eBay Seller Fees 2026: Complete Breakdown
Exactly how much eBay takes from every sale in 2026, final value fees by category, insertion fees, Promoted Listings, Store subscription math, and the formula for your real take-home.
The short answer: 12.9% + $0.30
For most categories in 2026, eBay charges a final value fee of 12.9% of the total amount of the sale (item price plus any shipping you charged the buyer) plus a flat $0.30 per order. That's the number that matters for 80% of listings. Some categories are lower, some higher, the full breakdown is below.
Final value fees by category (2026)
| Category | Final value fee | Per-order fee |
|---|---|---|
| Most categories (general) | 12.9% | $0.30 |
| Electronics, home, fashion, toys, etc. | 12.9% | $0.30 |
| Books, Movies, Music, DVDs | 15.35% | $0.30 |
| Athletic shoes, over $150 | 14.55% | $0.30 |
| Athletic shoes, under $150 | 8% | $0.30 |
| Trading cards | 7.35% | $0.30 |
| Coins, Paper Money, Bullion (under $7,500) | 3% | $0.30 |
| Coins, Paper Money, Bullion (over $7,500) | 0.5% | $0.30 |
| Heavy Equipment | 3% | $0.30 |
| NFTs | 5% | $0.30 |
| Watches, Parts & Accessories | 15% | $0.30 |
| Select Business & Industrial | 3% | $0.30 |
Rates above cover the portion of the sale up to $7,500 in most categories. Above that threshold, the rate drops to 2.35% on the excess. International seller rates add approximately 1.65%.
The formula (memorize this)
real_profit = item_price + shipping_charged − item_cost − actual_shipping_cost − final_value_fee − promoted_listings_fee − other_costs
That's the whole thing. Everyone gets confused because there are sub-rules for specific categories, but the core formula is this.
Worked example: $45 item
Let's run the math on a $45 standard-category item you paid $5 for at a thrift store, offering free shipping that costs you $6 in postage, with a 2% Promoted Listings ad attached:
- Sold price: $45.00
- Shipping charged to buyer: $0.00 (free shipping)
- Total sale: $45.00
- Final value fee: $45 × 12.9% + $0.30 = $6.11
- Promoted Listings fee: $45 × 2% = $0.90
- Your item cost: $5.00
- Your shipping cost: $6.00
- Real profit: $45.00 − $5.00 − $6.00 − $6.11 − $0.90 = $26.99
You sold for $45, made $27. That's 60% margin. Most sellers mentally do $45 − $5 = $40 and think they're at 89%, that's why so many "profitable" flips are actually break-even once you do the real math.
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Open Profit CalculatorInsertion fees (listing fees)
eBay gives most sellers 250 free insertion-fee listings per month. Past that, you pay $0.35 per listing in most categories. That's per listing, not per sale, you pay even if it doesn't sell.
eBay Store subscribers get more free listings based on tier:
- Starter ($4.95/mo): 250 free fixed-price listings
- Basic ($21.95/mo): 1,000 free fixed-price listings
- Premium ($59.95/mo): 10,000 free fixed-price listings
- Anchor ($299.95/mo): 25,000 free fixed-price listings
- Enterprise ($2,999.95/mo): 100,000 free fixed-price listings
Most flippers don't need an eBay Store until they're listing 300+ items a month.
Promoted Listings: the hidden fee
Promoted Listings Standard (PLS) is eBay's ad system. You set an ad rate (e.g., 2%, 5%, 10%), and eBay boosts your listing in search. You only pay the ad fee when the listing sells through the ad. The catch: most sellers set it and forget it, then lose track of how much they're giving up.
In 2026, competitive ad rates are:
- 2-4%: Minimum visibility boost, low competition categories
- 5-8%: Standard for most resellers
- 10-15%: High-competition categories (fashion, sneakers, electronics)
If you stack 10% Promoted Listings on top of the 12.9% final value fee, eBay is taking 22.9% of the total sale plus $0.30, before your costs.
Is it worth becoming an eBay Store subscriber?
Quick break-even math: a Basic Store is $21.95/month and gives you 1,000 free listings vs 250 on free tier. That's 750 extra listings saved × $0.35 each = $262 in saved insertion fees. Basic Store also reduces your final value fee by a fraction of a percent in some categories.
Rule of thumb: if you list 300+ items a month and at least 30% of them are new or seasonal listings (not relists), a Basic Store pays for itself. If you list fewer than 200, the free tier is almost always better.
How eBay fees compare to other marketplaces
| Platform | Seller fee | Per-order fee |
|---|---|---|
| eBay (most categories) | 12.9% | $0.30 |
| Mercari | 10% | |
| Poshmark (under $15) | $2.95 flat | |
| Poshmark (over $15) | 20% | |
| Amazon FBA | 8-15% | $0.99 (individual) or $39.99/mo |
| Etsy | 6.5% | $0.20 insertion |
| Facebook Marketplace | 0% (local) / 5% (shipping) |
Frequently asked questions
How much does eBay take from a sale?
For most categories in 2026, eBay takes 12.9% of the total sale plus $0.30 per order. On a $45 item, that's $6.11 in final value fees, leaving you with $38.89 before your costs.
Does eBay charge a listing fee?
Most sellers get 250 free listings per month. Beyond that, insertion fees are $0.35 per listing in most categories.
What is eBay's final value fee?
The final value fee is eBay's commission on the total sale amount (item price + shipping charged). It varies by category, from 3% on coins up to 15.35% on books and media. Standard rate is 12.9%.
Does eBay charge fees on shipping?
Yes. eBay's final value fee is calculated on the total sale, item price plus shipping charged to the buyer. This surprised sellers who assumed shipping was fee-exempt. It's not.
What's the cheapest eBay category to sell in?
Coins, paper money, and bullion under $7,500 sell at 3%. Heavy equipment and select business & industrial categories are also 3%. Trading cards are 7.35%. Everything else is 12.9% or higher.
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