Super Fees Explained

Super fund fees might look small — a fraction of a percent here, a few dollars there — but they compound dramatically over a working lifetime. A seemingly minor fee difference of 0.5% per year can reduce your retirement balance by $100,000 or more over 30 years. Understanding exactly what you're paying is one of the most valuable things you can do for your super.

Types of super fees

Super funds charge several types of fees, and they don't always make them easy to compare:

Administration fees

These cover the fund's operating costs — member services, statements, compliance. They come in two forms:

Fixed dollar fee: A flat amount per year (e.g. $78–$137/year for most industry funds)
Percentage-based admin fee: A percentage of your balance (e.g. 0.10%–0.20%). Some funds charge both.

Investment fees

These cover the cost of managing your investments — paying fund managers, trading costs, research. For MySuper (default) options, these typically range from 0.30% to 0.80% of your balance per year. Indexed options are much cheaper (often 0.02%–0.10%).

Indirect Cost Ratio (ICR)

This captures costs not directly charged as a fee but still deducted from your returns — things like performance fees paid to external managers, or costs embedded within unlisted asset valuations. The ICR can range from 0% to 0.30%+.

Buy-sell spread

When you switch investment options or transfer money in/out, some funds charge a buy-sell spread (typically 0.05%–0.20%). This isn't an annual cost but it does reduce your balance on each transaction.

Watch out for performance fees: Some funds charge performance fees on top of their base investment fees when returns exceed a benchmark. These aren't always included in the headline fee figures, making it harder to do a like-for-like comparison.

How to calculate your total fees

To work out what you're actually paying, add up:

Fixed admin fee ($/year)
Percentage admin fee × your balance
Investment fee × your balance
ICR × your balance

For example, on a $100,000 balance with a $100 admin fee, 0.10% admin percentage, 0.50% investment fee, and 0.05% ICR, your total annual cost is: $100 + $100 + $500 + $50 = $750/year (or 0.75% of your balance).

Use our super comparison calculator to see how fees stack up across different funds at your actual balance.

Fee impact over time

Total fee	Balance at $50K after 20 years*	Balance at $50K after 30 years*
0.50%	$165,300	$319,700
1.00%	$155,100	$286,400
1.50%	$145,500	$256,400
2.00%	$136,600	$229,300

*Assumes 7.5% gross return, starting balance $50,000, $10,000/year contributions. Figures are illustrative.

How to reduce your fees

Consolidate accounts: Stop paying multiple sets of admin fees. See our consolidation guide.
Consider indexed options: Indexed investment options typically charge 0.02%–0.10% in investment fees compared to 0.40%–0.80% for actively managed options.
Compare at your balance level: Funds with low percentage fees but high flat fees suit large balances. Funds with low flat fees suit smaller balances.
Review insurance: Default insurance inside super can cost hundreds per year. Make sure you're not paying for cover you don't need.

Related guides

Important information The information on SuperFind is general in nature and does not take into account your personal financial situation, needs, or objectives. It is not personal financial advice. Before making any financial decisions about your superannuation, consider whether the information is appropriate for your circumstances and consider seeking advice from a licensed financial adviser. Super fund data including fees and performance returns shown on this site were current as of April 2026 — always verify figures on the fund's website. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Data sourced from APRA, ATO, and individual fund disclosures. SuperFind is a DecisionLab publication.