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

Average real estate commission in QLD

In Queensland, real estate commission typically ranges from 2.3% to 2.9% of the final sale price, with 2.5% the most common rate. Commission is a percentage of the sale price, paid by the seller out of the proceeds at settlement, and it is negotiable.

That puts Queensland a little above the rate you would expect in the larger southern capitals. In Sydney and Melbourne, where property values are higher, percentage rates are often pulled down towards 2% because the dollar amount on a high-priced home is already substantial. Queensland sits higher because sale prices across much of the state are lower and more spread out, from inner Brisbane through to the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and the regions, so agents recover their costs over a smaller base. The typical 2.5% reflects that middle position rather than any rule.

Within the range, the rate you are quoted depends on your price point and location. Higher-value Brisbane and coastal homes can attract a rate nearer the lower 2.3% end, because the commission in dollars is large even at a smaller percentage. More modest sales, or properties in slower markets where the agent expects a longer campaign, can sit closer to 2.9%. None of this is fixed, which is the single most important thing to understand before you sign.

Worked examples by sale price

Because commission is a percentage, the dollar figure scales with your sale price. The table below shows what the QLD range works out to across a few common price points, at the lower (2.3%), typical (2.5%) and higher (2.9%) ends.

These figures exclude GST, which usually adds 10% on top of the commission. For an exact figure on your own sale price, run the numbers through our commission calculator, which has a QLD setting.

How commission is structured in QLD

Most Queensland agents charge a single flat percentage of the sale price, for example 2.5% across the whole amount. Some offer a tiered or performance-based structure instead, where a lower base rate applies up to an agreed target price and a higher rate kicks in above it. A performance structure can align the agent’s incentive with yours, because they earn more only if they push the price beyond the target, so it is worth asking about on a sale where you think there is upside.

Whichever structure you choose, "no sale, no fee" is the norm in Queensland. Commission is generally only payable if the property actually sells, usually at settlement from the proceeds, so the agent carries the risk of an unsuccessful campaign on the commission itself.

What the commission covers is the agent’s service: the appraisal and pricing advice, listing the property, running open homes and private inspections, qualifying buyers, and most importantly negotiating on your behalf to achieve the best price and terms. What it does not usually cover is marketing. Photography, portal listings on the major sites, signboards, floor plans, video and any styling are charged separately, and that marketing is often payable whether or not the property sells.

Is commission negotiable in QLD?

Yes. Commission in Queensland is deregulated, which means there is no legislated rate and each agency sets its own pricing. The percentage on the first agency agreement you read is an opening number, not a fixed price, and most sellers do not realise how much room there is to move.

How to negotiate well in a QLD market:

1. Compare two or three agents. Getting competing quotes gives you both leverage and a sense of what is normal for your suburb and price point. Pick agents who genuinely sell your type of property where you live.
2. Negotiate on the rate and the marketing. The percentage is only half the cost. A lower rate paired with an inflated marketing package can cost you more overall, so push on both and ask what each marketing line item actually adds.
3. Ask about a performance clause. A tiered structure that rewards the agent above a target price can be a better deal than simply shaving the base rate, because it ties their upside to yours.
4. Be wary of the cheapest quote. The lowest rate is not the same as the best outcome. An agent who negotiates a stronger sale price can earn back a slightly higher fee many times over, while a cut-rate agent with too many listings may give yours little attention.

Queensland agents are licensed and regulated through the Office of Fair Trading Queensland, and many belong to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ), the state’s peak industry body. Membership and licensing are about conduct and standards, not pricing, so neither sets the commission you pay. That remains a commercial matter between you and the agent, which is exactly why it is open to negotiation.

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, some presentation and styling, and, if you have a loan, a mortgage discharge fee at settlement. If the property is an investment rather than your main 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, which walks through every line item with a worked example. For how commission and fees compare across the rest of the country, the national agent fees guide sets out the ranges state by state and what is and is not included.

Getting an appraisal and the right agent

Knowing the commission range is only useful once you have a realistic sale price to apply it to, and an agent worth paying it to. Two steps put you in a strong position before any negotiation:

1. Get an accurate value first. A market-facing appraisal tells you what your home is likely to sell for, which sizes the commission in real dollars. Our guide to what your house is worth covers how to land on a figure you can trust.
2. Choose the agent, then negotiate the fee. The right agent matters more than the cheapest rate. Our guide to choosing a selling agent covers the interview, the over-quote trap and exactly what to negotiate.

Once you know your number and your shortlist, the free selling guide pulls the whole process together, including the fee benchmarks and the questions that catch over-priced agents out, personalised to your suburb.