What this calculator does
Find out what eBay takes from a sale and how much profit you have left. Enter the price, the shipping and what the item cost you, and you'll see each fee on its own line.
The surprise on eBay is what the percentage is charged on. It isn't only your item price. It's the whole order, and that includes shipping and the sales tax your buyer pays. These rates come from eBay's US selling fees page, checked on October 31, 2026.
Where it's used
Why this math matters outside the classroom:
- Pricing a resale. A reseller checks that a $50 item bought for $10 still clears $31.60 after fees and shipping.
- Choosing a category. A musician sees a used guitar pays 6.7% rather than the 13.6% rate of most categories.
- Clearing small items. A seller clearing a closet finds a $6 sale loses $1.12 to fees and decides to bundle small items.
- Bookkeeping. A side seller records a $55 sale as $46.60 received plus $8.40 in fees.
How to use it
- Pick the category closest to your item.
- Enter the item sale price, the shipping the buyer pays, and what shipping costs you.
- Enter what you paid for the item and the sales tax rate for your buyer.
- Add an ad or boost fee if you promote the listing, or leave it at 0.
What the inputs mean
- Category
- Category rates vary, and this list covers four groups. Jewelry, watches, handbags and athletic shoes aren't modeled. The trading card rate was hard to read on eBay's page, so check eBay's table for your category.
- Sales tax rate
- Use the rate where your buyer lives. You don't keep this money, but it still raises the fee. A rate near your own area is fine for a quick estimate.
- Ad or boost fee, if any
- If you pay to promote a listing, enter that percent here. The calculator applies it to the price plus shipping.
Formula and method
order total = price + shipping + sales tax final value fee = order total × category rate eBay fees = final value fee + per-order fee you keep = price + shipping − eBay fees profit = you keep − shipping cost − item cost
The final value fee is the big one. In most categories, it's 13.6% of the order total. That rate covers the first $7,500 of the order, and anything above that is charged 2.35%.
The per-order fee is small and flat. It's $0.30 on orders of $10 or less and $0.40 on anything larger.
Listings are separate. You get 250 free listings a month, and after that each one costs $0.35 in most categories. The calculator doesn't add that charge, so count it in your item cost if it applies to you.
Worked example
You sell a $50 item in a most-categories listing. The buyer pays $5 shipping and 7% sales tax. Shipping costs you $5, and you paid $10 for the item.
- Sales tax is 7% of $55, which is $3.85. The order total is $50 + $5 + $3.85 = $58.85.
- The final value fee is $58.85 × 13.6% = $8.00.
- The order is over $10, so the per-order fee is $0.40. Your eBay fees are $8.40.
- You keep $55 − $8.40 = $46.60.
- Take off your costs: $46.60 − $5 − $10 = $31.60.
Result: eBay's fees are $8.40 and your profit is $31.60, which is 63.2% of the $50 price.
Understanding the result
Sales tax has a real cost here, even though you never keep it. Run the same sale at 0% tax and the fee is $7.88. So the buyer's $3.85 in tax costs you $0.52. Two identical sales can have different fees because the buyers live in different places.
Picking the right category can matter more than any small price change. With the same $50 sale, the fee is $4.34 for guitars and basses and $8.20 for trading cards and comic books. It's $8.40 for most categories and $9.40 for books, movies and music. Your profit runs from $30.60 to $35.66. List the item where it truly belongs, then use that rate.
Moving money between price and shipping doesn't help. A $55 item with free shipping has the same $58.85 order total, so the fee stays $8.40.
Watch the fee when you price low. On a $6 sale with no shipping or tax, the fee is $1.12. That's close to 19% of the price.
Assumptions and limitations
- This is a US seller on the standard rates, with no Store subscription.
- Sales tax is worked out on the price plus shipping.
- Each fee is rounded to the nearest cent, so eBay's total could differ by a cent.
- This is an estimate. eBay's order details show the actual fee.
- Store subscribers pay lower rates, and those aren't modeled.
- Athletic shoes at $150 or more have an 8% rate and no per-order fee. That isn't modeled either.
- The $20 dispute fee and listing fees past your free 250 aren't included.
Frequently asked questions
How much does eBay take on a $50 sale?
With $5 shipping and 7% sales tax in most categories, eBay takes $8.40. You keep $46.60 before your own costs.
Does eBay really charge fees on sales tax?
Yes. The final value fee is based on the total sale, including shipping and sales tax. On our $58.85 example, the tax adds $0.52 to the fee.
Can a low-priced order get a smaller per-order fee?
Yes, but the order total decides it, not the price alone. A $9.50 item with 7% tax comes to about $10.17, so it pays $0.40 rather than $0.30. Its total fee is $1.78.
Why isn't my category listed?
We only list four groups. Rates vary by category, so check eBay's table for your category. If it isn't close to one of these, treat this result as a rough guide.
How current are these rates?
We read them from eBay's US selling fees page on October 31, 2026. Your order details are the final word.
Sources
- eBay: Selling fees (checked 2026-10-31)
How this calculator is checked
Method: eBay US selling fees page, read 2026-10-31. Rates and how each fee is charged are in src/lib/finance/selling-fees.ts. The calculation is covered by automated tests with known reference values and edge cases. Last updated 2026-10-31. Found a problem? Tell us.
Embed this calculator
Put this eBay Fee Calculator on your own website or blog for free. Paste this code where you want it to appear: