If you're selling in South Australia, expect to pay your agent about 1.76% of the sale price, or 1.66% in Adelaide, according to internal data. There's no set rate, so what you pay depends on where you live, your property and the agent, and you can negotiate it.

Commission is usually the biggest single cost of selling a property, so it's worth knowing the going rate before you compare agents.

Nationally, the average is 2.01% of the sale price, and most commissions fall between 1% and 3.5%. South Australia sits below that average.

Read: What commission should you pay your NSW real estate agent?

Understanding real estate commission fees in SA

As in other states, no SA law sets or caps what an agent can charge. The rate is whatever you and the agent agree in writing, and you can negotiate it.

When it comes time to choose an agent in Adelaide or anywhere else in SA, it's important to consider all possible factors and not make a decision based on the lowest commission.

What's the average real estate commission in South Australia?

According to internal data, the average real estate agent commission in South Australia is 1.76%. However, it can be as low as 1.01% or as high as 3.08%, depending on the area and the agent. These rates include GST.

To see just how much commission rates can vary between areas, check out the table below. For example, the average in Adelaide is 1.66%, while in South East SA it's 2.26%.

In real terms, what commission you pay can make a big difference. Here are two examples:

• In Adelaide's Western Suburbs, the average rate is 1.43%, or $14,300 including GST on a $1 million sale
• In the Adelaide Hills, the average rate is 1.87%, or $18,700 including GST on a $1 million sale

When you compare quotes, check whether each rate includes GST. A rate of 2.2% including GST is 2% plus GST.

To see the average where you live, try our Real Estate Commission Calculator.

Understanding commission structures

The fees involved when hiring a real estate agent are designed to cover their costs for advertising and marketing your property, while their commission is what they charge for selling your property, usually a percentage of the sale price.

Agents don't all structure their fees in the same way. Some agents charge a low commission rate but more for marketing, so compare the total cost, not just the rate. In SA, the agency agreement has to list any marketing you pay for separately, what it costs and when it's due.

Agents can charge a set percentage of the sale price or a tiered rate, and some charge a flat dollar fee instead.

A set percentage is agreed when you sign with the agent. To work out what you will pay simply multiply your sale price by the commission rate.

An incentive-based or tier-based commission structure gives the agent a higher rate for every dollar they get over an agreed amount. If you're hoping for $800,000, your agent might suggest 2% up to that amount and 2.5% on every dollar above it.

If both rates include GST, a $900,000 sale would cost $16,000 plus $2,500, or $18,500, against $18,000 at a flat 2%.

The idea is to give your agent a reason to push for a higher price. Check that the agreement says the higher rate applies only to the part of the price above the agreed amount.

Read: What commission should you pay your real estate agent in Victoria?

What factors influence the commission rate?

The commission you pay an agent is dependent on a range of factors, including where you live, how agents price their fees, their experience and the value of your property.

Let's take a look at these in more detail:

Where you live

Location is everything when it comes to property, and this also applies to the commission you will pay in your suburb or postcode.

If you're selling in Adelaide, you're likely to pay a lower rate than in regional SA. According to internal data, Adelaide's average is 1.66%, against 2.09% in the Barossa, Clare Valley and Yorke Peninsula and 2.26% in South East SA.

Pricing structure

How agents price their services will also impact the rate they charge. Some agents charge marketing separately, on top of their rate.

This is a question you need to ask when you are screening and interviewing agents, so you know what you are paying and can compare apples with apples.

Experience of the agent

A newer agent may be keener to negotiate on rate to win your listing. Weigh any saving against their track record selling homes like yours.

The value of your property

Higher-value homes tend to attract lower commission rates. In Adelaide, according to internal data, the average is 1.70% on homes sold for $500,001 to $750,000, and 1.55% on homes sold for $1,000,001 to $1.25 million. A lower rate on a dearer home can still be a bigger fee, so compare quotes in dollars as well.

What other costs do I need to be aware of?

There are other costs of selling in South Australia. These can include:

• Marketing costs: these vary a lot depending on where and how your home is advertised, so ask for the marketing plan costed in writing
• Discharge fees for your existing mortgage, which can vary by provider. In SA, registering the discharge costs $204 (from 1 July 2026), and lenders charge their own fee, such as $350 at NAB and Westpac
• Council rates, water and the emergency services levy, which are usually adjusted between you and the buyer at settlement, when ownership passes to the buyer
• Legal and/or conveyancer's fees
• The cost of hiring a removalist or storing your possessions

How to pay the lowest possible commission

How do you pay the lowest possible commission to your agent?

The first step is to know what commission rates are in your area. You can then work out if a rate is competitive. Get quotes from a few agents and use them to negotiate.

That doesn't mean you should choose the agent with the lowest commission. Do your homework on the agent's performance and history in the local market.

They need to have a track record of sales to match their rate. They should also have experience selling properties like yours, and know the local market really well.

Use our Real Estate Commission Calculator to work out the average real estate commission where you live in South Australia.

If you're looking to sell your home anytime soon, it's a good idea to calculate the cost of selling your home to help you budget accordingly.

Before you sign with an agent in South Australia:

• Check the agent is registered on Consumer and Business Services' public register.
• The agent must give you, before you sign, the government's guide to sales agency agreements and comparable sales that support their price estimate.
• The agreement must list any marketing you pay for separately, what it costs and when it's due, any rebates the agent expects on it, and when the agent earns their commission. An agent who doesn't follow these rules can't keep their commission or expenses.
• A sales agency agreement in SA can run for up to 90 days.
• Near the end of the agreement, the agent may send you a notice of expiry. If you don't reply that you want the agreement to end, it's extended once, for up to 90 days if you both agree in writing, or otherwise for 180 days. You can end it in writing at any time during the extension.

Frequently asked questions