Real Estate Commission Calculator
Estimate the commission on a home sale: total commission from sale price and rate, how it splits between the listing (seller's) agent and the buyer's agent, each agent's cut after their broker split, and what the seller actually nets after the mortgage and closing costs. Free, no sign-up, everything runs in your browser.
Agreed sale price of the home.
Often quoted around 5-6% in the US, but negotiable and market-dependent.
Share of the total commission going to the seller's (listing) agent side. The rest goes to the buyer's agent side.
Estimate only — not financial, legal, or real-estate advice. Rates vary and are negotiable; confirm with your agent.
Take each side's commission from tab 1 and see how much the agent keeps after the broker split and any transaction fee.
Listing (seller's) agent side
Agent's share of this side; the broker keeps the rest.
Flat fee deducted from the agent's share, if any.
Buyer's agent side
Estimate only — not financial, legal, or real-estate advice. Splits vary by brokerage agreement; confirm with your broker.
Remaining loan balance to pay off at closing.
Title, escrow, taxes, and other seller closing costs.
Estimate only — not financial, legal, or real-estate advice. Actual closing costs vary; get a settlement statement from your title company or attorney.
How the math works
Example: $450,000.00 x 6% = $27,000.00 total commission.
Example: $27,000.00 split 50/50 gives $13,500.00 to the listing side and $13,500.00 to the buyer's side.
Example: $13,500.00 at an 80/20 split with a $500.00 fee: agent keeps $10,300.00, broker keeps $3,200.00.
Example: $450,000.00 - $27,000.00 commission - $310,000.00 mortgage - $9,000.00 closing = $104,000.00 to the seller.
Frequently asked questions
How is real estate commission calculated?
Multiply the sale price by the commission rate: commission = sale price × rate. For example, a $450,000.00 home sold at a 6% commission rate produces $450,000.00 × 6% = $27,000.00 in total commission. That total is then split between the listing (seller's) agent side and the buyer's agent side — at a 50/50 split, $13,500.00 each. Tab 1 above runs this for any price and rate.
Who pays the real estate commission — the buyer or the seller?
Traditionally the seller pays the full commission out of the sale proceeds at closing, and the listing brokerage shares it with the buyer's brokerage. But this is negotiable and practices vary by market and by agreement — in some deals the buyer compensates their own agent directly. Because rules and customs differ, verify who pays what with your agent before you sign anything.
What is a typical real estate commission rate?
In the US, total commissions are often quoted around 5–6% of the sale price, but there is no fixed national rate — rates are negotiable and vary by market, price point, and brokerage. Discount and flat-fee brokerages may charge less. On a $450,000.00 home, each percentage point equals $4,500.00 (1% of $450,000.00), so negotiating even half a point moves thousands of dollars. Always confirm the rate in your listing agreement.
How does the agent/broker commission split work?
Each side's commission first goes to the brokerage, which keeps an agreed share and passes the rest to the agent — a common split is 80/20 in the agent's favor, plus a flat transaction fee deducted from the agent's share. Example: on a $13,500.00 side commission at 80/20 with a $500.00 fee, the agent's gross is $13,500.00 × 80% = $10,800.00; minus the $500.00 fee the agent nets $10,300.00, and the broker keeps $3,200.00. Tab 2 above models both sides.
How do I estimate my net proceeds when selling a house?
Subtract everything owed at closing from the sale price: net proceeds = sale price − total commission − mortgage payoff − closing costs. Example: $450,000.00 − $27,000.00 commission − $310,000.00 mortgage − $9,000.00 closing costs = $104,000.00 to the seller. If the result is negative, the sale would not cover what you owe and you would need to bring cash to closing. Tab 3 above runs this with flat or percentage closing costs.
Are real estate commissions negotiable?
Yes. Commission rates, the split between the listing and buyer sides, and agent/broker splits are all negotiable — nothing in the math requires 6% or a 50/50 split. Sellers sometimes negotiate a lower listing-side rate, use discount or flat-fee brokerages, or sell without an agent. Whatever you agree to, get it in writing in the listing agreement and run the numbers here first so you know exactly what each option costs.
What does this calculator NOT cover?
This tool covers residential home-sale commissions only. It does not estimate commercial lease broker commissions — for those, see our commercial lease calculator — and it does not model sales-representative compensation plans (quotas, accelerators, draws), which our sales commission calculator handles. It also does not itemize closing costs or mortgage amortization; use your settlement statement and lender figures for those.
Free tool by NRTechStudio