Key takeaways
- Most categories pay a 13.6% final value fee plus $0.40 per order (over $10).
- The fee is charged on the total, including shipping and sales tax.
- Promoted Listings and the 1.65% international fee are on top.
How the eBay fee calculation works
eBay's main selling fee is the final value fee. It is a percentage of the total amount the buyer pays, not just your item price. That total includes the shipping you charge and the sales tax eBay collects for the state. On top of that comes a small fixed per-order fee, plus optional costs such as Promoted Listings and, for some cross-border sales, an international fee.
Some categories use tiers. Watches, for example, pay 15% on the first $1,000, 6.5% from $1,000 to $7,500 and 3% above that. The calculator applies each tier to the right slice of the sale automatically.
eBay final value fees by category (2026)
| Category | Final value fee | Per-order fee |
|---|---|---|
| Most categories | 13.6% up to $7,500, 2.35% above | $0.30 / $0.40 |
| Books & Magazines, Movies & TV, Music | 15.3% up to $7,500, 2.35% above | $0.30 / $0.40 |
| Trading cards, comics, memorabilia; coins & paper money | 13.25% up to $7,500, 2.35% above | $0.30 / $0.40 |
| Guitars & Basses | 6.7% up to $7,500, 2.35% above | $0.30 / $0.40 |
| Jewelry | 15% up to $5,000, 9% above | $0.30 / $0.40 |
| Watches, Parts & Accessories | 15% up to $1,000, 6.5% to $7,500, 3% above | $0.30 / $0.40 |
| Women's Bags & Handbags | 15% up to $2,000, 9% above | $0.30 / $0.40 |
| Athletic shoes, $150 or more | 8% | None |
| Insertion (listing) fee | 250 free listings a month, then $0.35 each | |
| International fee | 1.65% when the buyer or item is outside the US, unless you use eBay International Shipping | |
Source: eBay's selling fees help page, reviewed October 2026. These rates are for eBay.com sellers without a Store. Store subscribers pay lower rates in many categories. Check Seller Hub → Payments for the fees on your own account.
A worked example
You sell a pair of headphones for $45, charge $8 shipping and the buyer pays 7% sales tax. You paid $15 for them and shipping costs you $7.20.
- Revenue: $45 + $8 = $53.00
- Fee base with tax: $53 × 1.07 = $56.71
- Final value fee: 13.6% × $56.71 = $7.71
- Per-order fee: $0.40
- Net profit: $53 − $8.11 − $15 − $7.20 = $22.69, a 42.8% margin
If the sale came through a 5% Promoted Listing, another $2.84 comes off and profit falls to $19.85.
How to pay less in eBay fees
- Price shipping honestly. Fees apply to shipping either way, so free shipping simply moves the fee into your item price.
- Use Promoted Listings selectively. A 2–5% ad rate on slow-moving items can pay off. On fast sellers it is often wasted.
- Consider a Store at higher volume. Store subscribers get more free listings and lower final value fees in many categories. Compare the monthly cost against your sales.
- Use eBay International Shipping for overseas buyers to avoid the 1.65% international fee.
- Bundle low-value items. The fixed per-order fee eats a bigger share of cheap sales.
Frequently asked questions
How much does eBay take from a sale in 2026?
In most categories eBay charges a 13.6% final value fee on the total sale amount (item price, shipping and sales tax) up to $7,500. It also charges a per-order fee of $0.40 for orders over $10, or $0.30 for orders of $10 or less.
On a $45 item with $8 shipping and 7% sales tax, that is about $8.11, roughly 15% of what you receive.
Does eBay charge fees on shipping and sales tax?
Yes. The final value fee is calculated on the total amount of the sale. That includes the item price, handling, the shipping the buyer pays and the sales tax eBay collects.
You do not keep the sales tax, but you still pay the fee on it. That is why this calculator asks for the tax rate.
How many free listings do you get on eBay?
Sellers without a Store get 250 free listings a month. After that, each listing costs $0.35 to list, whether or not it sells. eBay Store subscribers get more free listings depending on their Store level.
Is it cheaper to sell on eBay or Etsy?
On a typical US order, Etsy's fees come to around 10–11% of the order: the listing fee, 6.5% transaction fee and 3% + $0.25 processing. eBay's come to about 14–15% in most categories once the per-order fee and sales tax are included.
Etsy is limited to handmade, vintage and craft supplies, though. eBay usually reaches more buyers for used, collectible and branded goods. See our full fee comparison.