Cost to Sell a House by State (2026)
The biggest cost of selling a home is the listing commission. Across all 50 states and D.C., a traditional ~3% listing commission on a median-priced home averages about $11,156— money a flat-fee listing keeps in the seller's pocket. Here's every state, ranked.
Methodology & data provenance
Download the data (CSV)- Executive summary
The single largest cost of selling a home is typically the listing-side real estate commission. This report estimates that cost in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia by applying a traditional 3% listing-side commission to each state's estimated median home value, then ranks the states from most to least expensive to sell. It illustrates how much a percentage-based commission scales with home price — and how much of that a one-time flat fee keeps in the seller's pocket.
- Methodology
Original ListMyHomes.com™ analysis of public and licensed data. For each jurisdiction we take a rounded, state-level median home-value estimate and apply a fixed 3% listing-side commission assumption to produce an illustrative selling-cost figure. The 3% figure is an editorial assumption reflecting a common historical listing-side rate — it is not a rate we charge, quote, or that is set by law. National averages shown are the unweighted mean across the 51 jurisdictions (not population- or transaction-weighted). Figures are rounded for illustration.
- Data source
Median home-value inputs are rounded public state-level estimates compiled by ListMyHomes.com™ from publicly available housing data; commission figures are derived by ListMyHomes.com™. No proprietary MLS feed, appraisal, or primary survey was used.
- Data-collection date
January 2026 (rounded 2026 snapshot).
- Geographic scope
All 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia (51 jurisdictions).
- Definitions
- Median home value: A rounded public estimate of the typical (mid-point) home value in the state. An estimate for illustration, not an appraisal of any specific property.
- 3% listing commission: An illustrative listing-side commission cost = 3% of the state's median home value. Real estate commissions are fully negotiable and are not set by law.
- Limitations
Figures are rounded, state-level estimates for illustration only, not transaction-specific quotes. The commission is a fixed editorial assumption; actual commissions are negotiated per transaction and vary widely. Median values do not capture metro-level or property-level variation, and exclude other selling costs (closing costs, concessions, repairs, title, and taxes). National averages are unweighted across jurisdictions.
These are illustrative estimates, not pricing, financial, appraisal, legal, or tax advice. Real estate commissions are negotiable and not set by law. Consult a licensed professional for your specific situation. Reuse with attribution to ListMyHomes.com™.
Estimated listing commission by state
These are illustrative estimates, not pricing, financial, appraisal, legal, or tax advice. Real estate commissions are negotiable and not set by law. Consult a licensed professional for your specific situation. Download the data (CSV).
Common questions
How much does it cost to sell a house?
The largest cost is usually the listing commission — historically around 3% of the sale price to a listing agent (always negotiable). On a median-priced U.S. home that's roughly $11,156. A flat-fee listing replaces that percentage with a one-time flat fee, so most of it stays with the seller. You still pay normal closing costs.
Which states have the highest selling costs?
Because commission scales with price, the highest-priced states carry the largest commission cost. Hawaii tops the list at about $25,200 on a median home, followed by California and Washington, D.C..
How is this calculated?
Original ListMyHomes.com™ analysis of public and licensed data. For each jurisdiction we take a rounded, state-level median home-value estimate and apply a fixed 3% listing-side commission assumption to produce an illustrative selling-cost figure. The 3% figure is an editorial assumption reflecting a common historical listing-side rate — it is not a rate we charge, quote, or that is set by law. National averages shown are the unweighted mean across the 51 jurisdictions (not population- or transaction-weighted). Figures are rounded for illustration.
Keep more of your equity
List your home flat-fee and keep the equity a commission would take — see exactly what you'd net.