Steam Fee Calculator (2026 Updated Rates)
Valve takes 30% of Steam revenue — stepping down to 25% once a game passes $10M in adjusted revenue and 20% past $50M. Because prices are tax-inclusive, a 20% VAT region quietly removes a sixth of gross before the share applies, and refunds claw revenue back entirely.
Fee breakdown
| Platform | Total fees | Net | vs here | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam (this page) | $6.00 | $13.99 | baseline | |
| Stripe | $0.88 | $19.11 | +$5.12 More 🟢 | |
| Lemon Squeezy | $1.50 | $18.49 | +$4.50 More 🟢 | |
| Paddle | $1.50 | $18.49 | +$4.50 More 🟢 | |
| Gumroad | $3.38 | $16.61 | +$2.62 More 🟢 | |
| Apple App Store | $6.00 | $13.99 | +$0.00 More 🟢 | PK → |
Steam fee quick reference (2026)
| Amount | Total fees | You keep | Take rate | Charge to net it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $3.00 | $7.00 | 30.0% | $14.29 |
| $25.00 | $7.50 | $17.50 | 30.0% | $35.72 |
| $50.00 | $15.00 | $35.00 | 30.0% | $71.43 |
| $100.00 | $30.00 | $70.00 | 30.0% | $142.86 |
| $250.00 | $75.00 | $175.00 | 30.0% | $357.15 |
| $500.00 | $150.00 | $350.00 | 30.0% | $714.29 |
| $1,000.00 | $300.00 | $700.00 | 30.0% | $1,428.58 |
Steam fee formula & hidden costs
30% up to $10M, 25% to $50M, 20% above
Worked example: $100.00 gross → $30.00 fees → $70.00 net. Reverse gross-up: charge = (target + fixed) / (1 − rate) → to net $100.00 charge $142.86.
Hidden fees to watch
- Prices are VAT-inclusive — a 20% VAT region removes ~17% of gross before the 30% share.
- Refunds within 14 days / 2 hours claw back the full sale.
- Steam keys sold off-platform cost 0% but generate no Steam visibility.
- The $100 recoupable Steam Direct fee per game only pays back after ~$1,000 adjusted gross.
Fee change history
How to pay less in Steam fees
- Use the reverse calculator to pass fees to the client explicitly instead of eating them.
- Batch small orders — fixed per-order fees dominate sub-$10 transactions.
- Avoid currency conversion inside the platform; settle in your own currency via a multi-currency account.
- Compare Claude Skills Club — Community and tooling for Claude power users.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Steam take from a $19.99 game?
30% in the base tier: $6.00, netting $13.99 — before VAT-inclusive price effects and refunds.
How do the Steam revenue tiers work at $60M adjusted revenue?
Marginal: 30% on the first $10M + 25% on the next $40M + 20% on the last $10M = $15M total, so you keep $45M (75% effective).
What does a $12 game net in a 20% VAT country?
Ex-VAT revenue is $12 / 1.2 = $10.00; Steam takes 30% = $3.00 and you keep $7.00 — a 41.7% effective take on the sticker price.
How much do refunds cost an indie game?
A 10% refund rate removes a tenth of adjusted revenue before commission: $100 gross becomes $90 adjusted → $27 fee, $63 net.
Does Steam charge to sell game keys off-platform?
No — Steam keys sold elsewhere carry 0% Valve share, but generate no wishlists, reviews or algorithmic visibility.