Who this is for
Sellers starting on eBay or established sellers wanting to understand their true costs. Whether you're listing your first item or evaluating store subscription tiers, knowing exactly what eBay charges helps you price for profit. If you're brand new to eBay, start with our complete beginner's guide first.
Calculate your eBay fees
See final value fees, per-order fees, and your actual take-home.
The goal
Understand every fee eBay charges so you can calculate your actual profit margin—not just your revenue. By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly what eBay takes, when each fee applies, and how to minimize unnecessary charges.
Quick summary: What does eBay cost?
For a typical sale, eBay fees consume 14-16% of your total transaction. Here's the breakdown:
| Fee Type | Typical Amount |
|---|---|
| Final value fee | 12.7-15.3% of total sale |
| Per-order fee | $0.30-$0.40 |
| International fee | +1.65% (if applicable) |
| Total (typical domestic) | 14-16% |
The exact percentage depends on your product category, store subscription tier, and seller performance level.
1. Final value fees: The main cost
The final value fee (FVF) is eBay's primary revenue source from sellers. It's calculated on the total amount of the sale—including the item price, shipping charges, and any handling fees.
How it's calculated
Final Value Fee = (Item Price + Shipping + Handling) × Category Rate + Per-Order Fee
Important: eBay charges fees on your shipping charges, not just the item price. A $50 item with $10 shipping means fees on $60.
Final value fee rates by category (2026)
Most categories charge 13.6% for non-store sellers or 12.7% for Basic Store subscribers and above.
Standard rate categories (13.6% / 12.7% with store):
- Home & Garden
- Clothing, Shoes & Accessories
- Sporting Goods
- Toys & Hobbies
- Collectibles & Art
- Business & Industrial
- Health & Beauty
Higher rate categories:
| Category | Rate (No Store) | Rate (Basic+) |
|---|---|---|
| Books, DVDs, Music | 15.3% | 14.6% |
| Jewelry & Watches | 15.0% up to $5,000 | 14.55% |
| Women's Handbags | 15.0% up to $2,000 | 14.55% |
Lower rate categories:
| Category | Rate |
|---|---|
| Guitars & Basses | 6.7% |
| Heavy Equipment | 3.0% up to $15,000 |
| Athletic Shoes ($150+) | 8.0% |
| NFTs | 5.0% |
The per-order fee
Every transaction includes a flat per-order fee:
- $0.30 for orders $10.00 or less
- $0.40 for orders over $10.00
This fee applies once per order, regardless of how many items are in the order.
Tiered rates for high-value items
High-value sales get reduced rates on portions above certain thresholds:
| Category | Threshold | Rate Above Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Most categories | $7,500 | 2.35% |
| Jewelry & Watches | $5,000 | 9.0% |
| Women's Handbags | $2,000 | 9.0% |
| Heavy Equipment | $15,000 | 0.5% |
Example: A $10,000 watch sale:
- First $5,000 × 15% = $750
- Remaining $5,000 × 9% = $450
- Per-order fee = $0.40
- Total fees = $1,200.40
Quick Estimate: eBay Fees
2. Seller performance impact
Your seller rating directly affects your fees.
Below Standard penalty: +6%
Sellers rated "Below Standard" pay an additional 6% on all final value fees. A 13.6% category becomes 19.6%—nearly one-fifth of every sale.
Triggers for Below Standard:
- Transaction defect rate above 2%
- Late shipment rate above 4%
- Cases closed without resolution above thresholds
High INAD penalty: +5%
Sellers with "Very High" Item Not As Described return rates pay an additional 5% surcharge in affected categories. This applies when you have:
- 10+ INAD cases from unique buyers, AND
- Over 1% of transactions resulting in INAD claims
Top Rated Plus discount: -10%
Qualifying Top Rated sellers receive a 10% discount on the percentage portion of final value fees (not the per-order fee).
Requirements for the discount:
- Same-day or 1-business-day handling time
- 30-day (or longer) free returns
- Listing must meet both criteria
Example: On a $50 sale in a 13.6% category:
- Standard fee: $6.80 + $0.40 = $7.20
- Top Rated Plus: $6.12 + $0.40 = $6.52
- Savings: $0.68 per sale
3. Insertion fees and free listings
Insertion fees are charged when you create or renew a listing.
Free listing allowance
Non-store sellers: 250 zero insertion fee listings per month
Store subscribers:
| Store Tier | Fixed-Price | Auction |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | 250 | (included) |
| Basic | 1,000 | 250 |
| Premium | 10,000 | 500 |
| Anchor | 25,000 | 1,000 |
| Enterprise | 100,000 | 2,500 |
Insertion fees when exceeded
| Seller Type | Fee Per Listing |
|---|---|
| Non-store | $0.35 |
| Starter Store | $0.30 |
| Basic Store | $0.25 |
| Premium Store | $0.10 |
| Anchor/Enterprise | $0.05 |
Important rules
- Good 'Til Cancelled listings renew monthly and use a free listing (or charge an insertion fee) each renewal
- Multi-quantity listings are charged only ONE insertion fee regardless of quantity
- Two-category listings use TWO free listings (or charge two insertion fees)
Categories excluded from free listings
These categories always charge insertion fees:
- Real Estate
- Select Motors categories (Cars, Boats, Motorcycles)
- Heavy Equipment
- Food Trucks/Trailers
- Commercial Printing Presses
4. Store subscription tiers
Store subscriptions provide more free listings and reduced final value fees.
Subscription pricing (2026)
| Tier | Monthly | Annual (per month) | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $7.95 | $4.95 | 38% |
| Basic | $27.95 | $21.95 | 21% |
| Premium | $74.95 | $59.95 | 20% |
| Anchor | $349.95 | $299.95 | 14% |
| Enterprise | N/A | $2,999.95 | — |
What you get with each tier
Starter ($4.95-$7.95/mo):
- 250 free listings
- No final value fee discount
- Basic seller tools
Basic ($21.95-$27.95/mo):
- 1,000 fixed-price + 250 auction listings
- 0.9% lower final value fees (13.6% → 12.7%)
- $25/quarter shipping supplies credit
- Terapeak product research access
Premium ($59.95-$74.95/mo):
- 10,000 fixed-price + 500 auction listings
- Same final value fee discount as Basic
- $50/quarter shipping supplies credit
- Enhanced analytics
Anchor ($299.95-$349.95/mo):
- 25,000 fixed-price + 1,000 auction listings
- Same final value fee discount
- $150/quarter shipping supplies credit
- $25/quarter Promoted Listings credit
- Dedicated phone support
Enterprise ($2,999.95/mo annual only):
- 100,000 fixed-price + 2,500 auction listings
- All Anchor benefits
- Account management support
Break-even analysis
When does a Basic Store pay for itself?
The 0.9% fee savings means:
- Break-even monthly sales = $21.95 ÷ 0.009 = $2,439
If you sell more than ~$2,500/month, Basic Store saves money on fees alone. The additional free listings provide extra value.
Break-even by listing volume:
If you list more than 250 items/month, the insertion fee savings matter:
- Non-store excess: $0.35/listing
- Basic excess: $0.25/listing
- Savings: $0.10/listing
At 350 listings/month:
- Without store: 100 excess × $0.35 = $35 in insertion fees
- With Basic: $21.95 subscription + 0 insertion fees = $21.95
- Savings: $13.05/month
5. International and payment fees
International fee: 1.65%
US sellers pay an additional 1.65% fee when:
- The buyer's shipping address is outside the US, OR
- The buyer's eBay registration address is outside the US
This catches sales to freight forwarders with US addresses but foreign registration.
How to avoid it: Use eBay International Shipping for eligible listings—sales through this program are exempt from the 1.65% fee.
Currency conversion: 3%
When eBay converts funds between currencies, they charge 3% on top of the base exchange rate.
This is separate from the international fee and applies when you:
- List on international eBay sites (eBay.co.uk, etc.)
- Receive payment in a foreign currency
Payment processing: Included
eBay Managed Payments includes payment processing in the final value fee. There are no separate PayPal or credit card processing fees.
6. Promoted Listings fees
Promoted Listings help your items appear higher in search results.
Standard campaigns (cost-per-sale)
You set an ad rate percentage (typically 2-10%). The fee is charged only when a buyer purchases after clicking your ad.
2026 Change (effective January 13): The new attribution model charges ad fees when ANY buyer purchases your promoted item within 30 days of ANY click—not just the buyer who clicked. This can significantly increase effective ad costs.
Advanced campaigns (cost-per-click)
You pay per click regardless of whether the buyer purchases. Starting January 2026, Advanced campaigns get exclusive access to the top ad slot in search.
Ad rate recommendations by category
| Category | Suggested Rate |
|---|---|
| Electronics | 2-4% |
| Clothing | 4-8% |
| Home & Garden | 3-6% |
| Collectibles | 4-7% |
7. Optional listing upgrade fees
Bold title
- Auction (1-10 days): $2.00
- Fixed price/GTC: $4.00
Subtitle
- Auction: $1.50-$3.00
- Fixed price: $2.00-$6.00
Gallery Plus
- Auction: $0.35
- Fixed price: $1.00
Scheduled listings
Free—schedule listings to start at a future time at no cost.
Reserve price (auctions)
$5 or 7.5% of reserve price, whichever is greater (max $250). Non-refundable even if item doesn't sell.
Real sale examples: Complete fee breakdowns
Example 1: $25 Electronics item + $5 shipping
| Component | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sale price | $25.00 | |
| Shipping | $5.00 | |
| Total (fee basis) | $30.00 | |
| Final value fee (13.6%) | $30 × 0.136 | $4.08 |
| Per-order fee | $0.40 | |
| Total eBay fees | $4.48 | |
| Net revenue | $30 - $4.48 | $25.52 |
| Effective fee rate | 14.9% |
Example 2: $50 Home & Garden (free shipping)
| Component | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sale price | $50.00 | |
| Shipping | Free | $0.00 |
| Total (fee basis) | $50.00 | |
| Final value fee (13.6%) | $50 × 0.136 | $6.80 |
| Per-order fee | $0.40 | |
| Total eBay fees | $7.20 | |
| Net revenue | $50 - $7.20 | $42.80 |
| Effective fee rate | 14.4% |
Example 3: $100 Clothing + $8 shipping (international)
| Component | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sale price | $100.00 | |
| Shipping | $8.00 | |
| Total (fee basis) | $108.00 | |
| Final value fee (13.6%) | $108 × 0.136 | $14.69 |
| Per-order fee | $0.40 | |
| International fee (1.65%) | $108 × 0.0165 | $1.78 |
| Total eBay fees | $16.87 | |
| Net revenue | $108 - $16.87 | $91.13 |
| Effective fee rate | 15.6% |
How to reduce eBay fees
1. Maintain Top Rated Plus status
The 10% fee discount on qualifying listings saves $0.50-$1.00+ per sale. Requirements:
- Same/one-day handling
- 30-day free returns
2. Choose the right store tier
Calculate your break-even point. If you sell $2,500+/month or list 300+ items, Basic Store usually pays for itself.
3. Use eBay International Shipping
Avoid the 1.65% international fee by using eBay's international program for eligible items.
4. Avoid reserve prices
The $5+ non-refundable reserve fee rarely makes sense. Set a higher starting bid instead—it's free and achieves the same protection.
5. Watch your seller metrics
Below Standard status adds 6% to fees. High INAD rates add 5% more. These penalties can devastate margins.
6. Track GTC renewals
Good 'Til Cancelled listings renew monthly, using free listings or charging insertion fees. Don't let inactive listings eat your allowance.
FAQ
How much does eBay take from a sale?
For most sellers, eBay takes 14-16% of the total sale amount (item price plus shipping). This includes the final value fee (12.7-15.3% depending on category) plus a $0.30-$0.40 per-order fee. International sales add 1.65%.
What is the eBay final value fee?
The final value fee is a percentage of your total sale amount that eBay charges on every transaction. Most categories charge 13.6% for non-store sellers or 12.7% for Basic Store subscribers and above. Some categories like books (15.3%) or guitars (6.7%) have different rates.
Does eBay charge fees on shipping?
Yes. eBay's final value fee is calculated on the total transaction amount, which includes shipping charges. If you sell an item for $50 with $10 shipping, eBay charges fees on $60, not $50.
Is an eBay Store worth it?
A Basic Store ($21.95/month) pays for itself if you sell more than ~$2,500/month (through fee savings) OR list more than 300 items/month (through free listings). Calculate your specific break-even before subscribing.
What is the eBay per-order fee?
The per-order fee is a flat charge on every transaction: $0.30 for orders $10 or less, and $0.40 for orders over $10. This is charged once per order regardless of how many items are included.
How do I avoid eBay insertion fees?
Stay within your free listing allowance (250/month for non-store sellers, more with store subscriptions). Use multi-quantity listings when possible—you pay one insertion fee regardless of quantity. Monitor Good 'Til Cancelled renewals that use free listings monthly.
What is the eBay international fee?
US sellers pay an additional 1.65% fee on sales to international buyers or buyers with foreign eBay registration addresses. You can avoid this fee by using eBay International Shipping for eligible listings.
How do Below Standard fees work?
Sellers rated Below Standard pay an additional 6% on all final value fees for the following month. This turns a 13.6% category into 19.6%. High Item Not As Described rates can add another 5% penalty in affected categories.
How much do eBay costs add up to?
Total eBay costs for a typical domestic sale are 14-16% of the transaction amount. This includes the final value fee (12.7-15.3%), per-order fee ($0.30-$0.40), and any optional costs like promoted listings or store subscriptions. International sales add 1.65%. Use our eBay Fee Calculator to estimate your exact costs.
What are eBay seller fees in 2026?
eBay seller fees include: final value fee (12.7-15.3% of total sale including shipping), per-order fee ($0.30-$0.40), and insertion fees if you exceed 250 free monthly listings ($0.35 each without a store). Optional fees include promoted listings (2-10% ad rate), international fee (1.65%), and store subscriptions ($4.95-$299.95/month). Payment processing is included — no separate credit card fee.
What are eBay listing fees?
eBay gives every seller 250 free listings per month. Beyond that, listing fees (insertion fees) are $0.35 per listing without a store, or $0.05-$0.30 with a store subscription. Good 'Til Cancelled listings renew monthly and use a free listing (or charge an insertion fee) each renewal. Multi-quantity listings cost one insertion fee regardless of quantity.
What are eBay sales fees?
eBay sales fees are charged when your item sells. The main fee is the final value fee: 12.7-15.3% of the total sale amount (item price + shipping) depending on category and store status. Plus a flat per-order fee of $0.30-$0.40. These two fees combined mean eBay takes roughly 14-16% of each domestic sale.
What percentage does eBay take from sellers?
eBay takes 14-16% of a typical domestic sale. The exact percentage depends on your category (12.7-15.3% final value fee), whether you have a store subscription (0.9% discount), and your seller performance level (Top Rated Plus gets 10% off the final value fee). International sales add another 1.65%. See the full category rate table above.
Next steps
- Start selling with our How to Sell on eBay beginner's guide
- Calculate your margins using our eBay Fee Calculator
- Optimize your listings with our eBay Title Optimization guide
- Improve item specifics following our eBay Item Specifics guide
For complete listing optimization, try our AI Listing Generator to create titles and descriptions that convert.
Calculate your eBay fees
See final value fees, per-order fees, and your actual take-home.
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Sources
- eBay Selling Fees - Official Help
- Store Selling Fees - eBay Help
- Final Value Fee Changes - January 2025 Update
- Top Rated Seller Program - Seller Center
- Seller Standards Policy - eBay
- International Fees for eBay Global Sellers
- Zero Insertion Fee Listings - eBay Help
- eBay Store Subscriptions and Fees
- Promoted Listings Program Updates