99designs Fee Calculator
How to Use This Calculator
- 1
Enter your project budget and select a tier
Input the contest prize or 1-to-1 project budget in USD. Choose from Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, or 1-to-1 Project. All tiers use the same flat 15% platform fee — the tier affects minimum budget and designer pool quality.
- 2
Add optional extras (Advanced Options)
Enter the cost of add-ons like highlighted listings or top designer features. The same 15% fee applies to add-ons.
- 3
Review fees and designer payout
Results show Platform Fee, Designer Receives (85% of budget), Total Project Cost, Total Fees Paid, and Effective Fee Rate. The breakdown bar shows the split between designer payout and platform fee.
Example Calculation
A client runs a Silver Contest on 99designs with a $750 project budget and no add-ons.
Project Budget
$750
Project Tier
Silver Contest
Results
Platform Fee
$112.50
Designer Receives
$637.50
Total Project Cost
$750.00
Total Fees Paid
$112.50
Effective Fee Rate
15.00%
Insights card shows fee analysis with flat fee structure explanation and payment processing note.
Tips
The fee is always 15% — tier choice doesn't affect the rate
Unlike Upwork (5–20% sliding scale) or Fiverr (20%), 99designs charges a flat 15% on every project regardless of tier. The tier determines the minimum budget and designer quality, not the fee.
Designers take home about 80–83% after payment processing
The 15% platform fee leaves 85% for the designer, but PayPal or Payoneer deducts another 2–5%. On a $750 project, the designer receives $637.50 from 99designs, then about $605–$625 after payment processing.
Add-ons get the same 15% fee applied
A $200 highlighted listing add-on costs an extra $30 in platform fees. Total: $750 + $200 = $950 project cost, $142.50 in fees, designer still gets $637.50 (add-on fees don't increase the designer payout).
How the fee works
99designs takes a flat 15% from every project budget. The formula is the same across all tiers and project types:
Platform fee = project budget × 0.15
Add-on fee = add-ons × 0.15
Designer receives = project budget − platform fee
Total cost = project budget + add-ons
Effective rate = (platform fee + add-on fee) ÷ total cost × 100
For a $750 Silver Contest: fee = $112.50, designer gets $637.50, effective rate = 15%.
Fee comparison across budget levels
Since the rate is flat, the math scales linearly:
| Project budget | Platform fee (15%) | Designer receives | With $200 add-on: total fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| $300 (Bronze) | $45.00 | $255.00 | $75.00 |
| $750 (Silver) | $112.50 | $637.50 | $142.50 |
| $1,500 (Gold) | $225.00 | $1,275.00 | $255.00 |
| $3,000 (Platinum) | $450.00 | $2,550.00 | $480.00 |
99designs vs other platforms
| Platform | Fee structure | On a $1,000 project |
|---|---|---|
| 99designs | 15% flat (from designer payout) | $150 fee, designer gets $850 |
| Fiverr | 20% from seller + 5.5% from buyer | ~$255 total fees |
| Upwork | 10% flat (from freelancer) | $100 fee, freelancer gets $900 |
| Freelancer.com | 10% or $5 (whichever is greater) | $100 fee |
| Toptal | Billed hourly at premium rates | Varies — Toptal takes 30–50% margin |
Each platform serves a different use case. 99designs is contest-based (multiple designers compete), while Upwork and Fiverr are direct hires.
When to use a different calculator
- Fiverr seller fees → Fiverr seller fee calculator
- Upwork freelancer fees → Upwork freelancer fee calculator
- Fiverr vs Upwork comparison → Fiverr vs Upwork fee comparison
- Freelancer.com fees → Freelancer.com fee calculator
- Toptal fees → Toptal fee calculator
- Setting your own freelance rate → freelance rate calculator
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 99designs platform fee?
99designs charges a flat 15% on all project budgets and add-ons, regardless of contest tier or project type. On a $750 project, the fee is $112.50 and the designer receives $637.50. Check 99designs' pricing page for current rates.
How does 99designs' fee compare to other design platforms?
99designs (15% flat) sits between Fiverr (20% buyer + seller fees) and Upwork (10% flat since 2023). However, the comparison isn't straightforward: 99designs contests let multiple designers compete, while Upwork and Fiverr are 1-to-1 hires. Use the [Fiverr vs Upwork fee comparison](/calculators/fiverr-vs-upwork-fee-comparison-calculator/) for a direct head-to-head.
How much does the designer actually take home?
The designer receives 85% of the project budget from 99designs. Payment processor fees (PayPal, Payoneer — typically 2–5%) further reduce take-home. On a $1,000 project: $850 from 99designs, approximately $808–$833 after payment processing.
Are add-on fees separate from the base fee?
The 15% rate applies to both. A $1,000 budget + $200 in add-ons = $180 total in platform fees ($150 + $30). The add-on fee does not increase the designer's payout — it goes to 99designs for promotional features.
What's the minimum budget for each contest tier?
Minimum budgets increase with tier: Bronze starts lowest, Platinum highest. Higher tiers attract more experienced designers and guarantee more submissions. The exact minimums are on 99designs' pricing page and change periodically.