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Real Estate Commission Calculator
See what a deal really pays you. Enter the sale price, commission rate, your side of the split, your brokerage split, referral fee, and fees to get your gross commission (GCI), your net before tax, and your take-home after a tax set-aside, line by line. Free, private, and nothing to sign up for: everything runs in your browser.
What you take home
Take-home after tax
$4,953.75
That's 49.5% of your $10,000.00 GCI on a $400,000 sale.
Gross commission (GCI)$10,000.00
Net before tax$6,605.00
| Total commission 5% of $400,000 | $20,000.00 |
|---|---|
| Your side (GCI) 50% share = 2.5% of the price | $10,000.00 |
| Referral fee 0% of GCI | −$0.00 |
| Brokerage share 30% of what's left | −$3,000.00 |
| Transaction and flat fees | −$395.00 |
| Net to you before tax | $6,605.00 |
| Estimated tax set-aside 25% of net | −$1,651.25 |
| Take-home after tax | $4,953.75 |
Estimates only. Your brokerage agreement, caps, and tax situation may change the numbers.
How it works
How the commission math works
The calculator follows the order money actually moves at closing: the commission comes off the sale price, gets divided between the two sides, the referral fee comes off the top of your side, your brokerage takes its split, and then flat fees come out. Taxes are an estimate of what to set aside, not something withheld at closing.
Total commission = sale price × commission rate
GCI (your side) = total commission × your side's share
Referral fee = GCI × referral %
Brokerage share = (GCI − referral fee) × (1 − your split %)
Net before tax = GCI − referral fee − brokerage share − flat fees
Take-home = net before tax − (net before tax × tax %)
GCI (your side) = total commission × your side's share
Referral fee = GCI × referral %
Brokerage share = (GCI − referral fee) × (1 − your split %)
Net before tax = GCI − referral fee − brokerage share − flat fees
Take-home = net before tax − (net before tax × tax %)
Example
A $400,000 sale at a 5% total commission is $20,000. Your side's 50% share is $10,000 of GCI (2.5% of the price). With no referral, a 70/30 split sends $3,000 to the brokerage, leaving $7,000. Subtract a $395 transaction fee and your net before tax is $6,605. Set aside 25% for taxes ($1,651.25) and your take-home is about $4,953.75, roughly half of the GCI.
Want the other side of the equation? Use the free real estate goal calculator to turn an income goal into the closings, appointments, and leads you need each week.
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FAQ
Questions, answered
How is a real estate agent's commission calculated?
Multiply the sale price by the commission rate to get the total commission, then take your side's share (often 50% when the listing and buyer's agents split it). That is your gross commission income (GCI). Subtract any referral fee, then your brokerage's share of the split, then transaction or franchise fees. What's left is your net before tax.
What does a 70/30 commission split mean?
A 70/30 split means you keep 70% of the commission and your brokerage keeps 30%. On $10,000 of GCI with no referral fee, you keep $7,000 and the brokerage keeps $3,000, before any flat fees.
Is the referral fee taken before or after the brokerage split?
Usually before. Referral fees are typically paid off the top of the gross commission, and your split is applied to what's left. This calculator follows that order. Check your brokerage's policy if yours handles it differently.
How much should I set aside for taxes on a commission check?
Many self-employed agents set aside 25% to 35% to cover federal and state income tax plus self-employment tax. The right number depends on your income, state, and deductions, so treat the tax line here as a rough set-aside and confirm it with a tax professional.
Is my side of the commission always 50%?
No. Commissions are negotiable, and how they're shared between the listing side and the buyer's side varies by deal and agreement. If you know your own side's rate directly, enter it as the commission rate and set your side's share to 100%.