eBay is the largest reselling platform in the US, but its fee structure is more complex than any competitor. Where Poshmark charges a flat 20% and Mercari takes 10%, eBay's fees depend on your category, whether you have a Store subscription, whether you use Promoted Listings, and whether you're selling domestically or internationally.
Here's every fee you'll encounter and what they actually cost.
The Final Value Fee
The final value fee is eBay's main commission. It's calculated on the total sale amount — item price plus shipping plus sales tax — and it varies by category. The rates below are from eBay's official fee schedule.
For sellers without a Store subscription, here are the rates in the most common categories:
| Category | Final Value Fee | Above-Threshold Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Most categories (clothing, electronics, home, sporting goods, toys) | 13.6% | 2.35% above $7,500 |
| Books, DVDs & Movies, Music | 15.3% | 2.35% above $7,500 |
| Jewelry & Watches | 15% | 9% above $5,000 |
| Women's Handbags | 15% | 9% above $2,000 |
| Collectibles & Trading Cards | 13.25% | 2.35% above $7,500 |
| Athletic Shoes ($150+ starting price) | 8% | — |
| Guitars & Basses | 6.7% | 2.35% above $7,500 |
On top of the percentage, eBay charges a per-order surcharge: $0.30 on orders of $10 or less, $0.40 on orders over $10.
Payment processing is bundled into the final value fee — there's no separate processing charge like on Etsy or Depop. What you see in the fee table is the total cut eBay takes per sale (plus the per-order surcharge).
What You Keep on a Sale
Here's the math on a typical clothing sale (13.6% category rate, no Store subscription, domestic US):
| Sale Price | Final Value Fee | Per-Order Surcharge | Total Fees | You Keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25 | $3.40 | $0.40 | $3.80 | $21.20 |
| $50 | $6.80 | $0.40 | $7.20 | $42.80 |
| $100 | $13.60 | $0.40 | $14.00 | $86.00 |
| $200 | $27.20 | $0.40 | $27.60 | $172.40 |
The effective rate drops slightly as the sale price increases, because the $0.40 surcharge is a smaller percentage of the total. On a $25 sale, you're paying about 15.2%. On a $200 sale, about 13.8%.
Important: The final value fee applies to the total amount including shipping. If a buyer pays $90 for an item and $10 for shipping, eBay calculates 13.6% on the full $100. This is why some sellers build shipping into the item price and offer "free shipping" — the fee amount is the same either way, but the listing looks more attractive to buyers.
Insertion (Listing) Fees
Every eBay seller gets 250 free listings per month. After that, each additional listing costs $0.35.
A few things to know about insertion fees:
- Good 'Til Cancelled listings renew automatically every month. The insertion fee is charged again on each renewal — so a listing that sits unsold for 4 months costs $1.40 in insertion fees if you've exceeded your free allotment.
- Insertion fees are non-refundable, whether or not the item sells.
- Certain categories have special rates: guitars and basses have unlimited free listings, select heavy equipment costs $20 per listing, and classified ads run $9.95.
- Reserve price fee: If you set a reserve price on an auction, eBay charges $5.00 or 7.5% of the reserve (whichever is greater, up to $250). This is non-refundable even if the item doesn't sell.
For most casual sellers, 250 free listings is plenty. If you consistently list more than that, a Store subscription pays for itself quickly.
Store Subscriptions
eBay Store subscriptions give you more free listings, lower final value fees, and additional selling tools. Here's how the tiers break down:
| Tier | Annual Billing | Monthly Billing | Free Fixed-Price Listings | Insertion Fee Overage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $4.95/mo | $7.95/mo | 250 | $0.30 |
| Basic | $21.95/mo | $27.95/mo | 1,000 | $0.25 |
| Premium | $59.95/mo | $74.95/mo | 10,000 | $0.10 |
| Anchor | $299.95/mo | $349.95/mo | 25,000 | $0.05 |
The key benefit beyond free listings: Store subscribers (Basic and above) pay a lower final value fee — typically 12.7% instead of 13.6% in most categories. On a $100 sale, that's $0.90 saved. Sell 25 items a month at $100 and the fee savings alone ($22.50/month) cover a Basic Store subscription.
When a Store makes sense:
- Starter: If you want the lower overage fee ($0.30 vs $0.35) and basic branding tools. At $4.95/mo it's low-risk.
- Basic: If you list more than 250 items per month or sell enough volume that the 0.9% fee reduction adds up.
- Premium: If you list thousands of items or need advanced analytics and promotional tools.
Always choose annual billing if you're committed — it saves 20-30% compared to monthly.
Promoted Listings
eBay offers two types of advertising for sellers:
Promoted Listings Standard (cost-per-sale)
You set an ad rate — a percentage of the sale price — and you only pay if the item sells within 30 days of someone clicking your promoted listing. The minimum ad rate is 5%.
The catch: In early 2026, eBay expanded the attribution model. Now a sale is attributed to the ad if any buyer purchases the item within 30 days of any click — not just the buyer who clicked. This means you may pay the ad fee on sales that would have happened organically.
Use Promoted Listings Standard selectively. It works best for slow-moving inventory or items with high enough margins to absorb the extra 5-10%. Running it on everything eats into your profits on items that would sell anyway.
Promoted Listings Advanced (cost-per-click)
You set a per-click bid (minimum $0.20) and pay each time someone clicks your ad. Advanced campaigns get exclusive access to the top ad slot in search results.
This is more expensive and harder to manage. Unless you're running a high-volume eBay business with the analytics chops to optimize cost-per-click campaigns, stick with Standard or skip ads entirely.
Shipping
eBay gives you several shipping options:
eBay shipping labels: Purchase discounted labels directly from Seller Hub for USPS, UPS, and FedEx — typically around 33% off retail carrier rates. This is the easiest way to get competitive shipping costs.
Calculated shipping: Enter your package weight and dimensions, and eBay calculates the cost for each buyer based on their location. Accurate but can make your listing look expensive to distant buyers.
Flat-rate shipping: Set one price for everyone. Simple, but you'll lose money on distant shipments and overcharge nearby buyers.
Free shipping: Build the cost into your item price. Listings with free shipping tend to convert better and may get a boost in eBay's Best Match search algorithm.
eBay Global Shipping Program: For international sales, you ship to eBay's domestic hub in Kentucky. eBay handles international shipping, customs, and import taxes from there. You only deal with domestic shipping. The downside: buyers pay higher international fees, which can deter some purchases.
For rate comparison tools beyond eBay's built-in labels, see our free reseller tools guide.
Getting Paid
eBay Managed Payments is the only option — all sellers are paid through it.
| Payout Schedule | When Initiated |
|---|---|
| Daily (default) | Every day for prior day's available funds |
| Weekly | Every Tuesday |
| Biweekly | Every other Tuesday |
| Monthly | First Tuesday of the month |
Payouts to your bank account take 1-3 business days. Express payouts are available for a $2.00 flat fee and arrive in about 30 minutes.
New seller holds: eBay may hold funds for up to 21 days for new sellers, sellers with limited history, or flagged transactions. Upload tracking numbers promptly — it's the fastest way to get holds reduced or removed. As you build a track record of completed sales and positive feedback, holds decrease.
International Selling Fees
Selling to international buyers costs extra:
- International fee surcharge: 1.65% of the total sale amount, on top of the regular final value fee
- Currency conversion fee: 3% when the buyer pays in a different currency than your payout currency
On a $100 international sale, that's an extra $4.65 in fees — bringing your total from ~14% to ~18.6%. Price your international-eligible items accordingly, or restrict to domestic sales when margins are tight.
Taxes
Sales tax: eBay automatically collects and remits sales tax in all US states that require it. You don't need to calculate or collect it. However, eBay does calculate the final value fee on the total amount including tax — a detail that slightly increases your effective fee rate.
Income reporting: The 1099-K threshold for 2025 (forms issued in early 2026) is $20,000 in gross sales and 200+ transactions at the federal level. Some states have lower thresholds. The 1099-K reports gross payments, not profit — keep records of your purchase costs, eBay fees, shipping expenses, and supplies so you can accurately report your net income.
How eBay Compares
Here's what you keep on a $100 sale (clothing category, domestic) across platforms:
| Platform | Fee Structure | Total Fees | You Keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depop | 3.3% + $0.45 processing | ~$3.75 | ~$96.25 |
| Etsy | $0.20 + 6.5% + 3% + $0.25 processing | ~$9.95 | ~$90.05 |
| Mercari | 10% flat | ~$10.00 | ~$90.00 |
| eBay | 13.6% + $0.40 surcharge | ~$14.00 | ~$86.00 |
| Poshmark | 20% flat | ~$20.00 | ~$80.00 |
eBay lands in the middle — cheaper than Poshmark, comparable to Mercari, more expensive than Depop and Etsy. But eBay's fees include payment processing (unlike Etsy and Depop, which charge it separately), and eBay offers the largest buyer base of any reselling platform.
For detailed breakdowns of the other platforms, see our Poshmark fee guide and Mercari selling FAQ. For a walkthrough of getting started on each platform, see our guide to selling on every major platform.
Tips for Keeping eBay Fees Low
Open a Store when the math works. A Basic Store at $21.95/month (annual billing) drops your final value fee from 13.6% to 12.7% and gives you 1,000 free listings. If you sell $2,500+/month or list 250+ items, it pays for itself.
Stay Above Standard. Below Standard sellers pay an extra 6% surcharge on all final value fees. Maintain low defect rates, ship on time with tracking, and respond to buyer issues promptly.
Skip listing upgrades. Bold text ($2-$4), subtitles ($1.50-$6), and reserve prices ($5+) rarely justify their cost. Good titles, competitive pricing, and quality photos outperform paid upgrades.
Use Promoted Listings carefully. The 5% minimum ad rate and expanded attribution model mean you're paying more for ads than ever. Promote only slow-moving or high-margin items. Keep rates near the minimum.
Watch your category. Books and DVDs (15.3%), jewelry (15%), and handbags (15%) have higher rates than the standard 13.6%. If an item legitimately fits in a lower-fee category, list it there.
Ship with eBay labels. The ~33% carrier discount adds up fast. On a $10 label, that's $3.30 saved — real money when you're shipping 50+ packages a month.
Think twice about international. The 1.65% surcharge plus potential 3% currency conversion adds nearly 5% to your fees. It's worth it for high-value items with global demand, but not for low-margin commodity items.
Is eBay Worth the Fees?
eBay's fees are higher than Depop, Etsy, and Mercari — but eBay offers something no other platform does: the largest and most diverse buyer pool in online reselling. Nearly anything sells on eBay — electronics, clothing, collectibles, car parts, industrial equipment, vintage goods. The buyer base is global, the search traffic is massive, and the platform's auction format can drive prices above market value for rare items.
For most resellers, eBay is the foundation and other platforms are supplements. The fees are the cost of access to that audience. The smart approach is to know exactly what those fees are — category by category, sale by sale — and price your items accordingly.
Before you set up your eBay seller account, make sure you've chosen a username that works everywhere and checked that it's available across all the platforms you plan to sell on.