Everything you Need to Know about eBay Fees: 2022

When I first started selling on eBay, I was terrified about how much eBay was going to charge me to list. I was scared of the eBay fees. Questions popped in my head like, “How much does eBay charge when the item sells?”, “Do I have to pay to list each item?”, “How do I get a discount?”, and “Do I get any fees back if my item doesn’t sell?”. I learned all the answers myself by listing things and figuring it out. In this post, you’ll find out everything you need to know about eBay fees!

If you haven’t started selling on eBay yet, you can read my post: How to Start Selling on eBay in 12 Easy Steps!

• You find out all about insertion fees
• Get the details on final value fees
• Find out what costs extra
• Learn how much PayPal charges
• Encouragement to keep listing

There are two main types of selling fees: an insertion fee when you create a listing, and a final value fee when your item sells.

All about insertion fees

An insertion fee is the cost when you create a listing to sell an item. (Usually $0.35)

How much eBay charges: Every month, you can get up to 200 zero insertion fee listings, or more if you have a store. That means it’s free to list those items, but there will still be a fee once it sells.

How many insertion fee free listings do you have? Go to My eBay > Promotional Offers. Check this throughout the month because you will often receive free listings!

Good ‘Til Cancelled listings are fixed price listings that renew automatically once a month. This means you are charged an insertion fee every month. eBay no longer has 30-day but it now, it has been replaced with Good ‘Til Canceled buy it now. You can list an item and it can sell at any time.

All about final value fees

This is the fee you are charged when your item sells. (Usually about 12% + $0.30 transaction fee.)

The fee is calculated as a percentage of the total amount of the sale that the buyer pays, including the shipping.

If your item sells but the buyer does not pay or you need to cancel the item, you will get your final value fees credited back.

How much eBay charges: Most categories are about 12% final value fee, except for a few such as books, movies, music, heavy equipment, and guitars.

I love using this eBay fee and profit calculator. It really helps to see how much you’re paying in fees and how much you should list an item for if you have a desired profit goal. But the ultimate way to know how much you are spending is to check out your account summary on your seller hub.

The fees for listing an item depend on the price, format and category you choose, and whether you add any optional upgrades.

Are there any extra eBay listing fees?

Yes. When you upgrade your listing, you are charged. I wouldn’t suggest you upgrade your listing, but everyone is different. Here are the fees for when you upgrade a Good ‘Til Cancelled listing under $150.

How can you save money listing on eBay?

Take advantage of the promotions. eBay will often run promotions such as 50% off final value fees in clothing or 100 free zero insertion fee listings.

Avoid upgrading your listings. Every dollar adds up when you’re calculating your fees, so only add upgrades if needed.

Charge the buyer for shipping. Buyers don’t mind paying for shipping because it’s part of shopping online! When you offer free shipping, it eats into your profit.

Buy an eBay store. When you buy a store, your fees go down from 12% to 11.5%. Plus, you receive hundreds or thousands of zero insertion fee listings. Find out how much it costs in this post: Should you Buy an eBay Store?

All about eBay Managed Payments

Before the end of 2020, all eBay transactions would go through PayPal. Now eBay offers managed payments, which just means that your funds get sent to your bank account.

Why did eBay go to managed payments? There were 3 main reasons:

1. Simpler to sell: Checkout is more flexible, with an easier experience for buyers
2. Simpler to get paid: Payouts are automatic, sent directly to your checking account
3. Simpler to manage: Operations run smoother, with simplified fees, integrated reporting and streamlined support

Here are a few benefits for sellers:

• Choice: Buyers have more payment options (credit, debit, and gift cards; Apple Pay; Google Pay; PayPal and PayPal Credit). No separate PayPal account required – for buyers or sellers.
• Convenience: Access everything you need, all in one place: consolidated fees, customized reports, refunds and returns, labels, simplified protections and tax documentation.
• Streamlined operations: Payouts directly into your bank account – you can choose to schedule these daily as funds are available, or weekly. Regardless of how the buyer pays, payouts are consistently initiated Monday through Friday within 2 business days of order confirmation.

Final encouragement

A lot of people are scared of all the eBay fees. But you learn fast! The key is to charge the buyer for shipping. This way, you aren’t losing any money. Don’t let the fees stop you! There’s nothing more exciting than making $50 off something you bought for $1 at a garage sale. It is work, and you have to have lots of self-discipline to be a good eBay seller. 

Paying eBay all these fees may sound like a lot. But think of it as you’re paying for advertisement to sell your items.

Don’t give up. Sometimes you will get upset because an angry buyer wants to return an item, or you may not make as much as you wanted on an item that sold. The more you sell, the more you figure out what works for you. 

When you do buy to resell: Don’t invest too much on each item, because you make money at the buy. List items just a little more than what they have been selling for. Keep your inventory organized as you list. Ship items that sell every night. Keep your shipping cost low, this is how you make more. Retake your pictures if your items are not selling. One thing to remember: if you don’t list, you don’t last. The more you list on eBay = the more you sell = the more you make. So don’t give up! Keep listing because eBay works.

Why do you love selling on eBay?

Where do you like to find items to resell?

What is your best flip so far?

I was not sponsored or gifted any of these products. Some of the links are affiliated, which means that by purchasing I make a small amount at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting me!