How eBay seller fees work (US)
When an item sells on ebay.com, you pay two main fees:
- Final value fee: a percentage of the total amount of the sale. That means item price + shipping + handling + the sales tax the buyer pays.
- Per-order fee: $0.30 if the order total is $10 or less, $0.40 if it is more.
Profit = Price + Shipping − Fees − Item cost − Postage
Sales tax counts towards the fee even though eBay sends the tax itself to the state. The calculator handles this when you enter the buyer’s tax rate under More options.
Insertion fees only apply once you go over your free listings (250 a month for most sellers). After that, each listing costs $0.35.
Final value fees by category (checked 22 October 2026)
| Category | Final value fee |
|---|---|
| Most categories | 13.6% up to $7,500, then 2.35% |
| Books, movies & TV, music | 15.3% up to $7,500, then 2.35% |
| Coins & paper money, trading cards, comics | 13.25% up to $7,500, then 2.35% |
| Guitars & basses | 6.7% up to $7,500, then 2.35% |
| Women’s bags & handbags | 15% up to $2,000; 9% on the whole sale above |
| Jewelry & watches | 15% up to $5,000; 9% on the whole sale above |
| Watches, parts & accessories | 15% to $1,000, 6.5% to $7,500, 3% above |
| Athletic shoes | 13.6% under $150; 8% at $150+, with no per-order fee |
| Heavy equipment, food trucks | 3% up to $15,000, then 0.5% |
“Then 2.35%” works like a tax bracket: only the part above $7,500 gets the lower rate. The handbag and jewelry thresholds are different. Once the sale passes the threshold, the lower rate applies to the whole sale.
Worked example 1: a used camera lens
You sell a lens for $50 and charge $10 shipping. No sales tax applies. The lens cost you $20, and postage is $8.
- Final value fee: 13.6% × $60 = $8.16
- Per-order fee: $0.40
- Total fees: $8.56 (14.3% of the sale)
- eBay pays you: $51.44
- Profit: $51.44 − $20 − $8 = $23.44
If the buyer pays 8% sales tax, the fee base is $64.80. The final value fee rises to $8.81, and your profit falls by 65 cents.
Worked example 2: high-value sneakers
A pair of sneakers sells for $220 with free shipping. Athletic shoes at $150 or more pay 8% and no per-order fee: 8% × $220 = $17.60. At $140 the rate would be 13.6%, or $19.04, plus $0.40. The cheaper pair costs more in fees.
Extra fees that can apply
- Promoted Listings: if a sale comes through an ad, you pay the ad rate you chose on the total sale.
- International fee: 1.65% of the total for items sent abroad, unless you use eBay International Shipping.
- Below Standard: sellers with a Below Standard rating pay 6% more on the total, rising to 7% after four months.
- Disputes: $20 per payment dispute.
eBay UK private sellers
Since eBay UK made selling free for private sellers, UK-based individuals pay no final value fee and no regulatory operating fee on most items. Cars, motorcycles and vehicles are the exception. You still pay:
- a 3% international fee if the buyer is outside the UK,
- 35p per listing after 300 free listings a month,
- Promoted Listings fees, if you use them.
Pick UK private seller at the top of the calculator to see this. Business sellers on eBay UK have a different fee table.
Tips
- Shipping is not fee-free. Charging $10 shipping costs you $1.36 in fees on most categories, so build that into your postage price.
- Use the reverse mode to find the listing price that gives you the profit you want after every fee.
- Compare channels. Handmade and vintage items may do better on Etsy; check with the Etsy fee calculator. For high volume, see the Amazon FBA calculator.
- Check your margin. Use the profit margin calculator to see if a product is worth listing at all.