A guide to StubHub: What to know

Quick insights

• StubHub is an online ticketing platform that allows individuals to buy and sell tickets to upcoming events and shows.
• Users can find tickets on StubHub for sporting events, concerts, comedy shows, festivals and more across the globe.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve^® cardmembers get up to $150 in statement credits from January through June and up to $150 in statement credits from July through December for a maximum of $300 annually for StubHub and viagogo purchases (activation required).

If you’re looking to score tickets to a sold-out concert, you may find yourself looking for a ticket via resale marketplace. StubHub is one of the largest ticket resale sites, giving individuals the ability to score last-minute tickets to sold-out events. It also provides a way to offload your tickets when you can no longer attend.

Read on to learn how StubHub works, plus a few things to know before buying and selling tickets through the site.

How StubHub works

StubHub is a global online ticket exchange platform that allows people to buy and sell tickets for sports events, concerts, theater and comedy shows, festivals and more. Tickets are listed at market-driven prices.

When you purchase tickets, you’re buying from a private seller—not StubHub, a ticketing agent or the venue. Because these are person-to-person transfers, StubHub provides some buyer protections. Its FanProtect Guarantee provides assurances that tickets are authentic and will arrive on time. If not, buyers can receive comparable or better tickets or, in some cases, a refund.

Finding events on StubHub

StubHub visitors can search for events using filters like date, location and type of event. Your search can be limited to a certain artist on a specific date or wide enough to include a professional sports team's entire season. Searches can also be filtered for price and seating preferences.

When viewing search results, StubHub’s interface shows the venue’s seating options and pricing for each. Users can also see if an event is in high demand, selling fast and if the tickets are provided via instant download.

Not every event may have tickets available on StubHub. For events that do have tickets, you may have a limited number of seating options. But because StubHub is one of the largest ticket resale platforms, it may be one of the few places you can find tickets to sold-out concerts or in-demand sporting events.

Listing tickets on StubHub

Those selling tickets on StubHub get to name their price. However, sellers should obey applicable ticket resale laws and, in some locations, may be required to disclose the ticket’s face value in the listing.

Sellers can also determine how they’d like to be paid if their tickets are sold. Payouts are typically processed within 8 business days after the event.

To sell tickets, you’ll need to set up an account through StubHub and provide a valid credit card.

StubHub fees

It is free to list tickets on StubHub, but a fee is charged to buy and sell.

Buyer fees

Buyer fees fluctuate based on ticket price, how close it is to an event and supply and demand. Buyers pay a service fee and a fulfillment fee at checkout.

Buyers may not know how much these fees are until they are at the checkout page. However, there are estimated fees included on the event page. In the filter menu on the event page, navigate to “Price Display Options” and switch on “Include estimated fees” to display the estimated cost when fees are included.

Seller fees

Sellers pay what is called a “seller fee” on StubHub. The seller's fee is not fixed. It is a percentage of the ticket cost and can fluctuate based on a number of factors, including the event’s popularity and ticket price.

However, sellers who do not deliver tickets as promised can incur additional fees. In this case, sellers can be charged:

• 100% of the price of the tickets sold
• The full amount incurred by StubHub to remedy the issue for the buyer, which can include comparable replacement tickets or vouchers

StubHub charges whichever is greater of the two amounts.

Receiving StubHub tickets

When you purchase a ticket on StubHub, you can receive it in a few ways:

• Mobile transfer: This option is common if the tickets were purchased through a national or global ticketing company. In this instance, the seller likely needs to digitally transfer the tickets to you through the ticketing company’s app or platform.
• Mobile tickets: These are digital tickets accessible through your phone. StubHub will provide instruction via email on how to access your mobile tickets.
• Electronic or instant download e-ticket: These tickets are often delivered as a PDF and need to be printed prior to the event.
• Paper: Paper tickets are delivered to the address you chose when you purchased the tickets. StubHub sends an email when the tickets are in transit so you can track their delivery.
• Pickup: On the event day, you’ll pick up your tickets at the venue. Pickup details are provided in your order info.

StubHub emails the address associated with your user account when your tickets are ready, regardless of delivery method. You also can check the delivery status of your tickets through StubHub’s website.

Chase Sapphire Reserve StubHub credit

Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers can receive up to $300 annually in statement credits for making eligible purchases through StubHub. The credits are distributed twice a year and are available through December 31, 2027. Cardmembers can earn up to $150 in statement credits from January through June and up to $150 from July through December.

To receive the StubHub statement credit, Sapphire Reserve cardmembers must first activate this benefit through their Chase account.

Note that the Chase Sapphire Reserve card has an annual fee. Review the full list of benefits and fees associated with the Sapphire Reserve credit card to see if it’s right for you.  

In summary

StubHub is a popular ticket resale site, allowing buyers to score tickets to popular events and sellers to offload tickets to events they cannot attend. Buyers can search for and purchase tickets to concerts, sporting events, comedy shows, festivals and more across the world.

There is no fee to list tickets on StubHub, but both buyers and sellers pay fees once the tickets are sold. If you’re a Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmember, you can earn up to $300 annually in statement credits when using the card to make purchases on StubHub.