eBay fees worked example: a $50 sale
Sell an item for $50 with $6 shipping charged to the buyer. eBay takes a 13.6% final value fee on the $56 total ($7.62) plus the $0.40 per-order fee. After a $20 item cost and $5 shipping, you keep $22.98 — a 41.0% margin.
The breakdown
- Order total: $50 + $6 = $56.00
- Final value fee: $56 × 13.6% = $7.62
- Per-order fee: $0.40 (orders over $10)
- Total fees: $7.62 + $0.40 = $8.02
- Item cost: $20.00
- Your shipping cost: $5.00
- You keep: $56 − $8.02 − $20 − $5 = $22.98
The shipping trap
eBay's fee applies to item + shipping charged, so every shipping dollar costs you 13.6¢ before postage. Charging exact shipping and keeping it lean protects margin. Try your own numbers in the eBay fee calculator or compare against Etsy in the Etsy vs eBay comparison.
Frequently asked questions
What are eBay's fees on a $50 sale?
$8.02: $7.62 final value fee (13.6% of the $56 order total) plus the $0.40 per-order fee.
Does eBay charge fees on shipping?
Yes — the final value fee applies to the item price plus shipping charged to the buyer, which is why lean shipping protects your margin.
What is eBay's final value fee percentage?
13.6% for most categories (no-store sellers), plus $0.40 per order over $10. Category rates vary — eBay Motors, for example, is far lower.