How eBay fees work
eBay charges a few fees when an item sells. The big one is a percentage, but it applies to more than the item price, which is why "eBay takes 13.6%" never matches your payout report. This calculator applies each fee the way eBay's selling fees page describes it, for a US seller without an eBay Store. Fees checked October 28, 2026.
1. Final value fee: a percentage of the total sale
eBay takes a percentage of the total amount of the sale, worked out per item. The total is the item price plus the shipping and handling you charge, plus the sales tax the buyer pays, plus any other fees. eBay collects that tax and sends it to the state, so it never reaches you, but the fee is still charged on it.
2. The rate depends on the category
| Most categories (clothing, home, toys, electronics, parts…) | 13.6% up to $7,500, 2.35% above |
|---|---|
| Books, movies & TV, music (not vinyl) | 15.3% up to $7,500, 2.35% above |
| Trading cards, comics & collectible card games | 13.25% up to $7,500, 2.35% above |
| Coins & paper money (not bullion) | 13.25% up to $7,500, 2.35% above |
| Bullion | 13.6% up to $7,500; 7% on the whole sale above |
| Women's bags & handbags | 15% up to $2,000; 9% on the whole sale above |
| Jewelry (not watches) | 15% up to $5,000; 9% on the whole sale above |
| Watches, parts & accessories | 15% up to $1,000, 6.5% to $7,500, 3% above |
| Guitars & basses | 6.7% up to $7,500, 2.35% above |
| Athletic shoes (sneakers) | 13.6% under $150; 8% and no per-order fee from $150 |
Most rates are tiered: 13.6% on the first $7,500 and 2.35% on the rest. Bullion, women's bags, jewelry and sneakers switch the whole sale to a lower rate once it passes the line, so a $2,100 handbag pays 9% on all of it.
3. Per-order fee: $0.30 or $0.40
Every order also pays a flat fee: $0.30 if the order total is $10.00 or less, $0.40 above that. Sneakers that sell for $150 or more skip it. On cheap items this flat fee is a big share of the sale.
4. Promoted Listings and international sales (only sometimes)
If the buyer bought through your Promoted Listings General ad, eBay adds your ad rate on the same total, shipping and tax included. If the buyer is outside the US and you ship it yourself instead of through eBay International Shipping, there is a 1.65% international fee on the total. Both are off by default here.
5. Your profit and the price to charge
Profit is the item price and shipping you charged, minus eBay's fees, minus what the item cost you, the label and the packing supplies. To find a price, the calculator searches for the lowest sold price that leaves your target, so the per-order fee and any category rate change are handled correctly.
Worked example
A thrifted jacket that cost $6.00 sells for $40.00 with $8.00 shipping charged. The buyer's sales tax is 7%, so the total eBay charges its fee on is $51.36. The label costs $7.50 and the mailer $1.00.
| Final value fee: 13.6% of $51.36 | $6.98 |
|---|---|
| Per-order fee | $0.40 |
| Total eBay fees (15.4% of the $48.00 you charged) | $7.38 |
| eBay pays you | $40.62 |
| Less the jacket, label and mailer | −$14.50 |
| Profit (54.4% margin) | $26.12 |
If the same sale came through a 5% Promoted Listings ad, eBay would add $2.57, and profit would drop to $23.55. To clear $20.00 without the ad, the jacket could sell for as little as $32.85; below $9.44 it loses money.
What this does not include
Insertion fees past your free listings, an eBay Store subscription, optional listing upgrades and Promoted Listings Priority (cost per click) are not tied to one sale, so they are left out. So are the extra charges for sellers rated Below Standard (6% more on final value fees) or with a very high "item not as described" rate (5% more). Returns, refunds, the gas to get to the thrift store and your income tax are real costs too. Over a year these add up, which is why a sales log beats a one-off check.