Real Estate Commission ACT: Average Rates & Agent Fees (2026)

Average real estate commission in ACT

Real estate commission in the Australian Capital Territory typically ranges from 1.8% to 2.25% of the final sale price, with 2.1% the most common figure. Commission is charged as a percentage of what your property sells for, paid by you as the seller out of the proceeds at settlement, and it is negotiable.

That puts the ACT towards the lower end of the national range. Commission tends to be lower in capital cities with high property values and a competitive pool of agents, and higher in regional areas where sale prices are smaller. Canberra has both high median values and a dense, professional agent market in a relatively compact geography, so rates here sit closer to those in the larger eastern-state capitals than to the higher figures common in some regional and smaller markets.

Because commission is a percentage, the dollar amount scales with your sale price. At the same 2.1% rate, a higher sale price simply means a higher fee in dollars, which is why the absolute figure matters more than the headline rate when you compare agents.

Worked dollar examples

Here is what the typical ACT commission range looks like in dollars across a few sale prices. The table shows the lower end (1.8%), the typical rate (2.1%) and the higher end (2.25%).

These figures exclude GST, which usually applies on top. For an exact figure on your own sale price, use our commission calculator, which has an ACT setting.

How commission is structured in ACT

Most ACT agents charge a single flat percentage of the sale price, for example 2.1% across the whole price. Some will offer a tiered or performance-based structure instead, where the rate steps up on the amount above an agreed target price. A performance incentive can align the agent’s interests with yours, because they earn more only if they push the price past the threshold, so it is worth asking about if you expect a competitive campaign.

The norm in the ACT is "no sale, no fee". That means commission is only payable if the property actually sells, so the agent carries the risk of an unsold listing rather than you. Commission is then taken from the sale proceeds at settlement, not paid up front.

What the commission generally covers:

• Appraisal and pricing strategy. Assessing the property and recommending a price range or method of sale.
• Listing and campaign management. Running the sale process from listing through to settlement.
• Open homes and inspections. Hosting inspections and qualifying buyers.
• Negotiation. Negotiating with buyers on your behalf to achieve the best price and terms.

What is usually charged separately, on top of commission:

• Marketing and advertising. Portal listings, signboards and any paid promotion.
• Photography and video. Professional photos, floor plans and any drone or video work.
• Styling and presentation. Hired furniture and styling, where used.

Marketing is the line that most often surprises sellers, because it is billed separately and is frequently payable whether or not the property sells. Confirm the marketing budget and when it is due before you sign.

Is commission negotiable in ACT?

Yes. Commission is deregulatedin the ACT, which means there is no official, legislated or fixed rate. Agents set their own fees, so the percentage on the first agency agreement you read is an opening number, not a fixed price. Most sellers don’t realise this, which is exactly why it is worth the conversation.

How to negotiate well in the ACT:

1. Compare two or three agents. Get appraisals and written fee quotes from agents who actively sell your type of property in your part of Canberra. Competing quotes give you both leverage and a sense of what is fair.
2. Negotiate the rate and the marketing together.A lower commission paired with a large marketing package you didn’t need is not a saving. Look at the total cost of the campaign, not just the percentage.
3. Be wary of the cheapest. The lowest quote can mean a thinner campaign or a less experienced negotiator. An agent who gets you a higher sale price earns back a slightly higher rate many times over.
4. Ask whether GST is included. So you are comparing like with like across agents.

For local context, the Real Estate Institute of the ACT (REIACT) is the territory’s industry body, and agents operating in the ACT are licensed and regulated through Access Canberra. Checking that an agent is properly licensed is a sensible first step before you sign anything.

Commission vs the rest of your selling costs

Commission is the largest single cost of selling, but it is not the only one. On top of the agent’s fee you will usually pay for marketing and photography, conveyancing or legal work, and some presentation before listing. If you have a loan there is a small mortgage discharge fee, and if the property is an investment rather than your home, capital gains tax can be the biggest cost of all.

To see how commission fits into the full picture, read the full cost of selling, and for how fees and commission compare across the country, see the national agent fees guide.

Get the right agent first

The cheapest commission rarely produces the best result. The agent who prices your home accurately and negotiates hardest usually nets you more than the one who simply quotes the lowest fee. So before you fixate on the rate, get a real appraisal and choose the right agent, then negotiate the commission with that agent.

1. Get an accurate value. A market-facing figure from a local agent is the starting point. How much is my house worth? covers how to land on a number you can trust.
2. Choose the right agent. Our guide to choosing a selling agent covers the interview, the over-quote trap and what to negotiate.
3. Size the cost. Run your price through the commission calculator so you know what commission means in dollars before any conversation.