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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