How eBay fees are calculated
Every sale on ebay.com carries a final value fee: a percentage of the total amount of the sale, which eBay defines as the item price plus any handling and shipping charged to the buyer plus sales tax. On top of that comes a per-order fee of $0.30 or $0.40.
Optional costs come on top: a promoted listing ad fee if the item sells through your ad, 1.65% for buyers outside the US, and $0.35 per listing once your 250 free listings for the month are used up.
Worked example (eBay's own)
eBay's fee page uses this example: a used smartphone sells for $400 with free shipping, the buyer pays 6% sales tax, and the seller has used up their free listings.
| Total amount of the sale ($400 + $24 tax) | $424.00 |
| Final value fee · 13.6% up to 7,500, 2.35% above of 424.00 | $57.66 |
| Per-order fee | $0.40 |
| Listing fee (free listings used up) | $0.35 |
| Total fees | $58.41 |
| Seller receives ($400 − fees) | $341.59 |
This matches eBay's published result of $58.41 in fees and $341.59 for the seller. The calculator above reproduces it with the same inputs.
eBay final value fees by category (US, no store)
Rates for sellers without an eBay Store, applied per item to the total amount of the sale. The 13.6% rate for most categories has applied since [object Object].
| Category | Final value fee | On a $100 sale |
|---|---|---|
| Most categories | 13.6% up to $7,500; 2.35% on the portion over $7,500 | $13.60 |
| Art NFTs | 5% | $5.00 |
| Books & Magazines | 15.3% up to $7,500; 2.35% on the portion over $7,500 | $15.30 |
| CCG NFTs | 5% | $5.00 |
| Clothing, Shoes & Accessories > Women > Women's Bags & Handbags | 15% if up to $2,000; 9% of the whole total if over $2,000 | $15.00 |
| Coins & Paper Money (except Bullion) | 13.25% up to $7,500; 2.35% on the portion over $7,500 | $13.25 |
| Coins & Paper Money > Bullion | 13.6% if up to $7,500; 7% of the whole total if over $7,500 | $13.60 |
| Comic Books & Memorabilia | 13.25% up to $7,500; 2.35% on the portion over $7,500 | $13.25 |
| Emerging NFTs | 5% | $5.00 |
| Heavy Equipment Parts & Attachments > Heavy Equipment | 3% up to $15,000; 0.5% on the portion over $15,000 | $3.00 |
| Jewelry & Watches (except Watches, Parts & Accessories) | 15% if up to $5,000; 9% of the whole total if over $5,000 | $15.00 |
| Jewelry & Watches > Watches, Parts & Accessories | 15% up to $1,000; 6.5% up to $7,500; 3% on the portion over $7,500 | $15.00 |
| Men > Men's Shoes > Athletic Shoes | 13.6% if under $150; 8% of the whole total if over $150 | $13.60 |
| Movie NFTs | 5% | $5.00 |
| Movies & TV (except Movie NFTs) | 15.3% up to $7,500; 2.35% on the portion over $7,500 | $15.30 |
| Music (except Vinyl Records and Music NFTs categories) | 15.3% up to $7,500; 2.35% on the portion over $7,500 | $15.30 |
| Music NFTs | 5% | $5.00 |
| Musical Instruments & Gear > Guitars & Basses | 6.7% up to $7,500; 2.35% on the portion over $7,500 | $6.70 |
| Non-Sport Trading Card NFTs | 5% | $5.00 |
| Non-Sport Trading Cards | 13.25% up to $7,500; 2.35% on the portion over $7,500 | $13.25 |
| Printing & Graphic Arts > Commercial Printing Presses | 3% up to $15,000; 0.5% on the portion over $15,000 | $3.00 |
| Restaurant & Food Service > Food Trucks, Trailers & Carts | 3% up to $15,000; 0.5% on the portion over $15,000 | $3.00 |
| Sport Trading Card NFTs | 5% | $5.00 |
| Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards | 13.25% up to $7,500; 2.35% on the portion over $7,500 | $13.25 |
| Toys & Hobbies > Collectible Card Games | 13.25% up to $7,500; 2.35% on the portion over $7,500 | $13.25 |
| Women > Women's Shoes > Athletic Shoes | 13.6% if under $150; 8% of the whole total if over $150 | $13.60 |
"On a $100 sale" is the final value fee alone on a $100 total amount of the sale, before the per-order fee.
Ways to keep more of each sale
- Price shipping honestly. Because the fee includes shipping, raising shipping to lower the item price does not reduce fees.
- Bundle small items. The per-order fee is fixed, so it eats 6% of a $5 order but under 1% of a $50 one.
- Check promoted listing rates against margin. A 10% ad rate on a low-margin item can wipe out the profit; use the "price needed" field to test.
- Watch your seller level. Top Rated Plus saves 10% of the variable fee; dropping below standard adds 6% of the whole sale.
Frequently asked questions
How much does eBay take from a sale in the US?
For most categories eBay charges a final value fee of 13.6% of the total amount of the sale up to $7,500 (2.35% on any portion above), plus a per-order fee of $0.40 on orders over $10.00 or $0.30 on smaller orders. On a $50 item with $8 shipping and 6% sales tax that is $8.76.
Does eBay charge fees on shipping and sales tax?
Yes. eBay's fee is a percentage of the total amount of the sale, which "includes the item price, any handling charges, any shipping costs collected from the buyer (some exceptions apply), sales tax, and any other applicable fees." Free shipping lowers the fee base; charging more for shipping does not avoid fees.
What is the eBay per-order fee?
$0.30 for orders of $10.00 or less and $0.40 for orders over $10.00. It is charged once per order, not per item, and is waived on athletic shoes when the total reaches $150.
How many free listings do I get on eBay?
Up to 250 zero-insertion-fee listings a month, more with an eBay Store. After that each listing costs $0.35, charged whether or not the item sells.
Which eBay categories have lower fees?
Heavy equipment, commercial printing presses and food trucks pay 3% up to $15,000; guitars and basses 6.7%; athletic shoes 8% once the sale reaches $150; NFTs 5%. Books, movies and music pay more, at 15.3%.
What does Promoted Listings cost?
You choose an ad rate between 2% and 100%. With the general (cost-per-sale) strategy you only pay it when the item sells within 30 days of a click on your ad, and it is charged on the total sale amount including shipping and tax.
Are there extra fees for international buyers?
Yes, 1.65% of the total amount of the sale when the buyer's registered address is outside the US.
How does Top Rated Plus or a below-standard rating change my fees?
Top Rated Plus listings get 10% off the variable part of the final value fee (not the per-order fee). Below-standard sellers pay an extra 6% of the total sale amount, rising to 7% after four months.
Sources
- eBay: Selling fees (US) — checked 2026-10-20
- eBay: Seller standards policy (Top Rated Plus discount, surcharges)
- eBay: Promoted Listings
- eBay Seller Center: January 2025 final value fee update
- eBay: Store selling fees (for sellers with a store)
Information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Check the official sources linked on each page.