How eBay selling fees are calculated
- Final value fee: a percentage of the total amount of the sale (item price, shipping and any sales tax eBay collects). For most categories it is 13.6% up to 7,500 USD and 2.35% on the part above. Other categories have their own rates, listed in the calculator.
- Per-order fee: 0.30 USD on orders of 10 USD or less and 0.40 USD on larger orders.
- International fee: 1.65% of the sale total when the buyer is outside your country.
- Insertion fee: 0.35 USD per listing beyond your free listings (250 per month in the standard allowance). Guitars & Basses have no insertion fee.
- Promoted Listings: an optional ad rate you choose, charged only when the sale comes through a promoted listing.
A worked example
A $50.00 item with $5.00 shipping in a standard category has a $55.00 total sale. The final value fee is $7.48 and the per-order fee $0.40, so eBay keeps $7.88. After $20.00 for the item and $5.00 for shipping, you net $22.12, a margin of 40.2%.
If eBay also collects $5.00 of sales tax, the final value fee is charged on $60.00 and rises to $8.16, even though that tax is not your revenue. Add a 5% Promoted Listings rate and an international buyer, and total fees rise to $11.54.
Category rates differ a lot
Handbags pay 15% up to 2,000 USD, so a $2,500.00 bag pays $345.00. Athletic shoes use a flat rate that depends on the price: a $160.00 sale pays $12.80 and a $140.00 sale pays $19.04, so a pair just under the threshold can cost more in fees than one just over it. A $8,000.00 sale in a standard category pays $1,031.75, showing how the lower rate on the part above 7,500 USD works.
Cheap items feel the per-order fee
The fixed per-order fee weighs most on low-value sales. An $8.00 item with free shipping pays $1.39 in fees, 17.4% of the sale, before you count the cost of the item.
Frequently asked questions
What is the eBay final value fee?
It is the main selling fee: a percentage of the total sale amount including shipping and sales tax, which depends on the category. In most categories it is 13.6% up to 7,500 USD and 2.35% above.
Does eBay charge a fee on shipping and tax?
Yes. The final value fee is calculated on the total amount of the sale, which includes shipping and any sales tax eBay collects from the buyer. Enter the tax in the calculator to see its effect.
What is the per-order fee?
A fixed fee on every order: 0.30 USD for sales of 10 USD or less and 0.40 USD above that.
How many listings are free?
The standard allowance is 250 free listings per month, then 0.35 USD each. Your own limit can be different with a Store subscription, so check your account.
Are these rates for all eBay sites?
No. They are for ebay.com in the United States. Other eBay sites and Store subscribers have different fees. Always compare with eBay’s own fee page, linked above.