What Percentage Does eBay Take From A Sale A Seller Makes? [ Explainer]

What percentage does eBay take for every sale a seller makes? I guess you plan to start selling items on eBay and you’re curious to get a detailed answer to this question. No worries! I’m here to help you.

This post will discuss in detail seller fees on eBay. In the end, you can make an informed decision as to whether the seller fee on eBay is favorable to you or not. 

What is seller fee on eBay?

This is the percentage of money eBay takes any time you sell an item on its platform. This fee is applicable to all sellers on eBay. It varies depending on the number of listings and categories. If you wonder how eBay makes money as an ecommerce giant, it is mainly from the seller fee.

Remember that it is not compulsory you pay before you sell on eBay unlike on Shopify where you must subscribe to any of the pricing plans either monthly or yearly.

The seller fee helps eBay to maintain its platform, pay wages and entitlements to its numerous employees and grow its profit. The seller fee is not peculiar to eBay. Sellers on Aliexpress and Amazon also pay it although it varies.

Percentage eBay takes for every sale

Let’s dive into eBay seller fee which is our main concern in this post.

Seller fees on eBay are of two types:

Insertion fee

This is the cost of listing items in certain categories on eBay. For an individual seller on eBay, you get 250 free listings every month. You can sell these listings for auction or fixed price. If you decide to list more than 250 items, then you have to pay $0.35 per listing. It doesn’t matter if you are listing EUC or GUC items. For sellers that want to subscribe to eBay store, the Insertion fees are as follows:

Basic: 1000/month fixed price listings and 250/month auction price listing in certain categories 

Premium: 10,000/month fixed price listings and 500/month auction price listings in certain categories 

Anchor: 25,000/month fixed price listings and 1000/month  auction price listings

Enterprise: 100,000/month fixed price listings and 2500/month auction price listings 

Final value fee 

This fee is calculated based on the following:

• The total amount of sale including the price of the item
• Shipping fee
• Sales tax
• Other applicable fees

Now let’s look at the percentage eBay takes for sales (final value fee for individual sellers according to category)

For most of the categories: 12.9% of the total amount of sale that is up to $7500 per item, 2.35% for any item that is sold above $7500, and $ 0.30 per order.

Sneakers that are above $100: 8% of the total amount of sale per item and a $0.30 order fee is not charged

 Basses & Guitars: 6% of the total amount of sale that is up to $7500 per item, 2.35% of any sale that is over $7500. $0.30 per order applies.

Trading cards like Baseball or Basketball trading cards: 12.9% of the total amount of sales that are up to $7500, 2.35% of sales that is over $7500, and a $0.30 fee per order.

Heavy equipment like tractors and bulldozers: 3% on the total amount of sale that is up to $15,000, 0.5% of the sale that is over $15,000, and $0.30 fee per order.

Magazines & Books, Movies & TV, Music( except Vinyl Record): 14.6% of the total amount of sale that is up to $7500 per item,  2.35% of the sale for items over $7500 and $0.30 per order. 

Most jewelry ( except watches): 12.55% of the total amount of sale that is up to $7500 per item,  2.35% of sale that is over $7500, and a $0.30 order fee. 

Bullion: 12.9% if the total amount of sale is up to $7500 or less per item, 7% if the total amount of sale is over $7500, and $0.30 per order.

Watches: 15% of the total amount of sales that is up to $1000 per item, 6.5% of sales over $1000 and up to $7500, 3% of the sale that is over $7500, and $0.30 per order. 

Women’s bag: 15% if the total amount of the sale is $2000 or less per item, 9% if the total amount of sale per item is over $2000, and $0.30 per order 

NFTs: 5% of the total amount of sale, and $0.30 per order.

Final value of fee for eBay store subscribers according to categories

Most categories: 12% of the total amount of the sale that is up to $2,500 per item, 2.35%  of the sale that is  above $2,500 per item,  and $0.30 per order

Most accessories & auto parts: 11% of the total amount of  sale up that is up to  $1,000 per item, 2.35% of the sale that is over $1,000 per item, and $0.30 per order

Most consumer electronics, cameras, and smartphones: 9% of the total amount of the sale which is up to $2,500 per item, 2.35% of the amount of sale which is over $2,500 per item, and $0.30 per order.

Paper and coin money (except Bullion): 8.8% of the total amount of sale up to $4,000 per item, 2.35% of sale that is over $4,000, and $0.30 per order.

Trading cards: 12% of the total amount of sale that is up to $2,500 per item, 2.35% of the sale that is over $2,500, and $0.30 per order.

Computers: 6.8% of the total amount of sale that is up to $2,500 per item, 2.35% of the sale that is over $2,500, and $0.30 per order.

Most Jewelry (except Watches): 12.5% of the total amount of sale that is up to $1,000 per item,  4% of the sale that is over  $1,000 and up to $5,000 per item, 3% of the sale that is over $5,000 and $0.30 per order.

Books & magazines, movies & TV, and music (except Vinyl Records): 14.6% of total sales up to $2,500 per item, 2.35% of the sale that is over $2,500, and $0.30 per order.

Most musical instruments & gear: 9.8% of the total amount of sale up to $2,500 per item,  2.35% of the sale that is over $2,500, and $0.30 per order.

Pro Audio and DJ equipment: 8.8% of the total amount of sale which is up to $2,500 per item, 2.35% of the sale which is over $2,500, and $0.30 per order.

 Bases & guitars: 6% of the total amount of sale that is up to $2,500 per item, 2.35% of the sale that is over $2,500 per item,  and $0.30 per order.

Women’s bag: 13% if the total amount of the sale is $2,000 or less per item, 7% if the total amount of the sale is over $2,000  per item, and $0.30 per order.

Video game: 6.8% of the total amount of sale that is up to $2,500 per item, 2.35% of the sale that is over $2,500, and $0.30 per order.

Stamps: 9% of the total amount of the sale that is up to $2,500 per item, 2.35% of the sale that is over $2,500, and $0.30 per order.

Sneakers (over $100): 7% of the total amount of sale and $0.30 per order is not charged.

NFTs: 5% of the total amount of the sale and $0.30 per order.

I listed these seller fees for ( individuals & eBay store subscribers) in the categories listed above because they are more popular than other categories. Click here to find the percentage eBay takes for items sold in other categories I didn’t list.

Key takeaways  from eBay seller fee

• The percentage eBay takes depends on the category of your listings
• Seller fee for sellers  who subscribed  to eBay store is lower compared to individual sellers who didn’t subscribe 
• Seller fee for items in the NFTs category is low

FAQs on eBay seller fee

Before I call it a wrap,  let’s look at some questions you ask that relate to seller fees on eBay

How do I avoid eBay fees?

The only way to avoid eBay fees is to work hard not to make a sale on their platform. I know you don’t wish for that. As long as you sell an item on eBay, you must pay a seller fee which depends on the category of the item you sold.

How much does eBay take per item?

It depends on the category of the item.  For most categories, it is 12.9% of the total amount of sale per item for individual sellers and 12% of the total amount of sale per item for sellers that subscribed to eBay store.

How much does it charge if I don’t sell an item?

eBay doesn’t charge you if you don’t sell an item. However, you will pay your monthly fee if you are a seller that subscribed to eBay store whether you sell or not. Also as an individual seller who lists more than 250 items, you will pay $0.35 to list an item after you have used up the free 250 listings. It doesn’t matter if you sell the item or not. 

Final thought on seller fee on eBay 

I trust you now understand eBay seller fees and the percentages eBay will take for an item you sell in a category. It is up to you to decide if it is worth it and the category that will favor you. While the seller fee for eBay store subscribers seems less, you can start as an individual seller since you have 250 free listings.