In this article, I will clarify what the selling fee on eBay is and provide a detailed overview of anticipated seller costs on the platform.
If you sell on eBay occasionally or quite often, I recommend this guide as it will help you get the most out of your selling experience.
This guide will help you understand insertion fees, final value fees, and navigate through the costs of selling.
What Is The Fee on eBay?
eBay imposes two primary charges to its sellers, which are categorized as Insertion fee and Final Value fee. Each eBay listing incurs an insertion fee of $0.35. However, the majority of sellers are granted up to 250 free insertions every month.
The final value fee is charged on the total amount of the transaction, which includes the item price, shipping, and tax. This fee ranges from 10% to 15% depending on the category.
Other relevant fees may also apply for listing upgrades, Promoted Listings, or if you subscribe to an eBay Store. Sales to other countries may be subject to additional fees due to currency exchange and cross-border costs.
How Much Is the Selling Fee on ebay?
Sure! Here’s an example using a real-world scenario to answer the question “How Much Is the Selling Fee on eBay?” based on a specific sale:
Example: How Much Is the Selling Fee on eBay?
Let’s say you’re selling a used smartphone for $300 with $10 shipping on eBay (no eBay Store subscription, U.S. domestic sale, no listing upgrades or promotions).
Here’s how the fees break down:
- Final Value Fee (Smartphones category):
eBay charges 12.9% on the total sale amount (item + shipping).
→ (12.9% of $310) = $39.99 - Payment Processing Fee:
A flat $0.30 plus 2.35% of the total
→ (2.35% of $310) + $0.30 = $7.59
Total Selling Fee: $39.99 + $7.59 = $47.58
Your Net Earnings: $310 – $47.58 = $262.42
How To Reduce Selling Fees
Store Plan Subscription
If you sell consistently, opt for a store subscription to enjoy lower fees, more free listings, and better tools.
Use Monthly Free Listing Credits Wisely
Avoid excess insertion fees by planning out what and when to list, maximizing monthly free listing credits.
Terms of Shipping Offer
Combined shipping reduces the final value fees calculated on total sale amount including the shipping, which benefits the seller.
Avoid Unneeded Listing Upgrades
Don’t use bold titles or subtitles unless necessary as these paid listing upgrades increase your overall listing cost.
Use Precise Categories
Always use the most relevant category while listing to avoid penalties and ensure proper fee calculation and seller visibility.
Is there a fee to list an item on eBay?
Correct, eBay applies an insertion fee for every item you list. However, most casual sellers benefit from up to 250 free listings each month. These slots available to be listed are aimed at reducing the initial costs associated with selling on the platform.
After 250 listings, eBay pays $0.35 for each additional listing and this fee applies regardless of the item being sold or not.
Sellers with two listed categories will be charged an insertion fee for both categories. As an option, high volume sellers can subscribe to an eBay Store plan which increases the free listing quota, thus reducing costs on insertion fees in the long run.
Conclusion
To summarize, eBay selling costs differ with respect to the item’s category, price, and additional features. Nearly all sellers will incur a final value fee ranging from 10 to 15% along with potential insertion or upgrade fees.
Costs can be further reduced through free listings, shipper subscriptions, and store memberships. Maximizing eBay profits requires understanding the cost framework.
