How to Sell on Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT): 2026 Fees, Memberships and Steps
Free Online Selling Course, Lesson 40 · Module 7: Sell Digital Products Beyond Etsy · See all lessons
If you make worksheets, lesson plans, classroom decor, or clip art for teachers, Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) is a marketplace built for exactly that. TPT describes itself as a marketplace for original educator-created content.
Here is the big change every new seller needs to know: TPT retired its Premium Seller membership on October 1, 2026. You now choose between Basic Seller and the new Exclusive Seller membership, and the Exclusive option means you agree to sell your digital educational resources only on TPT. Pick the wrong one and you either give away a big chunk of each sale or lock yourself out of selling on Etsy or your own site.
This lesson explains TPT’s 2026 fees and memberships, how to sign up, how payouts work, and how to choose the right membership. Everything comes from TPT’s Help Center, checked in late October 2026.
How Do You Sell on Teachers Pay Teachers?
Create a free TPT Buyer account, then upgrade to Basic Seller ($29 one-time, 55% payout rate, 30¢ per resource) or Exclusive Seller ($59.95 a year, 77.5% payout rate, sell digital educational resources only on TPT). Set up your store, upload your resources, set your prices, and publish. TPT pays sellers monthly through Hyperwallet by direct deposit or PayPal.
TPT Seller Fees and Payout Rates (2026)
According to TPT’s Seller Fees and Payout Rates page (updated October 27, 2026):
| Basic Seller | Exclusive Seller | |
|---|---|---|
| Membership fee | $29 one-time, non-refundable | $59.95 per year |
| Payout rate | 55% on all sales | 77.5% on all sales* |
| Transaction fee | 30¢ per resource | 15¢ per resource, only on orders under $3 |
| Premium features and marketing tools | No | Yes |
| Exclusivity | No | Digital educational resources sold only on TPT |
*TPT says Exclusive Sellers earn 80% for a limited time, and the rate becomes 77.5% starting January 1, 2027.
Good to know:
- Premium Seller is gone for new sign-ups as of October 1, 2026.
- The $29 Basic fee cannot be applied toward an Exclusive Seller subscription if you upgrade later.
- If you leave Exclusive Seller, TPT says there is a one-year wait before you can sign up again, and the annual fee is not refunded.
Compare your earnings: our free TPT earnings calculator shows what you keep as a Basic or Exclusive Seller and which pays more for your sales.
Example: A $5 Resource
| Basic Seller | Exclusive Seller (77.5%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Sale price | $5.00 | $5.00 |
| Payout rate | 55% = $2.75 | 77.5% = $3.88 |
| Transaction fee | $0.30 | $0 (order over $3) |
| You keep (about) | $2.45 | $3.88 |
What Does Exclusive Mean on TPT?
TPT’s FAQ says that as an Exclusive Seller you can still promote your store and keep your own website. But the final purchase of your digital educational resources must happen in your TPT store. For example, “Buy Now” buttons on your website can link to the same product on TPT.
TPT’s FAQ lists some items Exclusive Sellers may still sell off TPT, including courses and professional development, Boom Cards, and Kindle books. You cannot sell digital educational resources, memberships that include them, or licenses to them elsewhere. You can offer free resources off TPT, but you cannot charge on TPT for something you give away free elsewhere.
If you already sell printables on Etsy or your own site, Basic Seller keeps you free to do that.
Which TPT Membership Should You Choose?
- Choose Basic Seller if you are just starting, sell on other platforms too, or have few sales.
- Choose Exclusive Seller if TPT is (or will be) your main platform and your yearly sales are high enough that the higher payout rate beats the $59.95 yearly fee.
Rough rule with $5 resources: Exclusive earns about $1.43 more per sale, so it covers the $59.95 fee after about 43 sales a year. The calculator does this math for your own prices.
How to Sell on TPT Step by Step
Step 1: Create a Free Buyer Account
TPT says every seller starts with a free Buyer account. On the TPT homepage, click Sign Up, enter your name, email, and a password, and click Sign up.
Step 2: Upgrade to a Seller Membership
Log in, go to the seller upgrade page, and click Join Now under the membership you want. TPT’s sign-up steps take you to PayPal to pay the membership fee.
Step 3: Set Up Your Store
TPT’s “How do I sell on TPT?” guide says the next steps are to set up your store, upload your resources, and publish your product listings. You set your own prices and can throw sales.
Step 4: Upload and Publish Your Resources
What sells on TPT, according to TPT: instructional resources, classroom decor, professional development, and creator supplies like clip art and fonts. Make sure every resource is your own original work. See etsy copyright and trademark for the basics of using fonts and clip art legally.
Ideas for products? See best selling digital products on etsy; many printables translate well to classroom resources.
Step 5: Set Up Payouts With Hyperwallet
TPT pays sellers monthly through Hyperwallet. To set it up:
- Log in and go to your Payout Method page.
- Click Get My Key, then Copy TPT Key.
- Click Sign up on Hyperwallet and verify your account with your TPT Key.
- Choose Individual or Business, exactly matching what you gave the IRS, or tax verification will fail.
- Complete your profile and add a transfer method such as direct deposit or PayPal.
Earnings are then sent automatically each month on TPT’s payout schedule.
Common Mistakes on TPT
Joining Exclusive while still selling the same printables on Etsy. That breaks the exclusivity terms.
Paying for Exclusive too early. With few sales, the $59.95 yearly fee can cost more than the higher payout rate earns.
Expecting the $29 to carry over. The Basic fee does not count toward Exclusive.
Using unlicensed clip art or fonts. Use your own work or assets you have a commercial license for.
Mismatched tax details. Your Hyperwallet Individual or Business choice must match your IRS information.
Key Takeaways
- TPT retired Premium Seller on October 1, 2026.
- Basic Seller: $29 one-time, 55% payout, 30¢ per resource, no exclusivity.
- Exclusive Seller: $59.95 a year, 77.5% payout (80% for a limited time), 15¢ only on orders under $3, sell digital educational resources only on TPT.
- Sellers are paid monthly through Hyperwallet by direct deposit or PayPal.
- Choose Basic if you also sell on Etsy or your own site.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does TPT take from sellers?
Basic Sellers receive 55% of each sale and pay 30¢ per resource. Exclusive Sellers receive 77.5% (80% for a limited time) and pay 15¢ per resource only on orders under $3.
Is the TPT Premium Seller membership still available?
No. TPT says Premium Seller memberships were retired on October 1, 2026 and replaced by the Exclusive Seller membership.
Can I sell on TPT and Etsy at the same time?
Yes, as a Basic Seller. Exclusive Sellers agree to sell their digital educational resources only on TPT.
How do TPT sellers get paid?
Monthly, through Hyperwallet, with a transfer method such as direct deposit or PayPal.
How much does it cost to become a TPT seller?
$29 one-time for Basic Seller, or $59.95 per year for Exclusive Seller.
Final Thoughts
TPT is a great marketplace for educator-made resources, and the 2026 change makes your membership choice more important than ever. Start as a Basic Seller if you sell anywhere else, and move to Exclusive only when TPT is your main platform and the numbers work.
Next, see how to sell on creative market, or explore the free online selling course.
You finished: Free Online Selling Course, Lesson 40
Keep going step by step. Each lesson builds on the last one.
