How much does eBay take from your sales? 13.6% plus $0.30-$0.40 per order for most categories. But eBay’s fee structure goes deeper than that single number, with different rates for different categories, additional fees for international sales, and penalties that can increase your costs significantly.
This guide breaks down every eBay seller fee for 2026, with real examples showing exactly what you’ll pay.
Quick Answer: What Does eBay Take From a Sale?
For most sales, eBay charges:
Final Value Fee + Per-Order Fee = Total eBay Fees
- Final Value Fee: 13.6% of the total sale amount (including shipping)
- Per-Order Fee: $0.30 for orders $10 or less, $0.40 for orders over $10
Example: You sell an item for $50 (including shipping)
- Final Value Fee: $50 × 13.6% = $6.80
- Per-Order Fee: $0.40
- Total eBay Fees: $7.20 (14.4% effective rate)
This 13.6% rate applies to most categories, but eBay charges different percentages for specific product types. Books and media have higher fees (15.3%), while guitars and heavy equipment have lower rates.
eBay calculates fees on the total amount, which includes the item price, shipping charges, and any handling fees. Sales tax collected is not included in the fee calculation.
eBay Fee Calculator: See Your Exact Fees
Use this calculator to see exactly how much eBay takes from your sale:
$100.00
Sale Total
-$14.00
eBay Fees (14.0%)
$86.00
You Keep
Here’s what sellers actually pay at different price points:
Example 1: $25 T-Shirt Sale
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sale price (with shipping) | $25.00 |
| Final Value Fee (13.6%) | $3.40 |
| Per-Order Fee | $0.40 |
| Total Fees | $3.80 |
| Effective Fee Rate | 15.2% |
Example 2: $100 Electronics Sale
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sale price (with shipping) | $100.00 |
| Final Value Fee (13.6%) | $13.60 |
| Per-Order Fee | $0.40 |
| Total Fees | $14.00 |
| Effective Fee Rate | 14% |
Example 3: $500 Jewelry Sale
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sale price (with shipping) | $500.00 |
| Final Value Fee (15%) | $75.00 |
| Per-Order Fee | $0.40 |
| Total Fees | $75.40 |
| Effective Fee Rate | 15.08% |
Example 4: $10,000 Heavy Equipment Sale
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sale price | $10,000.00 |
| Final Value Fee (3% on first $15,000) | $300.00 |
| Per-Order Fee | $0.40 |
| Total Fees | $300.40 |
| Effective Fee Rate | 3% |
Higher-priced items have a lower effective fee rate because the per-order fee has less impact. Certain categories like heavy equipment have dramatically lower percentage fees.
Calculate Your Own Fees
Use this formula:
Total Fees = (Sale Price × Category Fee %) + Per-Order Fee
For sales over the category threshold, calculate the tiered rate:
Total Fees = (Threshold × Higher %) + (Amount Over Threshold × Lower %) + Per-Order Fee
Complete eBay Fee Breakdown for 2026
Final Value Fees by Category
| Category | Fee Up to Threshold | Fee Above Threshold | Threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Categories | 13.6% | 2.35% | $7,500 |
| Books, DVDs, Music | 15.3% | 2.35% | $7,500 |
| Movies & TV | 15.3% | 2.35% | $7,500 |
| Coins & Paper Money | 13.25% | 2.35% | $7,500 |
| Trading Cards | 13.25% | 2.35% | $7,500 |
| Jewelry & Watches | 15% | 9% | $5,000 |
| Women’s Handbags | 15% | 9% | $2,000 |
| Guitars & Basses | 6.7% | 2.35% | $7,500 |
| Athletic Shoes ≥$150 | 8% (no per-order fee) | — | — |
| Athletic Shoes under $150 | 13.6% | — | — |
| NFTs | 5% | — | — |
| Heavy Equipment (Commercial) | 3% | 0.5% | $15,000 |
| Bullion | 13.6% (≤$7,500) | 7% | $7,500 |
If you sell in multiple categories, prioritize listing items in lower-fee categories when possible. A guitar seller pays 6.7% while a book seller pays 15.3%.
Insertion Fees (Listing Fees)
| Scenario | Fee |
|---|---|
| First 250 listings per month | FREE |
| Each additional listing | $0.35 |
| Guitars & Basses | FREE (unlimited) |
| Athletic Shoes ≥$150 starting price | FREE (unlimited) |
| Select Business & Industrial | $20 per listing |
| Classified Ads (30-day) | $9.95 |
| Real Estate | $35-$300 |
Most casual sellers never pay insertion fees since 250 free listings per month is enough. High-volume sellers should consider an eBay Store subscription for additional free listings.
If your item doesn’t sell, the insertion fee is non-refundable. Relisting the same item uses another insertion fee allowance.
Per-Order Fees
Every sale on eBay includes a per-order fee:
- Orders $10.00 or less: $0.30
- Orders over $10.00: $0.40
This fee applies regardless of category and is charged on top of the final value fee percentage. The only exception is athletic shoes priced at $150 or more, which have no per-order fee.
Additional eBay Fees You Need to Know
Beyond the standard final value and insertion fees, several additional charges can affect your profitability.
International Selling Fees
If you sell to buyers outside your country, eBay charges an additional 1.65% international fee on the total sale amount. This stacks on top of your regular final value fee.
For example, a $100 international sale in a standard category:
- Final Value Fee: $13.60
- International Fee: $1.65
- Per-Order Fee: $0.40
- Total: $15.65 (15.65% effective rate)
Consider whether international shipping makes sense for your margins, especially on lower-priced items.
Currency Conversion Fees
When you receive payment in a foreign currency, eBay charges a 3% currency conversion fee to convert it to your local currency.
Dispute and Chargeback Fees
If a buyer opens a dispute or initiates a chargeback through their payment provider, eBay charges a $20 dispute fee. This fee is non-refundable even if you win the dispute.
To minimize dispute fees:
- Provide accurate item descriptions
- Ship with tracking and signature confirmation for valuable items
- Respond quickly to buyer messages
- Issue refunds promptly when appropriate
Promoted Listings Fees
eBay’s Promoted Listings program lets you pay for better visibility in search results. You set an ad rate (typically 2-10%), and you’re only charged when someone buys through your promoted listing.
Promoted Listings fees are separate from final value fees, so a 5% ad rate plus 13.6% final value fee means you’re paying 18.6% plus the per-order fee.
Use Promoted Listings selectively on high-margin items where the extra visibility justifies the cost.
Regulatory Operating Fee
eBay charges approximately 0.35% as a regulatory operating fee in most states. This covers eBay’s costs for regulatory compliance.
eBay Seller Performance Penalties
Your seller performance rating directly impacts your fees. Poor performance can increase your costs significantly.
Below Standard Seller Penalty
If eBay rates your account as “Below Standard,” you’ll pay an additional 6% on all final value fees. That means a standard 13.6% category becomes 19.6%.
Below Standard status is triggered by:
- High defect rate (transaction defects)
- Too many cases closed without seller resolution
- High late shipment rate
- Tracking not uploaded on time
Check your seller dashboard regularly to monitor your metrics. If you’re at risk of Below Standard status, prioritize fixing the issues immediately—6% on every sale adds up fast.
High Return Rate Penalty
Sellers with a “Very High” rate of “Item Not as Described” (INAD) returns pay an additional 5% on final value fees in those categories.
This penalty is category-specific, so you might pay extra fees in one category while your other listings are unaffected.
To avoid this penalty:
- Write accurate, detailed descriptions
- Include clear photos showing any flaws
- Grade condition conservatively
- Respond professionally to return requests
eBay Store Subscriptions: Are They Worth It?
An eBay Store subscription provides additional free listings and lower final value fees.
| Store Level | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost (per month) | Free Listings/Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Store | $0 | $0 | 250 |
| Starter | $4.95 | $2.50 | 250 |
| Basic | $21.95 | $7.95 | 1,000 |
| Premium | $59.95 | $27.95 | 10,000 |
| Anchor | $299.95 | $124.95 | 25,000 |
| Enterprise | $2,999.95 | Custom | 100,000 |
When Does a Store Make Sense?
Basic Store ROI Calculation:
If you list more than 250 items per month, you’re paying $0.35 per additional listing. A Basic Store costs $7.95/month (annual billing) and includes 1,000 free listings.
Break-even point: $7.95 ÷ $0.35 = 23 additional listings
If you list 273+ items per month, the Basic Store pays for itself in insertion fee savings alone. Store subscribers also get lower final value fees in some categories, making the actual break-even point even lower.
Premium Store ROI Calculation:
Premium costs $27.95/month (annual) with 10,000 free listings.
Premium makes sense for sellers consistently listing 1,500+ items monthly.
Store Subscriber Final Value Fee Discounts
Store subscribers receive reduced final value fees in certain categories—typically 0.5-2% lower than non-store sellers.
How to Reduce Your eBay Fees
You can’t avoid eBay fees entirely, but these strategies minimize what you pay:
1. Maintain Above Standard Status
Staying “Above Standard” or “Top Rated” saves you from the 6% Below Standard penalty. This is the single biggest fee savings available—it requires no additional investment, just good seller practices.
Focus on:
- Shipping within your stated handling time
- Uploading tracking promptly
- Resolving buyer issues quickly
- Accurate item descriptions
2. Choose the Right Store Level
Calculate your actual listing volume and compare store costs against insertion fees. Pay annually instead of monthly to save 30-60% on subscription costs.
Don’t over-buy: a Premium store doesn’t help if you’re only listing 500 items monthly.
3. Sell in Lower-Fee Categories
If you have flexibility in what you sell, prioritize lower-fee categories:
- Heavy Equipment: 3%
- Guitars & Basses: 6.7%
- Athletic Shoes ≥$150: 8%
Versus high-fee categories:
- Books, DVDs, Music: 15.3%
- Jewelry & Watches: 15%
4. Bundle Items to Reduce Per-Order Fees
Two separate $50 sales = $0.80 in per-order fees One bundled $100 sale = $0.40 in per-order fees
When possible, offer bundles or combined shipping to reduce the number of individual transactions.
5. Be Strategic with Promoted Listings
Only promote items where:
- Your margin can absorb the extra fee
- The category is competitive enough that promotion drives meaningful extra visibility
- You’ve tested different ad rates to find the minimum effective rate
6. Limit International Sales When Margins Are Thin
The 1.65% international fee plus potential currency conversion fees can eat into tight margins. For low-margin items, consider domestic-only shipping.
eBay Fees vs Amazon vs Etsy
How does eBay compare to other major marketplaces?
| Platform | Typical Fee Range | Monthly Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| eBay | 13-15% + $0.30-$0.40 | $0-$300 (store optional) | Used items, collectibles, variety |
| Amazon | 15% referral + FBA fees | $39.99 (Professional) | New products, Prime shipping |
| Etsy | 6.5% + $0.20 + 3% payment | $0 | Handmade, vintage, craft supplies |
eBay advantages:
- No monthly fee required (unlike Amazon Professional)
- Better for used and vintage items
- Auction format for collectibles
- Lower fees than Amazon in many categories
eBay disadvantages:
- Higher fees than Etsy for handmade items
- No fulfillment network like Amazon FBA
- Seller performance penalties can increase costs
Choose your platform based on what you’re selling and your target customers, not just fees alone.
For detailed breakdowns of other platform fees, see our guides on Amazon seller fees and Etsy seller fees.
eBay Fees and Your Taxes
eBay fees are tax-deductible business expenses for sellers operating as a business. Properly tracking these fees can reduce your taxable income significantly.
Key points for tax purposes:
- Final value fees are deductible as cost of sales or selling expenses
- Store subscription fees are deductible as business expenses
- Promoted Listings fees are deductible as advertising expenses
- Keep records of all fees paid throughout the year
Tracking eBay fees manually is tedious and error-prone. Accounting software that integrates with eBay can automatically categorize and track your fees, ensuring accurate records for tax time.
Taxomate’s eBay integration automatically syncs your eBay sales and fees to QuickBooks or Xero, eliminating manual data entry and ensuring your books are always accurate.
FAQ: eBay Seller Fees
How much does eBay take from a $100 sale?
For most categories, eBay takes $14.00 from a $100 sale: $13.60 (13.6% final value fee) plus $0.40 (per-order fee). Higher-fee categories like books would be $15.70, while lower-fee categories like guitars would be $7.10.
Does eBay charge to list items?
Your first 250 listings per month are free. After that, each additional listing costs $0.35. eBay Store subscribers receive more free listings depending on their subscription level.
Does eBay take a cut of shipping?
Yes. eBay calculates final value fees on the total transaction amount, which includes the item price plus shipping charges. This is why “free shipping” built into a higher item price and charging shipping separately result in the same fees.
What is the cheapest way to sell on eBay?
To minimize fees: maintain Above Standard seller status (avoid the 6% penalty), sell in lower-fee categories when possible, bundle items to reduce per-order fees, and get an eBay Store subscription if you list more than 250 items monthly.
How do I avoid eBay fees?
You cannot avoid eBay fees entirely—they’re part of using the platform. However, you can minimize fees through good seller practices, strategic category choices, appropriate store subscriptions, and avoiding penalties for poor performance.
Are eBay fees higher than Amazon?
They’re comparable. eBay charges 13-15% for most categories; Amazon charges 15% referral fees plus additional FBA fees if you use their fulfillment service. eBay often works out cheaper for non-FBA sellers, while Amazon may be more cost-effective for high-volume sellers using Prime shipping.
Start Tracking Your eBay Fees Automatically
Understanding eBay fees is the first step to pricing your items profitably. But manually tracking fees across hundreds of transactions is time-consuming and error-prone.
Taxomate automatically imports your eBay sales, fees, and refunds into your accounting software. Every transaction is categorized correctly, fees are tracked separately, and your books stay up-to-date without manual data entry.
Start your free trial or see how eBay integration works.
Sources: eBay Selling Fees, eBay Seller Center. Last verified January 2026.