performance scores. Winning the Buy Box can increase your sales by 3-5x. Focus on delivery speed (same-day or next-day via LVB), maintain a 98%+ delivery performance, and keep your pricing within 5% of the lowest offer.
Returns directly eat into profit. Invest in high-quality product photos (bol.com recommends at least 3 images), accurate size guides for fashion, and detailed product descriptions. Sellers who add video content report 10-15% lower return rates compared to photo-only listings.
Marqetir connects your Shopify or WooCommerce store to bol.com. AI translates and optimizes your listings for the Dutch and Belgian market — helping you reach 13 million Benelux shoppers.