Updated June 2026 · Reviewed by Adams, Cameron & Co.
To calculate your real estate commission, multiply the sale price by the commission rate, by your side of the deal, by your brokerage split. Example: a $343,000 home at 5% total, your side (50%), at a 70% split = about $6,003 to you. Use the calculator below for your own numbers.
- Your commission = sale price × commission rate × your side of the deal × your brokerage split.
- The headline split isn’t your real number: desk fees, tech fees, and your own marketing costs come out after.
- A high split at a brokerage where you pay for everything can net less than a lower split with tools included.
- Compare brokerages on take-home after all costs, not on the split alone.
- Use the calculator to run your real production, then weigh the support you’d get for the difference.
How is a real estate commission split calculated?
Four numbers decide your check. Start with the sale price. Multiply by the total commission rate (often 5–6%, split between the buyer’s and seller’s sides). Take your side of that (typically 50%). Then apply your split with your brokerage. The result is your gross commission on the deal, before any fees.
Why your real take-home is lower than the split suggests
The split is only the headline. Your real number is what’s left after desk fees, technology fees, transaction fees, and the marketing you pay for yourself. This is exactly why chasing the highest split can backfire: a 90% split where you fund all your own marketing and tools can net less than a lower split where those are included. The honest comparison is always take-home after everything.
How to use this to compare brokerages
Run the calculator on your real annual production at two different splits. Then subtract each brokerage’s fees and what you’d spend out of pocket for marketing and tools at each. The brokerage with the higher net, plus the support that buys back your time, is the real winner, not whichever advertises the biggest split. See the honest side-by-side in our brokerage comparison for experienced agents.
This calculator is a simplified estimate and ignores taxes, referral fees, and brokerage-specific charges. Confirm exact terms with any brokerage. Educational only, not financial advice.
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