eBay is one of the world's largest online marketplaces, but its fee structure is more complex than most platforms. As a seller, you need to understand final value fees, insertion fees, payment processing fees, and optional store subscription costs.
Quick answer: eBay's total fees on most items are 13.6% of the total sale + a $0.40 per-order fee ($0.30 on orders of $10 or less). The total sale includes shipping and sales tax. On a $100 sale, you keep $86.00.
eBay charges sellers three main types of fees:
| Category | Final Value Fee | Fee on $100 | You Keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Books, Movies & Music (except vinyl) | 15.3% | $15.70 | $84.30 |
| Jewelry & Watches (up to $5,000) | 15% | $15.40 | $84.60 |
| Women's Bags & Handbags (up to $2,000) | 15% | $15.40 | $84.60 |
| Most categories (incl. electronics, clothing, toys) | 13.6% | $14.00 | $86.00 |
| Trading Cards | 13.25% | $13.65 | $86.35 |
| Guitars & Basses | 6.7% | $7.10 | $92.90 |
| Sneakers sold for $150+ (no per-order fee) | 8% | n/a | $200 sale: $184.00 |
Note: "Fee on $100" includes the $0.40 per-order fee. The final value fee applies to the total amount of the sale — item price, shipping, and sales tax. In most categories the rate drops to 2.35% on the portion above $7,500. Rates are for sellers without a Store subscription (source: eBay Seller Center, checked September 2026).
Most private sellers receive 250 free listings per month. After that, eBay charges $0.35 per listing. Some categories and listing upgrades may have additional fees.
⚠️ Important: If your item doesn't sell, the insertion fee is still charged (after your free listings are used). The Final Value Fee is only charged when an item sells.
eBay Store subscriptions (Basic and above) lower final value fees in many categories and include more free listings each month. The discount is category-specific rather than a flat percentage. eBay's own example: a cell phone seller pays 13.6% without a Store but 9.35% with a Basic Store ($21.95/month). On a $500 phone with $5 shipping and 7% sales tax, fees fall from $73.89 to $50.92 per phone — so a seller moving even one phone a month comes out ahead.
The same subscription can be a poor deal in a category where the Store discount is small. Before subscribing, look up your main categories in eBay's Store fee schedule and multiply the rate difference by your typical monthly sales.
| Item | Sale Price | Shipping | Total Fees | You Keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Used smartphone (most categories, 13.6%) | $200 | $0 (free ship) | $27.60 | $172.40 |
| Vintage clothing (13.6%) | $45 | $8 | $7.61 | $45.39 |
| Collectible toy (13.6%) | $35 | $5 | $5.84 | $34.16 |
| Book (15.3%) | $15 | $4 | $3.31 | $15.69 |