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How to sell WordPress themes on ThemeForest
Right now you cannot start selling on ThemeForest as a new author. Envato has paused author sign-ups, says new Envato Market author accounts cannot be created, and has said the Theme category will not be part of the first reopening. If you already have an author account, you upload a ZIP with your theme, previews and item details, then wait up to 14 days for review.
Checked on ThemeForest's own pages on 2026-11-12.
| Cost | No listing fee. You set an item price and Envato adds a fixed buyer fee on top (for example $12 on a regular license for WordPress themes, $15 for eCommerce, $10 for CMS themes). Envato also keeps an author fee from your item price; its own earnings example uses 50%. |
|---|---|
| Who can submit | Existing Envato authors only. New author applications and new Market author accounts are paused, and Envato says Theme will not reopen at first. |
| Review | Envato's review team checks every item. Reviews can take up to 14 days depending on demand and content type. |
| Fits | WordPress themes, HTML site templates, eCommerce themes (Shopify, WooCommerce and others), CMS themes, Template Kits for Elementor, static site generator and Jamstack templates. |
| Time needed | Preparing a theme to Envato's standard takes weeks. Filling in the upload form takes 1 to 2 hours once the ZIP, previews, documentation and live demo are ready. |
Before you start
- An existing Envato author account with tax form, payout method, EU trader status declaration and ID check completed (all four are required before you can upload or get paid).
- A clean ZIP of the theme with documentation inside, organized folders, and no files dumped in the root.
- A preview image of exactly 590x300 pixels, named 01_<filename>.jpg, plus any extra screenshots named 02_, 03_ and so on (JPG or PNG).
- A working live preview on your own server that also works inside an iframe on preview.themeforest.net.
- Licenses for every font, photo, icon and plugin you bundle, including assets that only appear in the demo.
- A title of 100 characters or less in English characters, up to 3 key features of 45 characters each, and a tag list.
- A decision on licensing: the default split license or 100% GPL (you cannot switch an item back from 100% GPL).
How to list on ThemeForest, step by step
Check whether you can join at all
Read Envato's "Author applications are paused" page before you build anything for this market. New Market author accounts cannot be created, and Envato says Theme, Code, Photo and Audio will not be part of the reopening for now. If you have no author account, plan another channel and check back.
Finish account compliance
Existing authors must complete the tax form, payout method, trader status declaration and ID check in the Author Dashboard. Uploads and payouts stay blocked until all four are done.
Build to the WordPress Theme Requirements
Envato publishes a six-part WordPress Theme Requirements series covering general rules, features, bundled plugins, coding, security and Gutenberg. Reviewers apply these to every theme, on Market and on Elements.
Prepare the ZIP and previews
Package the theme files and documentation in one ZIP. Create the 590x300 preview image, extra screenshots and a live demo that loads cleanly inside an iframe across browsers.
Upload the item
In your Author Dashboard choose Upload an Item and pick the category first, since it decides which fields appear. Fill in title, description (full HTML editor), price, images, tags and the ZIP, then click Upload.
Respond to the review
A soft reject lists the changes needed and lets you resubmit. A hard reject comes without feedback and the item cannot be resubmitted, so fix everything before the first upload.
Manage the item after approval
Approved items go on sale immediately. Market earnings move to your balance on the 8th of each month and are paid once you pass the $50 minimum.
What the ThemeForest form asks for
| Field | Limit | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Category / Subcategory | – | Pick this first because it controls the rest of the form and the buyer fee that applies. |
| Item Title | 100 characters, English characters only | Put the theme name and its main use first; skip version numbers and hype words. |
| Item Description | – | Write it in a separate HTML editor and paste it in so you keep a copy; images must be hosted on your own server. |
| Price | Whole dollars only | Use the "How much of this will I earn?" link on the upload page before you commit to a number. |
| Thumbnail | – | Use a simple, readable mark that still works at small size in search results. |
| Theme Preview (ZIP of images) | First image 590x300 px, JPG or PNG | Name files 01_, 02_, 03_ in the order you want them shown. |
| Live Preview URL | – | Test the demo inside an iframe in several browsers, since privacy settings can break cookies and scripts there. |
| Tags | – | Use real search words buyers type, not competitor names. |
| Key Features | Up to 3, 45 characters each | Each line must be unique, with no ALL CAPS, special characters or keyword stuffing. |
| Main ZIP file | – | Include documentation and make sure no file sits loose in the root of the archive. |
Why submissions get rejected
- The theme does not meet Envato's item quality bar for design, presentation or technical construction.
- It is too similar to items already on sale, or there is not enough buyer demand for that type.
- It was uploaded to the wrong category.
- Missing or wrong licenses for fonts, photos or other assets, including assets used only in the preview.
- Malware, broken code, or a weak ZIP structure without documentation.
- Published items can later be removed for too many similar variations or after a complaint.
Tips that make a difference
- Non-elite authors can only have one new item in the ThemeForest review queue at a time in WordPress, eCommerce, Site Templates and other main theme categories, so do not hold back a second theme waiting for a slot.
- A hard reject cannot be resubmitted and comes without feedback, so run every requirement in the WordPress series yourself before the first upload.
- Buyers pay your price plus a fixed buyer fee, so a WordPress theme priced at $59 shows as $71 on the item page.
- The current Envato Market Author Terms describe Market sales as non-exclusive, so you keep the right to sell the same theme elsewhere.
- Envato does not accept AI-generated content, so keep every image and illustration in your demo human-made or properly licensed.
Example: what JustLaunched prepared
These are the texts Pushify prepared for JustLaunched, a real brand, before listing it on sites like ThemeForest. See the full sample report ›
| Name | JustLaunched |
|---|---|
| Tagline | Launch board for founders and early adopters |
| Short description | JustLaunched is a free launch board where founders introduce new products and early adopters try them first, ask questions and share feedback. |
| Tags | product launch, launch platform, startup discovery, indie makers, early adopters, beta testers, launch deals, product hunt alternative, saas, startups |
Questions people ask
Can I become a ThemeForest author right now?
No. Envato has paused open author applications and says new Envato Market author accounts cannot be created. It also says Theme will not be one of the categories when intake reopens, though that may change.
How long does ThemeForest review take?
Envato says reviews can take up to 14 days, depending on demand, the type of item and the queue. Some content types move faster.
How much does ThemeForest take from a sale?
Buyers pay a fixed buyer fee on top of your price, such as $12 for a WordPress theme on a regular license. Envato then keeps an author fee from your item price; its earnings example uses 50% before withholding tax.
What image sizes does ThemeForest need?
The main preview image shown on the item page and in search must be 590x300 pixels, named 01_<filename>.jpg. Extra screenshots follow the same naming order and may be cropped to that ratio in search.
Can I resubmit a rejected theme?
Only after a soft reject, where the reviewer tells you what to change. A hard-rejected item comes with no feedback and cannot be resubmitted.
Sources
The ThemeForest pages this guide was checked against.
- help.author.envato.com/hc/en-us/articles/53981083605913-Author-applications-are-
- help.author.envato.com/hc/en-us/articles/57391878017817-Becoming-an-Envato-Autho
- help.author.envato.com/hc/en-us/articles/900005349363-Beginner-s-Guide-to-Sellin
- help.author.envato.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000471943-How-to-Upload-Your-Items-t
- help.author.envato.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000424806
- help.author.envato.com/hc/en-us/articles/900006445903-Upload-Limits
- help.author.envato.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000472943-Introduction-to-Earnings
- help.author.envato.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000473203-Fixed-Buyer-Fees-on-Envato
- help.author.envato.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000471326-Adding-Key-Features-and-Ad
- help.author.envato.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000534626-Theme-Plugin-Licensing-Opt
- help.author.envato.com/hc/en-us/articles/900004305306-Live-Previews-for-Envato-M
- help.author.envato.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000472383
- help.author.envato.com/hc/en-us/articles/41371538488473