Question 1

How much does eBay take from a $100 sale?

Accepted Answer

For most categories, eBay charges 13.25% in Final Value Fees plus a $0.30 per-order processing fee. On a $100 sale with free shipping, that's $13.25 + $0.30 = $13.55 in total fees, leaving you with $86.45 before your item cost and shipping expense.

Question 2

Are eBay fees 15%?

Accepted Answer

No — eBay's fees vary by category. Most categories are 13.25% for the first $7,500 in sale value, then 2.35% above that. Some categories have lower rates: Sneakers over $100 are 8%, Watches over $1,000 are 6.5%, and Guitars & Basses are 3.5%. Books, Music & DVDs are slightly higher at 14.95%.

Question 3

Does eBay charge fees on sales tax?

Accepted Answer

Yes — this is the most commonly missed detail in eBay fee calculators. eBay charges Final Value Fees on the total buyer payment, including any sales tax eBay collects. If eBay collects 8% sales tax on a $100 sale, the FVF is calculated on $108, not $100. This calculator includes an optional "Sales Tax %" field to account for this accurately.

Question 4

How do I calculate eBay final value fees?

Accepted Answer

Multiply the total buyer payment (sale price + shipping charged + any sales tax) by the FVF rate for your category. For most categories: total buyer payment × 13.25% + $0.30 per order. If the total exceeds $7,500, the portion above $7,500 is charged at 2.35% instead. Use the calculator above to get an instant result.

Question 5

What percentage does eBay take on a $500 sale?

Accepted Answer

For most categories on a $500 sale with no shipping: $500 × 13.25% = $66.25, plus $0.30 per-order fee = $66.55 total fees, or about 13.3% of the sale price. Your net before item cost would be $433.45. Promoted listing fees are additional if used.

Question 6

What is eBay's final value fee?

Accepted Answer

The Final Value Fee (FVF) is eBay's primary selling fee, charged as a percentage of the total sale amount (price + shipping + tax). It replaced the separate PayPal processing fee when eBay switched to managed payments. The FVF includes payment processing and varies by item category.

Question 7

How do I calculate profit on eBay?

Accepted Answer

eBay profit = Sale price + Shipping charged − Final Value Fees − Per-order fee − Shipping cost − Item cost (COGS) − Optional promoted listing fee. The key mistake sellers make is forgetting to subtract their actual shipping cost and item cost, not just the fees. Use the calculator above to get an instant result.

Question 8

What is a good profit margin for eBay selling?

Accepted Answer

Most experienced resellers target 25–40% net margin after all fees and COGS. Under 20% is generally considered thin — fees, returns, and unsold inventory eat into thin margins quickly. High-volume sellers with fast-moving inventory often accept lower margins; low-volume niche sellers typically need higher margins to make the time investment worthwhile.

Question 9

What price do I need to list at to make $20 profit on eBay?

Accepted Answer

Use the Reverse Calculator tab above. Enter your target profit ($20), item cost, shipping cost, and category. The calculator will output the minimum list price you need. It accounts for the fact that eBay charges FVF on your list price, so you need to list higher than a simple $20 + costs calculation would suggest.

Category	Rate	Notes
Most categories	13.25%	2.35% on amount over $7,500
Books, Music & DVDs	14.95%	2.35% on amount over $7,500
Clothing & Accessories	13.25%	2.35% on amount over $7,500
Athletic Shoes / Sneakers (>$100)	8%	Reduced rate for sales over $100. Under $100: standard rate applies
Watches ($1,000+)	6.5%	Applies to sales over $1,000. Under $1,000: standard rate
Guitars & Basses	3.5%	2.35% on amount over $7,500
Heavy Equipment & Trailers	2%	Capped at $300 per item

eBay Fee & Profit Calculator

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eBay Final Value Fee Rates — 2026

The eBay Profit Formula

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