eBay Fees 2026: How Much Does eBay Take per Sale?
eBay's fee structure is simpler than most marketplaces, but it has one detail that catches many sellers out: the percentage is charged on the whole order, not just your item price.
Short answer: for most categories in the US, eBay takes about 13.6% of the total sale plus $0.40 per order ($0.30 if the order is $10 or less).
The final value fee
The final value fee is eBay's main charge. For most categories it is about 13.6%, after a 0.35 percentage-point increase in February 2025. Some categories are higher - for example, books, movies and music are listed at about 15.3%.
What surprises sellers is what the percentage is applied to. eBay calculates it on the total amount the buyer pays, which includes:
- the item price
- the shipping you charge
- sales tax collected on the order
The per-order fee
On top of the percentage, every order pays a fixed fee:
| Order total | Per-order fee |
|---|---|
| $10 or less | $0.30 |
| Over $10 | $0.40 |
On cheap items this fixed fee matters a lot. On a $5 order, $0.30 is another 6%.
Worked example: a $29.99 item
You sell a $29.99 item with free shipping. It costs you $10 and $5 to pack and ship.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sale price | $29.99 |
| Final value fee (13.6%) | −$4.08 |
| Per-order fee | −$0.40 |
| Product cost | −$10.00 |
| Shipping & packaging | −$5.00 |
| Net profit | $10.51 (35.0% margin) |
The sales tax effect
If the buyer also pays 8% sales tax ($2.40), eBay's percentage applies to that too. That adds about $0.33 in fees on this order, even though the tax itself is passed to the state. It is small per order, but it adds up over hundreds of sales.
Price for a 25% margin
To keep a 25% profit margin on this product, you need to sell it for at least $25.09 on eBay. That is slightly more than Amazon ($25.00) because of the per-order fee.
Ways to lower your eBay fees
- eBay Store subscription: store subscribers get lower final value fees in many categories. Worth it once you sell regularly.
- Raise your order value: bundles and multi-buy offers spread the fixed $0.40 over more revenue.
- Avoid unnecessary promoted listing fees: advertising fees come on top of the final value fee.
Based on public information for US sellers as of October 2026. Fees vary by category and seller status. Always confirm on eBay's Seller Center.