How to Get Free Shipping on Depop: 7 Seller Tips (2026)

• 8 min read

For online shoppers, the words “free shipping” are like music. It’s a powerful incentive that can turn a casual browser into a committed buyer. If you’re a seller on Depop, you’ve probably wondered how to get free shipping on Depop to work for your shop. The truth is, it’s not a magic button Depop provides, but rather a smart sales strategy that you control.

While Depop doesn’t offer free shipping by default (someone always has to pay the mail carrier), savvy sellers use several clever methods to offer it. This guide breaks down exactly how it works, who pays for what, and how you can use free shipping to boost your sales and stand out from the crowd.

The Basics: Who Actually Pays for Depop Shipping?

Before we dive into the strategies, it’s important to understand Depop’s standard shipping process. This is the foundation for figuring out how to get free shipping on Depop for your customers.

Is Depop Shipping Free by Default?

No, shipping on Depop is not automatically free. By default, when a seller uses the “Ship with Depop” option, the buyer pays for the shipping cost at checkout. Depop calculates the fee, adds it to the buyer’s total, and provides the seller with a prepaid shipping label. This system is convenient because the seller doesn’t have to pay for postage out of pocket.

How Depop’s Prepaid Label is “Free for the Seller”

When you hear that using a Depop label is “free for the seller,” it means you aren’t charged for the postage itself. The buyer’s payment covers the cost of the label. Depop simply provides you with the USPS prepaid label (in the US) or an Evri label (in the UK) after the sale is complete. Your earnings are the item’s price minus Depop’s standard 10% selling fee. The key thing to remember is that Depop does not charge its commission on the shipping cost, which is a great perk.

So, the standard setup is: the buyer pays for shipping. When a seller offers “free shipping,” they are choosing to cover that cost themselves.

Smart Strategies for Offering Free Shipping

Offering free shipping is a promotional tactic. You are choosing to absorb the postage cost to make your listing more attractive. In fact, studies show that unexpected shipping costs are a major reason for abandoned carts, with roughly 49% of shoppers citing extra fees as the reason they don’t complete a purchase. Here are the most effective ways sellers make it happen.

1. Build the Shipping Cost into Your Item Price

This is the most common and sustainable method for how to get free shipping on Depop. Instead of listing an item for $20 plus $5 for shipping, you list it for $25 with free shipping.

The psychology here is powerful. A buyer sees a single, all inclusive price and feels like they’re getting a deal. From your perspective, you still receive the same amount of money after postage.

To do this correctly, you must know your shipping costs ahead of time.

  • Weigh and measure your item once it’s packaged.
  • Calculate the likely postage cost to various locations. A smart move is to estimate the cost to ship to the farthest zone from you to ensure you’re covered.
  • Add that estimated cost to your desired item price.

This strategy protects your profit margin while giving buyers the incentive they love. Just be careful not to inflate the price so much that it seems unreasonable for the item itself.

2. Offer Free Shipping on Bundles

A fantastic way to encourage larger orders is to offer free shipping on bundles. A “bundle” is when a customer buys two or more items from your shop in a single transaction.

You can advertise this in your bio and item descriptions with phrases like, “Free shipping when you bundle 2+ items!”

This is a win win situation.

  • The Buyer: Saves money by paying for shipping only once (or not at all).
  • The Seller: Moves more inventory and increases the total value of the sale. Shipping two items in one box is almost always cheaper than shipping them in two separate packages.

Depop’s system is designed to handle this. If a buyer purchases multiple items set up with Depop Shipping, the platform will automatically generate a single label that accounts for the combined weight of the items.

3. Use Depop’s Shipping Discount Feature

For US sellers using the iOS app, Depop offers a “Shipping Discount” feature. This provides a middle ground between making the buyer pay full price and you covering the entire cost.

When listing an item, you can choose to subsidize the shipping by taking a set amount off the top. The typical options are:

  • $2 off shipping
  • $3 off shipping
  • $4 off shipping
  • Free Shipping

If an item’s shipping cost is $8 and you offer a $3 discount, the buyer will only see a $5 shipping fee at checkout. You cover the $3 difference, which is deducted from your payout. This can be a great promotional tool to nudge a hesitant buyer over the finish line. For more ways to save across carriers, see our guide to shipping discounts.

Finding the Cheapest Way to Ship on Depop

To successfully offer free shipping, you need to keep your postage costs as low as possible. The cheapest option depends heavily on the package’s weight, size, and destination.

While Depop’s prepaid USPS labels are convenient, they might not always be the most affordable, especially for heavier items. If you’re often shipping around 20 lb, compare UPS vs USPS for 20 lb boxes before you price your listing.

Here’s a general breakdown for shipping within the US:

  • Lightweight Packages (under 2 lbs): USPS is almost always the champion here. Services like USPS Ground Advantage are designed for small, light parcels and are very cost effective. For example, a 1 pound package might cost around $6.75 with USPS versus nearly $14 with UPS Ground. If your item is small and dense, also compare USPS Flat Rate boxes.
  • Heavy Packages (over 15 lbs): UPS or FedEx often become cheaper as weight increases. USPS has a strict 70 pound weight limit, while carriers like UPS can handle up to 150 pounds. For very heavy boxes (around 50 lb), see our breakdown of UPS or USPS for 50 lb boxes.
  • Mid Weight Packages (3 to 10 lbs): This is a competitive range where you should always compare rates to see which is cheaper: UPS or USPS. Sometimes USPS wins, and other times UPS does.

One thing to watch for is surcharges. UPS often adds a residential delivery surcharge (around $6.50) for home deliveries, which USPS does not. This can make USPS a cheaper option even if the base rates look similar.

To make sure you are not overpaying, you can select “Arrange my own shipping” on Depop. This allows you to purchase a label from any service you want. The best way to do this is to use a free online tool to compare shipping rates from multiple carriers at once. An online shipping calculator lets you enter your package details and instantly see prices from USPS, UPS, and others, ensuring you find the absolute best deal for every shipment. Then schedule a free USPS pickup so you don’t waste time driving to the post office.

Frequently Asked Questions

As a buyer, how to get free shipping on Depop?

As a buyer, you can get free shipping in a few ways. You can filter your search results to only show items with free shipping, look for sellers who offer free shipping on bundles and buy multiple items, or wait for Depop to run a special, but rare, free shipping promotion.

If I offer free shipping, do I pay Depop fees on the shipping cost?

No. Depop’s 10% fee is only charged on the final item price. If you build the shipping cost into your price, the fee will be calculated on that higher total, but you are not charged a separate fee on the postage amount itself.

What’s better: free shipping or a discount on the item?

Psychologically, free shipping is often more appealing. Research shows that 75% of consumers prefer free shipping over a product discount. A $30 item with free shipping can feel like a better deal than a $25 item with a $5 shipping fee, even though the total cost is identical.

How do I set up free shipping on a Depop listing?

When you create or edit a listing, scroll down to the shipping section. You can choose to “Ship with Depop” and then select the “Free Shipping” option (which means you pay for it). Alternatively, you can choose “My own shipping” and set the shipping price to $0.

Is it profitable for sellers to learn how to get free shipping on Depop?

Yes, it can be very profitable. By strategically building the cost into your price and finding the cheapest shipping methods, you can attract more buyers and increase your sales volume without sacrificing your profit margin. The key is to do your research before you list the item.