Comparison
Skinport vs Steam Community Market: Fees, Payouts and Prices
Skinport and the Steam Community Market both sell CS2 skins, but they work differently where it matters most: the fees and what you can do with the money. Skinport takes 8% from the seller and pays out real money. The Steam Market takes about 13% of the buyer's price and pays out in Steam Wallet funds that can't be withdrawn.
Below is a side-by-side comparison, a worked example, and a plain way to decide which one suits what you're doing. Skinport's rates are from its July 2025 announcement and Steam's from Valve's published fee structure. Both can change, so confirm the current figures before a large sale.
| Skinport | Steam Community Market | |
|---|---|---|
| Seller fee | 8% (6% above €1,000, 2% on private sales) | 5% Steam + 10% CS2, added on top of the seller's proceeds (about 13% of the buyer's price) |
| Buyer fee | 0% | 0% (the listed price is what the buyer pays) |
| Seller keeps on a $100 sale | $92.00 | About $86.96 |
| How sellers get paid | Real money to a bank account, after identity verification | Steam Wallet funds only, not withdrawable |
| Payout fee from the marketplace | None | Not applicable (no cash payout) |
| Trade-locked items | Listed with a "tradable in X days" label, often at a discount | Items under trade protection can't be listed until the hold ends |
| Typical price level | Usually lower than Steam for the same item | Usually higher, paid in wallet funds |
Skinport
VisitThe better fit if you want cash out and lower fees, and the marketplace most sniping tools target.
- 8% seller fee, and 0% for buyers
- Pays out real money rather than wallet funds
- Locked items listed at a discount
- Identity verification is needed to cash out
- Smaller audience than Steam for some items
- Rare or expensive items can take longer to sell
Steam Community Market
VisitConvenient and widely used, but fees are higher and proceeds stay inside Steam.
- Very large audience, so common items sell quickly
- No external account or verification needed
- Items go straight to Steam inventories
- About 13% of the buyer's price goes in fees
- Proceeds are Steam Wallet funds that can't be withdrawn
- Prices are usually higher than on cash marketplaces
Fees: a $100 sale on each
On Skinport the seller fee is a flat 8% of the sale price (6% above €1,000, 2% on private sales), and the buyer pays nothing extra. A $100 sale leaves the seller $92.00.
On the Steam Community Market the fees are added on top of what the seller receives: a 5% Steam fee plus a 10% CS2 game fee, so the buyer pays 115% of the seller's proceeds. That is why the figure is often quoted as "15%", although it comes to about 13% of the price the buyer pays. A $100 sale leaves the seller about $86.96. To net exactly $100 you would need the buyer to pay $115.00.
On a $100 sale that is a gap of around $5, and it grows with the price. See Skinport fees explained for the full Skinport schedule, or use the calculator for your own numbers.
Getting your money out
This is the biggest practical difference. Everything on the Steam Market moves through your Steam Wallet. Sale proceeds are credited as wallet funds, and those funds can't be withdrawn or sent to a bank. They are only useful on Steam, for games and for buying more items.
Skinport pays out real money to a bank account after you've verified your identity, and it doesn't charge a payout fee. Verification requirements and payout options can change, so check Skinport before relying on a particular method. For anyone who wants cash rather than Steam credit, this alone often decides it.
Prices and liquidity
Because wallet funds are locked into Steam, listings on the Steam Market are usually priced higher than the same item on a cash marketplace, and buyers there are paying in funds that can't be cashed out. A skin that sells for a given price on Steam will often be cheaper on Skinport. The gap varies by item and moves over time, so compare the live price of the exact item and wear before you act on it.
Skinport is a smaller marketplace than Steam for some items, so a rare or expensive skin can take longer to sell. Steam's audience is much larger, which can help common items sell quickly, though at the higher fee.
Trade protection and delivery
Since July 2025 Valve has applied a seven-day trade protection hold to items that change hands. That affects how both marketplaces work, because an item you've just received can't be traded or listed again until the hold ends. Skinport shows the remaining hold on a listing as a "tradable in X days" label and lets you buy locked items at a discount, with delivery after the lock ends. The tradelock checker shows the exact unlock date.
Which one should you use?
- You want cash. Use Skinport. Steam Wallet funds can't be withdrawn.
- You'll spend the money on Steam anyway. The Steam Market works, though you pay a higher fee than on Skinport.
- You're buying below market. Compare both. Skinport is usually cheaper, and its buyer fee is 0%.
- You're buying locked items to resell. Skinport lists them at a discount. Work the seller fee into your maths first.
Where sniping fits in
Sniping tools that buy automatically focus on marketplaces with open listings and cash payouts, which is why Skinport auto-buy exists as a category and a Steam Market equivalent is far less common. If you're comparing tools, our best CS2 sniping bots page covers the field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Skinport cheaper than the Steam Market?
For sellers, yes. Skinport takes 8% of the sale price, while the Steam Market takes about 13% of the buyer's price (a 5% Steam fee plus a 10% CS2 fee added on top of the seller's proceeds). On a $100 sale a Skinport seller keeps about $92.00 and a Steam seller about $86.96.
Can you withdraw money from the Steam Market?
No. Sales on the Steam Community Market are paid into your Steam Wallet, and wallet funds can't be withdrawn or transferred to a bank. They can only be spent on Steam.
Does Skinport pay out real money?
Yes. Skinport pays out real money to a bank account after you verify your identity, and it doesn't charge a payout fee. Payout methods and requirements can change, so check Skinport's current options.
Why are skins cheaper on Skinport than on Steam?
Steam Market purchases are paid in wallet funds that can't be cashed out, which tends to push Steam prices up. Cash marketplaces like Skinport usually price the same item lower, though the gap varies by item, so compare live prices.
Which fee is lower for expensive skins?
Skinport. Items above €1,000 carry a 6% seller fee there, while the Steam Market's combined fees stay at about 13% of the buyer's price whatever the item costs.