The Complete Guide to eBay Fees in 2026

If you’re a reseller in 2026, understanding eBay’s fee structure isn’t optional—it’s the difference between profiting $20 on a sale or breaking even.

I’ve watched sellers list vintage sneakers at what they thought was a “safe” 2x markup, only to realize after the sale that eBay’s fees consumed 18% of their revenue, shipping ate another 12%, and they netted $4 on a $100 sale. That’s a 40% ROI—not the 100% they expected.

The problem? eBay’s fees aren’t straightforward. There’s the final value fee, payment processing, insertion fees for some sellers, promoted listings if you use ads, store subscriptions, international fees, and category-specific rates that vary by $50 increments. Most resellers learn these fees the hard way—after the sale, when it’s too late.

This guide breaks down every eBay fee you’ll encounter in 2026, shows you exactly how much eBay takes from each transaction, and gives you strategies to minimize what you’re paying. By the end, you’ll know precisely how to calculate your true cost before you even list an item.

Table of Contents

• eBay’s Fee Structure: The Big Picture
• Final Value Fees Explained
• Payment Processing Fees
• Insertion Fees and Free Listings
• eBay Store Subscription Fees
• Promoted Listings Fees
• International Selling Fees
• Optional Listing Upgrade Fees
• How to Calculate Your True eBay Cost
• eBay vs Other Platforms: Fee Comparison
• 9 Proven Strategies to Minimize eBay Fees
• Frequently Asked Questions

eBay’s Fee Structure: The Big Picture

eBay operates on a take rate model—they take a percentage of what you sell, plus some fixed fees depending on your account type and what features you use.

For a typical reseller without a store subscription, here’s what eBay charges on every transaction:

1. Final Value Fee – A percentage of the total sale (item price + shipping), ranging from 8% to 15% depending on category
2. Payment Processing Fee – A flat 2.35% + $0.30 per order (handled through eBay’s managed payments system)

That’s the baseline. If you add optional features like promoted listings (ads), use listing upgrades, or don’t have a store subscription and exceed your free listings, you’ll pay more.

Quick Example: $50 Clothing Sale

Let’s say you sell a vintage Nike hoodie for $50 with $8 shipping (total $58):

• Final value fee (13.25%): $58 × 0.1325 = $7.69
• Payment processing: $58 × 0.0235 + $0.30 = $1.66
• Total eBay fees: $9.35

Your buyer paid $58. eBay took $9.35 (16.1% of the transaction). If the hoodie cost you $15 to source and $8 to ship, your net profit is $58 - $15 - $8 - $9.35 = $25.65 (not the $35 you might have assumed).

This is why you need to factor fees into your buy decision before you ever purchase inventory.

Final Value Fees Explained

The final value fee (FVF) is eBay’s primary revenue source. It’s a percentage of your total transaction amount (item price + shipping + sales tax collected).

Standard Rates by Category (2026)

eBay’s rates vary dramatically by category. Here are the most common ones for resellers:

The Sneaker Advantage

In 2024, eBay introduced a tiered rate for sneakers to compete with StockX and GOAT. Here’s how it works:

• First $150: 13.25% (same as regular items)
• Amount above $150: Only 8%

Example: You sell Jordan 1 Retros for $300 with $15 shipping (total $315).

Without the tiered rate:

• $315 × 13.25% = $41.74 in fees

With the tiered rate:

• First $150: $150 × 13.25% = $19.88
• Remaining $165: $165 × 8% = $13.20
• Total FVF: $33.08

You save $8.66 just by listing in the Sneakers category. If you flip 50 pairs a year at similar price points, that’s $433 in savings.

Trading Card Tiers

For sports cards and TCGs (Pokémon, Magic, etc.), eBay introduced tiered rates in 2023:

• First $150: 12.35%
• $150-$1,000: 3%
• Above $1,000: 1.5%

This makes eBay far more competitive for high-value cards. A $2,000 PSA 10 card would incur:

• $150 × 12.35% = $18.53
• $850 × 3% = $25.50
• $1,000 × 1.5% = $15.00
• Total FVF: $59.03 (2.95% effective rate)

Compare that to a flat 13.25% rate, which would be $265. The savings are massive.

Sales Tax Note

eBay calculates fees after adding sales tax to the transaction total in some cases, depending on your state and the buyer’s location. This can add an unexpected 1-2% to your effective fee rate.

Payment Processing Fees

In 2021, eBay moved from PayPal to eBay Managed Payments, which processes all transactions through their internal system. You can’t opt out—if you sell on eBay, you use their payment processing.

The Rate

• 2.35% + $0.30 per order

This applies to the total transaction amount (item + shipping). It’s comparable to PayPal’s old rate (2.9% + $0.30), so eBay effectively gave sellers a small discount when they switched.

Impact on Small Sales

The $0.30 fixed fee disproportionately affects low-priced items:

• $5 item: Payment fee is $0.42 (8.4% of sale)
• $10 item: Payment fee is $0.54 (5.4% of sale)
• $50 item: Payment fee is $1.48 (2.96% of sale)
• $200 item: Payment fee is $5.00 (2.5% of sale)

This is why flipping $3 thrift store mugs on eBay rarely works—the fixed fees eat your margin.

Combined Fee Reality

When you add final value fees + payment processing, here’s your total eBay take rate:

As your average sale price increases, eBay’s effective rate drops slightly (because the $0.30 fixed fee becomes less impactful). This is why reselling higher-priced items ($50-200) is generally more profitable than low-end flips.

Insertion Fees and Free Listings

Insertion fees are charges for listing an item, separate from final value fees. Whether you pay them depends on your account type and volume.

Free Listings Allowance

All eBay sellers get 300 free listings per month (as of 2026). Once you exceed 300 active listings, you pay $0.35 per listing for each additional one.

Example: You have 450 active listings.

• First 300: Free
• Remaining 150: 150 × $0.35 = $52.50/month in insertion fees

If you’re a high-volume reseller with 500-1,000 active listings, insertion fees can add $70-245/month to your costs. This is where store subscriptions become worth it.

What Counts as a Listing?

• Fixed-price listings count toward your monthly allowance when created
• Auction listings also count
• “Out of stock” listings still count if they’re active
• Ended listings don’t count

If you use Good 'Til Cancelled (GTC) listings that auto-renew every 30 days, they count continuously until you end them.

eBay Store Subscription Fees

If you sell more than 50-100 items per month on eBay, a store subscription usually saves you money. Stores lower your final value fees, increase your free listing allowance, and provide additional tools.

Store Tiers (2026 Pricing)

When a Store Makes Sense

Let’s say you sell 200 items/month at an average price of $50, with typical 13.25% FVF.

Without a store:

• 200 sales × $50 = $10,000 revenue
• FVF: $10,000 × 13.25% = $1,325
• Insertion fees (0 listings beyond 300): $0
• Total: $1,325 in fees

With Basic Store ($27.95/mo):

• FVF reduced to ~11.25%: $10,000 × 11.25% = $1,125
• Store cost: $27.95
• Total: $1,152.95 in fees

You save $172/month ($2,064/year) by paying $28/month. The ROI is immediate.

Premium Store Sweet Spot

The Premium tier is where most full-time resellers land. At $74.95/month, you need to save at least $75 in fees to break even.

If you’re doing $20,000-40,000/month in eBay sales, the ~4% FVF discount saves you $800-1,600/month. The store pays for itself 10-20x over.

Don’t Bother with Starter

The Starter tier gives you zero fee discounts. It’s basically $8/month for… selling limits increases and marketing tools most people don’t use. Skip it.

Promoted Listings Fees

Promoted Listings are eBay’s internal ad platform. You pay an additional fee (on top of regular fees) when an item sells through a promoted listing.

How It Works

You set an ad rate (1-20% of the item price), and eBay promotes your listing higher in search results. You only pay when the buyer clicks your ad and purchases within 30 days.

The fee is a percentage of the total sale (item + shipping).

Typical Ad Rates

• eBay’s recommendation: 10-15% (ignore this—it’s too high)
• What actually works: 2-5%

Example: You sell a Canon lens for $200 with 5% ad rate.

• Promoted listing fee: $200 × 5% = $10
• Regular eBay fees: $200 × 15.6% (FVF + payment) = $31.20
• Total fees: $41.20 (20.6% of sale)

At 10% ad rate (eBay’s suggestion), you’d pay $20 in ads + $31.20 = $51.20 in fees (25.6% of sale). That’s unsustainable.

When Promoted Listings Make Sense

Use them for:

• Slow-moving inventory you want to move fast
• High-competition categories where organic rankings are tough
• New seller accounts with low feedback scores
• Seasonal items during peak buying periods

Don’t use them for:

• Items that already get 50+ views/day (waste of money)
• Niche items where you’re the only seller (you’ll rank #1 anyway)
• Low-margin flips under 30% ROI (ads will kill your profit)

The Hidden Truth About Promoted Listings

In 2025, eBay confirmed that promoted listings don’t just appear higher—they also suppress organic rankings. If you turn off ads for an item that was promoted, it can take 2-3 weeks to regain its organic ranking.

Translation: eBay is incentivizing you to keep ads running forever. Be selective about what you promote.

International Selling Fees

Selling internationally through eBay’s Global Shipping Program or International Standard Delivery adds extra fees.

Global Shipping Program (GSP)

When you use GSP:

• eBay handles all international shipping and customs
• You ship to eBay’s domestic hub (they pay domestic shipping)
• eBay ships internationally and collects import fees from the buyer

Your cost: eBay adds a 1.5% international fee on top of regular FVF.

Example: You sell a $100 item to a buyer in Germany via GSP.

• Regular FVF: 13.25% = $13.25
• International fee: 1.5% = $1.50
• Total FVF: $14.75 (14.75% vs 13.25% domestic)

The trade-off: You avoid dealing with customs paperwork, and the buyer pays the international shipping. For most resellers, the 1.5% is worth it.

International Standard Delivery

If you ship directly to international buyers (without GSP), you pay the regular FVF rate but handle all shipping and customs yourself. The buyer often gets hit with unexpected customs fees, leading to payment disputes.

Recommendation: Always use GSP for international orders. The 1.5% fee is cheaper than dealing with one customs dispute.

Optional Listing Upgrade Fees

eBay offers several listing “upgrades” that almost nobody should use:

Bottom line: Skip all listing upgrades. They’re relics from 2010 eBay and don’t move the needle on sales.

How to Calculate Your True eBay Cost

Most resellers underestimate their costs because they forget to factor in all the fees + shipping + sourcing.

Here’s the formula:

Net Profit = Sale Price - eBay Fees - PayPal/Payment Fees - Shipping Cost - Cost of Goods - Supplies

Step-by-Step Example

You find a vintage Nike windbreaker at Goodwill for $8. Sold comps show it selling for $55-65 on eBay. Should you buy it?

Assumptions:

• Sale price: $60
• Shipping cost: $7 (USPS First Class)
• Poly mailer cost: $0.15
• eBay FVF: 13.25%
• Payment fee: 2.35% + $0.30

Fee Calculation:

• Total transaction: $60 + $7 shipping = $67
• FVF: $67 × 13.25% = $8.88
• Payment: $67 × 2.35% + $0.30 = $1.88
• Total eBay fees: $10.76

Profit Calculation:

• Revenue: $67
• eBay fees: -$10.76
• Shipping: -$7.00
• Supplies: -$0.15
• Cost of goods: -$8.00
• Net profit: $41.09

ROI: $41.09 ÷ $8 = 514% ROI

That’s a buy. But if the windbreaker was $20 instead of $8, your profit drops to $29.09 and ROI falls to 145%—still good, but less exciting.

Use a Calculator

Doing this math in your head at the thrift store is hard. This is why tools like Underpriced’s fee calculator exist—you input the buy cost and sale price, and it tells you instantly whether the ROI justifies the purchase. For more strategies on setting the right price point, read our guide on how to price items to sell.

Try the eBay vs Mercari vs Poshmark Fee Calculator →

eBay vs Other Platforms: Fee Comparison

eBay isn’t always the cheapest platform. Here’s how it compares in 2026:

When to Use eBay vs Competitors

Choose eBay when:

• Selling electronics, collectibles, or categories eBay dominates
• You need access to 180M buyers (eBay’s traffic is unmatched)
• The item is niche and needs search volume
• You’re selling internationally (GSP is excellent)

Choose Mercari when:

• Fees are your #1 concern (3.9% vs eBay’s 16%)
• Selling general items (clothing, home goods, decor)
• You don’t mind the lower buyer traffic

Choose Poshmark when:

• Selling fashion, shoes, or accessories
• You’re willing to pay 20% for Poshmark’s engaged fashion audience
• You want to avoid shipping headaches (buyer pays label)

Choose local (Facebook/Craigslist) when:

• The item is bulky or heavy (furniture, appliances)
• You want zero fees and immediate cash

Multi-Platform Strategy

Most successful resellers crosslist the same item on 3-5 platforms to maximize exposure:

1. List on eBay (high traffic, premium pricing)
2. Crosslist to Mercari (lower fees, different audience)
3. Crosslist to Poshmark (if it’s fashion)
4. Post on Facebook Marketplace (local option for fast sale)

When it sells on one platform, delist it everywhere else. Tools like Vendoo, List Perfectly, or Crosslist make this effortless.

Compare Crosslisting Platforms →

9 Proven Strategies to Minimize eBay Fees

1. Get a Basic or Premium Store Subscription

If you’re doing 100+ sales/month, the ~2-4% FVF discount saves far more than the subscription cost.

Break-even calculation:

• Basic store ($27.95/mo) = need to save $28 in fees
• At 2% discount, you break even at $1,400 in monthly sales
• Most resellers doing 100+ sales are well above this

2. List Sneakers and Trading Cards in the Right Categories

eBay’s tiered rates for sneakers (8% above $150) and trading cards (1.5% above $1,000) can save you hundreds per month if you flip these categories.

Don’t list a $300 pair of Jordans in “Clothing, Shoes & Accessories”—put them in the “Sneakers” category to trigger the lower rate.

3. Avoid Promoted Listings Unless Necessary

Start every listing without promoted listings. Only turn on ads (at 2-3%, not 10%) if:

• The item hasn’t sold after 30 days
• You’re getting low views (<20/day)
• It’s a high-competition category

4. Build Your Price Around Fees, Not Despite Them

Instead of pricing an item at $50 and being surprised by $8 in fees, work backward:

Example: You want to net $30 on an item that cost you $10.

• Desired profit: $30
• Cost of goods: $10
• Shipping: $7
• Supplies: $0.15
• Total needed after fees: $47.15

Now solve for sale price with ~16% fees:

• $47.15 ÷ 0.84 (100% - 16%) = $56.13

List it at $56 + $7 shipping to hit your target.

5. Offer Free Shipping (Strategically)

eBay’s algorithm favors free shipping listings. But “free shipping” is never free—you’re just building it into the item price.

Smart approach:

• List at $60 with free shipping (vs $53 + $7 shipping)
• eBay takes fees on the full $60, but you rank higher in search
• The extra sales volume offsets the slightly higher fees

Only use this for items with shipping costs under $10. For heavy items, charge shipping.

6. End Non-Performing Listings Instead of Letting Them Renew

Good 'Til Cancelled (GTC) listings auto-renew every 30 days. If you have 50 dead listings that never sell, they’re burning your free listing allowance (or costing $0.35/each if you’re over 300).

Review your listings quarterly and end anything that hasn’t sold in 90 days. Relist with better photos or pricing.

7. Use Auction Format for Rare/Hot Items

Fixed-price listings are predictable, but auctions can drive prices higher than you expected—and you pay the same FVF rate either way.

Use 7-day auctions for:

• Rare collectibles where you’re unsure of the ceiling price
• Hot-demand items (new game console, limited sneakers)
• Items where you have multiple interested buyers

Start the auction at your break-even price. If it doesn’t sell, you lost nothing.

8. Batch Your International Sales with GSP

If you sell internationally, always use GSP to avoid the customs nightmare. The 1.5% fee is cheaper than one PayPal dispute over customs charges.

9. Track Your Effective Fee Rate Monthly

Most resellers have no idea what % of their revenue goes to eBay. Track it:

Effective Fee Rate = (Total eBay Fees ÷ Total Revenue) × 100

Example:

• Revenue: $8,000
• Fees paid to eBay: $1,280
• Effective rate: 16%

If your rate is above 17%, you’re either:

• Selling too many low-priced items (fixed $0.30 fee hurts)
• Using promoted listings too much
• Not using a store subscription when you should

Aim for 14-16% as a full-time reseller with a store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does eBay charge fees on shipping?

Yes. eBay’s final value fee applies to the total transaction amount, which includes the item price + shipping cost + any sales tax collected.

If you sell an item for $50 and charge $10 shipping, eBay takes 13.25% of $60 = $7.95, not $6.63.

This is why some sellers inflate the item price and offer “free shipping”—but eBay still takes the same total, so it doesn’t matter.

Does eBay charge fees if an item doesn’t sell?

No (for most sellers). If you’re under the 300 free listings/month threshold, there’s no cost to list an item even if it never sells.

If you’re over 300 listings, you pay $0.35 per additional listing whether it sells or not. This is why you should end dead listings.

Can I get a refund on eBay fees if a buyer returns an item?

Yes. If a buyer returns an item and you issue a full refund, eBay refunds your final value fee and payment processing fee (minus $0.30).

Example: You sold an item for $100. Fees were $16.35. The buyer returns it.

• eBay refunds $16.05 (full fees minus the $0.30 payment fee)
• You’re out the $0.30 + whatever you spent on shipping

If you issue a partial refund, eBay refunds fees proportionally.

What’s the difference between final value fees and selling fees?

Final value fee (FVF) and selling fee are the same thing. eBay uses both terms interchangeably. It’s the percentage they take from your sale.

The payment processing fee (2.35% + $0.30) is separate and covers credit card processing costs.

Do I pay eBay fees on sales tax?

No. eBay’s fees are calculated on the item price + shipping, but not on sales tax.

Example: $50 item + $8 shipping + $4.64 sales tax (8%) = $62.64 total.

• eBay takes fees on $58 (item + shipping)
• Sales tax ($4.64) passes through to the state

How do I see my eBay fees?

Go to Seller Hub → Payments → Transaction and you’ll see a breakdown of every sale with fees itemized.

You can also download a CSV of all transactions for the month to track your effective fee rate.

Are eBay store subscriptions worth it?

Yes, if you sell 100+ items/month. The fee discount (2-4%) pays for the store cost almost immediately.

Break-even math:

• Basic store: $27.95/mo
• 2% FVF discount
• Break-even sales: $1,400/month

If you’re doing $5,000-10,000/month in sales, a Basic store saves you $50-120/month after the subscription cost.

Does eBay charge fees on buyer-paid shipping?

Yes. The final value fee applies to the total amount the buyer pays, including shipping.

If you charge $15 for shipping on a $50 item, eBay takes 13.25% of $65 = $8.61.

Can I deduct eBay fees on my taxes?

Absolutely. eBay selling fees and payment processing fees are 100% tax-deductible as business expenses.

If you paid $2,000 in eBay fees this year, that reduces your taxable income by $2,000. At a 25% tax rate, that’s $500 in tax savings.

Track your fees monthly and include them in your Schedule C (if you’re a sole proprietor) or business return.

Use our Reseller Tax Deduction Calculator →

What happens if I don’t pay eBay fees?

eBay deducts fees automatically from your payouts. If your account balance goes negative (rare, but possible if you issue refunds), you’ll need to add a payment method to cover it.

If you don’t pay, eBay will:

1. Suspend your selling privileges
2. Restrict your account
3. Send the debt to collections (for large amounts)

Don’t let it get there. eBay’s fees are built into the transaction flow, so you rarely have a balance due.

Final Thoughts: Factor Fees First, Not Last

The biggest mistake resellers make is treating eBay fees as an afterthought. They find an item, check sold comps, see it selling for 3x what they’d pay, and assume it’s a good flip.

Then they list it, sell it, and realize after eBay takes 16%, shipping costs 12%, and they forgot about the cost of supplies, they netted half what they expected.

The fix: Build fees into your buy decision from the start.

Before you buy anything to resell, mentally calculate:

1. Expected sale price (from sold comps)
2. eBay fees (~16% of sale + shipping)
3. Shipping cost
4. Supplies cost ($0.15-0.50)
5. Your minimum acceptable profit

If the math works, buy it. If it doesn’t, pass.

This guide gave you every eBay fee you’ll encounter in 2026. Now you know exactly what eBay takes, how to minimize it, and when to choose a different platform entirely.

Want to skip the mental math? Use our eBay vs Mercari vs Poshmark Fee Calculator to instantly compare fees across platforms and see which one maximizes your profit on any item.

Try the Fee Calculator Now →

Related Tools:

• ROI Calculator for Resellers – Calculate exact profit and ROI before you buy
• Break-Even Price Calculator – Find the minimum price to sell at profit
• eBay Promoted Listings ROI Calculator – See if ads are worth it

Related Guides:

• The Ultimate Thrift Store Flipping Guide
• How Resellers Calculate ROI: The Formula
• Crosslisting Guide for Resellers