Is StubHub Legit, and What Are Its Fees? An Honest 2026 Breakdown
TL;DR (as of June 2026):
StubHub is a long-established, legitimate ticket resale marketplace, but its fees are dynamic: buyer fees are commonly around 28% and can run higher on high-demand events, while sellers typically pay around a 15% commission, with both added on top of the listing price at checkout (support.stubhub.co.uk, June 2026). TicketHunter charges 11% all-in (10% platform + 1% processing) to buyers and 0% until 2027 (1% thereafter) to sellers, shown on the listing before checkout, so the number you see is closer to the number you pay.
If you have searched "is StubHub legit," the short answer is yes: it is a real, operational marketplace that has facilitated millions of transactions and provides a buyer guarantee on orders. "Legit" and "good value," however, are two different questions. StubHub is legitimate; whether its all-in cost suits you depends on how its fees stack up against the alternatives. This page sets out how StubHub's fees work, runs three worked examples, and compares it fairly with TicketHunter.
How StubHub's fees work
StubHub operates a dynamic fee model rather than a single fixed published rate. In practice, this means two things worth understanding before you buy or sell.
First, fees are added at checkout rather than shown on the listing price. When you browse, the price you see against a ticket is the seller's asking price. A buyer fee is then calculated and applied as you move toward payment, so the final total is higher than the headline figure. Across reported transactions, that buyer fee is commonly around 28%, and it can be higher on high-demand events where pricing pressure is greatest (support.stubhub.co.uk, as published June 2026).
Second, sellers pay a commission too. When you list and sell a ticket on StubHub, the platform typically deducts a commission of around 15% from your sale proceeds (support.stubhub.co.uk, as published June 2026). That commission is separate from the buyer fee, which is one reason the combined "take" on a single ticket changing hands can be substantial once both sides are counted.
Because the rate is variable, the honest framing is a range, not an absolute. StubHub does not publish one flat percentage that applies to every event; the figures above are widely-reported typical ranges drawn from its own help pages and third-party fee studies. Always check the exact fee shown at your own checkout, because it can move with the event, the price band, demand and your country.
Payout to sellers generally happens after the event has taken place, with timing varying by market and payment method. There is no price cap on listings, so tickets can be listed above face value.
StubHub vs TicketHunter at a glance
| StubHub | TicketHunter | |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer fee | Variable, commonly 28%; higher on high demand | 11% all-in (10% platform + 1% processing) |
| Seller fee | 15% commission | 0% until 2027 (1% thereafter) |
| Fee visibility | Added at checkout | Shown on listing |
| Price cap | None | No — sellers set their own price |
| Seller payout | After the event (varies) | 7 days after the event |
| Buyer guarantee | Buyer guarantee on orders | a full refund if anything goes wrong (payments held in escrow until after the event) |
| Coverage | Global, broad categories | the UK and EU across all event categories |
Fees are illustrative ranges as published June 2026; secondary-market fees vary by event, price and demand. See sources.
Three worked examples (£100 / £300 / £1,000)
These examples are illustrative. They apply a buyer fee of 28% and a seller commission of 15% to the listing price, using the typical reported StubHub rates.¹ Your actual checkout figure may differ, especially on high-demand events where the buyer fee can be higher.
A £100 ticket
- Buyer pays: £100 + 28% = £128
- Seller receives: £100 − 15% = £85
- Combined cost of the resale changing hands: £43
A £300 ticket
- Buyer pays: £300 + 28% = £384
- Seller receives: £300 − 15% = £255
- Combined cost of the resale changing hands: £129
A £1,000 ticket
- Buyer pays: £1,000 + 28% = £1,280
- Seller receives: £1,000 − 15% = £850
- Combined cost of the resale changing hands: £430
The pattern is consistent: because both the buyer fee and the seller commission scale with price, the gap between what a buyer pays and what a seller pockets widens as ticket prices rise. On a £1,000 transaction, that gap is around £430 on these illustrative rates.
¹ Rates used: buyer fee 28%, seller commission 15% (support.stubhub.co.uk, as published June 2026). Figures rounded and illustrative; high-demand events may carry higher buyer fees.
Where StubHub genuinely wins
A fair comparison has to acknowledge where StubHub is strong. There are several real advantages:
- Scale and inventory depth. StubHub is one of the largest resale marketplaces in the world, so for major tours, big sporting fixtures and sold-out shows, it often has more listings than smaller platforms. If a ticket exists on the secondary market, there is a good chance StubHub has it.
- Global coverage. It operates across many countries and event categories, which is useful if you are buying for events abroad or travel frequently.
- A buyer guarantee. StubHub backs orders with a guarantee designed to get you valid tickets or a resolution if something goes wrong, which provides reassurance on a peer-to-peer purchase.
- An established, mature platform. Long operating history, well-developed apps, and customer support infrastructure mean the buying and selling flow is polished and familiar to many users.
- Liquidity for sellers. Because so many buyers use it, listings on popular events can sell quickly, which matters if you need to offload tickets close to an event date.
These are genuine strengths. The trade-off is cost and fee visibility, which is where the comparison gets interesting.
Where TicketHunter differs
The differences below are stated as verifiable facts about how each platform is set up, not as claims about StubHub failing.
- Fee visibility. On StubHub, the buyer fee is calculated and added as you approach checkout. On TicketHunter, the fee position is shown on the listing (11% all-in (10% platform + 1% processing) to buyers, 0% until 2027 (1% thereafter) to sellers), so the figure you see while browsing is closer to the figure you pay.
- Seller economics. StubHub typically deducts around a 15% commission from a seller's proceeds. TicketHunter's seller fee is 0% until 2027 (1% thereafter).
- Coverage model. StubHub is global across broad categories; TicketHunter covers the UK and EU across all event categories.
- Payout and guarantee. TicketHunter's seller payout timing is 7 days after the event and its buyer protection is a full refund if anything goes wrong (payments held in escrow until after the event).
The point is not that one platform is "honest" and the other is not. Both are real marketplaces. The structural difference is when and where the fee is disclosed, and what each side pays.
How to switch from StubHub
If you want to try TicketHunter, the steps are straightforward:
- Compare the all-in cost first. Take the event you are buying or selling and check the total on StubHub at checkout, then check the equivalent on TicketHunter where the fee is on the listing.
- For sellers: create a listing on TicketHunter via the sell page, enter your ticket details, and confirm the payout terms.
- For buyers: search the event, review the on-listing price including the buyer fee, and complete checkout.
- Keep your tickets safe until the transfer or delivery method is confirmed by the platform.
See how it works for the full buyer and seller flow, and pricing for the current fee detail.
FAQ
Is StubHub legit?
Yes. StubHub is a legitimate, long-established ticket resale marketplace that backs orders with a buyer guarantee. The main consideration is cost: its fees are dynamic and added at checkout.
What are StubHub's buyer fees?
Buyer fees are variable and commonly around 28%, and can be higher on high-demand events. They are added at checkout rather than shown on the listing price (support.stubhub.co.uk, June 2026).
What are StubHub's selling fees?
Sellers typically pay a commission of around 15%, deducted from the sale proceeds (support.stubhub.co.uk, June 2026).
Does StubHub show fees before checkout?
The listing shows the seller's asking price; the buyer fee is calculated and added as you move toward payment, so the final total is higher than the headline figure.
Is there a price cap on StubHub?
No. StubHub does not cap listings at face value, so tickets can be listed above face value.
When do StubHub sellers get paid?
Payout to sellers generally happens after the event, with timing varying by market and payment method.
How does TicketHunter compare on fees?
TicketHunter charges 11% all-in (10% platform + 1% processing) to buyers and 0% until 2027 (1% thereafter) to sellers, shown on the listing before checkout, whereas StubHub adds a variable buyer fee (commonly 28%) at checkout and a 15% seller commission.
Is TicketHunter a good StubHub alternative?
TicketHunter differs on fee visibility (shown on the listing), seller economics (0% until 2027 (1% thereafter)) and coverage (the UK and EU across all event categories). Compare the all-in total for your specific event before deciding.
Sources & disclaimer
Trademarks and brand names are the property of their respective owners. TicketHunter is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with any platform named on this page. Fee figures are illustrative ranges based on each platform's publicly published information as of June 2026 and may change; always check the platform's own fee page before transacting. Worked examples are illustrative.
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