How eBay fees work
eBay bundles payment processing into one final value fee, charged on the total amount the buyer pays: item, shipping and sales tax. That is why adding tax changes your fee even though the tax is not yours.
The per-order fee looks small but takes 4% of a $10 order. A Basic Store pays off once your monthly sales are high enough that 0.9 percentage points saved beats the subscription. Promoted listings are charged on the same total, so a 5% ad rate costs more than it seems.
Worked example
Take a $40 item with $6 shipping paid, a $12 item cost and a $5.50 label, in most categories with no store. eBay charges $6.66 in fees (14.5% of the $46.00 the buyer paid you), leaving a payout of $39.34. After $17.50 of costs you keep $21.84. To make $5 more on the same item, you would need to sell it for $45.78.
eBay fees used in this calculator
| Fee | US rate |
|---|---|
| Most categories | 13.6% of the total sale up to $7,500, then 2.35% |
| Books, movies & music | 15.3% up to $7,500, then 2.35% |
| Trading cards, comics & most coins | 13.25% up to $7,500, then 2.35% |
| Guitars & basses | 6.7% up to $7,500, then 2.35% |
| Athletic shoes | 8% at $150 or more with no per-order fee; 13.6% below $150 |
| Per-order fee | $0.30 on orders of $10 or less, $0.40 above $10 |
| eBay Store (Basic or higher) | Most categories drop to 12.7% |
Checked October 25, 2026 against independent fee guides and the platform's own pages. Official source: eBay Help: Selling fees.
Questions sellers ask
How much does eBay take on a $50 sale?
In most categories with no store and no shipping, eBay takes $7.20: $6.80 final value fee plus a $0.40 per-order fee.
Does eBay charge fees on shipping and sales tax?
Yes. The final value fee applies to the total amount of the sale, which includes shipping and the sales tax eBay collects.
When does the athletic shoes rate apply?
Sneakers selling for $150 or more pay 8% with no per-order fee. Below $150 they pay the standard 13.6% plus the per-order fee.
Is an eBay Store worth it?
A Basic or higher Store cuts most categories from 13.6% to 12.7%. Compare the 0.9 points saved on your monthly sales with the store's subscription price.