Average Affiliate Marketing Commission Rates

Affiliate marketing is filled with opportunities—but with thousands of programs offering wildly different commission structures, how do you know if you’re getting a good deal?

In this guide, we’ll break down what influences affiliate commission rates, what the typical average is, and how to evaluate whether a program is worth your time.

What’s the Average Affiliate Commission Rate?

Before diving in, let’s define what “average” really means when it comes to affiliate marketing.

Commission rates can vary dramatically—from as low as 1% to as high as 200%, depending on the industry and product. But generally, most affiliates will earn somewhere between 5% and 30% per sale.

Key Factors That Influence Affiliate Commission Rates

1. The Industry or Niche

Your niche plays a major role in the type of commissions you’ll earn.

Low Commission Niches:
Digital products like music, eBooks, and movies typically offer lower commissions. The same goes for electronics such as smartphones and tablets.
High Commission Niches:
Industries like finance, health and wellness, and make-money-online consistently offer more competitive rates.
- Finance: Platforms like Forex brokers can offer 20–30% revenue share, or even flat-rate payouts worth hundreds per referral.
- Health: Commissions range from 7% to 50%. For instance, The Vitamin Shoppe offers up to 10%, while SellHealth pays up to 60%.
- Online Income Tools: Tools like AWeber (50% recurring) and SocialPilot (30%) reward affiliates handsomely.

Even within these broad categories, niche-specific programs often provide above-average rates if you're targeting the right audience.

2. The Price of the Product

In most cases:

Lower-priced products = higher commission rates
Higher-priced products = lower commission rates

For example:

ClickBank often offers 50–70% on lower-cost products.
Luxury items (jets, high-end jewelry) might only offer 5–10%.

However, exceptions exist. Some high-ticket programs pay 20–30%, so it’s crucial to evaluate each one individually.

3. The Company’s View on Affiliate Marketing

Not all companies treat affiliate marketing equally.

Low-value approach: Some brands offer poor commissions on low-cost items, undervaluing affiliate marketers and treating them as cheap advertising.
High-value approach: Other companies recognize the value of affiliate partners and offer generous payouts to attract top talent.

In short, better affiliate-friendly companies reward affiliates fairly—and often benefit more in return.

High Commissions vs. High Ticket: What’s Better?

It’s a balancing act. Let’s compare:

$1,000 product at 5% commission = $50 per sale
$10 product at 70% commission = $7 per sale

Sure, $50 looks better, but can you sell ten $1,000 products as easily as you can sell a hundred $10 products?

If you can sell:

10 expensive products/month = $500
100 cheaper products/month = $700

So while higher-priced items bring in more per sale, volume-based selling of cheaper products might actually generate more income.

How to Evaluate an Affiliate Program: Is It Worth Your Time?

✅ Do the Math

Don't focus just on percentages—calculate your actual earnings per sale.

Also, consider recurring commissions, which can result in long-term income. SaaS programs like Shopify pay affiliates monthly as long as referred users stay subscribed.

✅ Know Your Audience

Match affiliate products with your audience’s needs and budget.

For example, if you run a budget travel blog, promoting luxury travel gear may not resonate—even if commissions are high. Focus instead on affordable travel products to boost conversions.

✅ Compare Multiple Programs

Run the numbers across several affiliate programs:

Expected earnings per sale x Estimated monthly sales = Monthly revenue potential

Choose the program(s) that maximize your overall earnings—not just per-sale amounts.

How to Maximize Your Affiliate Marketing Profits

Knowing your commission rate is just the beginning. To grow your income, focus on traffic and conversions.

1. Boost Your SEO Rankings

SEO drives free, targeted traffic—but it takes effort.

Start by running an SEO audit using tools like SEOptimer to find areas for improvement. Quick wins include:

Adding internal links to high-converting pages
Updating old content
Improving site speed and Core Web Vitals
Optimizing meta tags and image alt text

2. Improve Your Conversion Rates

Better content = more conversions. Start with:

High-quality, helpful content
Visuals like videos, charts, or comparison tables
On-site tools and calculators
Building authority with strong E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)

Final Thoughts

Affiliate commission rates typically fall between 5% and 30%, but this number alone shouldn’t guide your decision. To choose the right affiliate program:

Calculate your earnings per sale
Estimate your potential monthly sales
Align with your audience’s needs

Then, improve your SEO and CRO strategies to increase traffic and sales—ultimately maximizing your affiliate income.

Average Affiliate Marketing Commission Rates