💸 Affiliate Commission Calculator
Affiliate income is a funnel: traffic → conversion → order value → commission. Model every stage.
How Affiliate Commissions Work
Affiliate marketing pays you for referred sales, not clicks or views. Your link tracks buyers (usually for 24 hours to 30 days via cookie), and you earn a percentage of each resulting order.
The Formula
EPC = Earnings ÷ Clicks
EPC (earnings per click) is the pro metric — it collapses the whole funnel into one number for comparing programs. Typical conversion rates: 1–5% for content sites, higher for warm email lists. Commission rates range from ~3% (Amazon) to 30–50% (software/SaaS).
Worked Example
10,000 clicks at 3% conversion = 300 sales × $85 AOV = $25,500 GMV × 10% commission = $2,550/month ($30,600/year). EPC = $0.26. Doubling conversion to 6% doubles earnings without a single extra click — conversion work beats traffic work.
Picking Programs Like a Professional
Amateurs chase commission rates; professionals chase EPC. A 50% commission on a product nobody buys loses to a 5% commission on a product that converts at 8% — always test and measure EPC per program. Three structural factors matter: cookie duration (24 hours at Amazon vs. 30–90 days at software companies — longer cookies capture far more delayed purchases), average order value (high-ticket programs need fewer conversions), and brand conversion strength (established brands convert 3–5× unknown ones). Diversify across 3–5 programs so one terms-change doesn't zero your income — networks cut rates regularly. And compliance is non-negotiable: the FTC requires clear disclosure of affiliate relationships near every link, and Amazon requires specific language; violations risk both account termination and regulatory action.
Content that converts: "best X for Y" review posts and comparison tables convert 5–10× better than informational content because readers arrive with wallets open. Update top posts quarterly — rankings decay, prices change, and programs alter terms. One refreshed money page often outperforms ten new informational posts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a good affiliate conversion rate?
1–3% is typical for blog/content traffic; 5–10%+ for warm email lists or review content with buying intent. "Best X" review posts convert far better than informational content.
What is EPC in affiliate marketing?
Earnings Per Click = total commissions ÷ total clicks. It is the best single metric for comparing affiliate programs — a 50% commission program with terrible conversion can have lower EPC than a 5% one.
How much do Amazon affiliates make?
Amazon pays ~3–4.5% in most categories with a 24-hour cookie — low rate, but massive conversion. High-ticket software affiliates (30–50%, 30–90 day cookies) often earn more per click.
Do I have to disclose affiliate links?
Yes — the FTC requires clear disclosure of material connections, and Amazon specifically requires it. "I earn from qualifying purchases" near the link satisfies it.
When do affiliates get paid?
Most programs pay 30–60 days after month-end (after the return window closes), with $10–$100 minimum thresholds. Track payouts — networks occasionally misattribute sales.
Last updated: September 2026
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Last updated: September 2026