A seller lists a used smartphone for $250 on both platforms and waits to see which bite hurts more. The answer depends on category, subscription tier, fulfillment method, and a dozen other variables—but the numbers tell a clear story when you line them up.
Core fee structures
eBay charges a final value fee (FVF) of 13.6% on most items, plus a fixed per-order fee of $0.40. Amazon charges a referral fee that ranges from 8% to 15% depending on category, with no fixed per-order component for most sellers. Both platforms add layers on top of these base rates.
For eBay, the 13.6% applies to the item price plus shipping. The $0.40 per-order fee caps at $300. International sales incur an additional 1.65% surcharge. Sellers with below-standard performance face a 6% surcharge; those with poor performance pay 8% extra. There is no regulatory operating fee in the US (it remains at 0%).
Amazon's referral fees vary sharply by category. Electronics typically sit at 8%. Clothing, jewelry, and personal care hit 15%. Amazon also charges fulfillment fees for FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) orders, which range from $3.22 for a small standard item to over $20 for large or oversize items. FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant) sellers avoid fulfillment fees but lose the Prime badge and algorithmic favor.
Category-by-category breakdown
eBay's category rates diverge significantly from the standard 13.6%:
- Books & Media: 15.3%
- Clothing & Accessories: 15.0%
- Jewelry: 15.0%
- Sports Sneakers: 8.0%
- Guitars: 6.7%
Amazon's referral structure for the same categories:
- Books: 15% (plus a $1.80 closing fee for media)
- Clothing & Accessories: 17% (first $20) then 10%
- Jewelry: 20% (first $250) then 5%
- Shoes: 15%
- Musical Instruments: 15%
For a $100 pair of sneakers, eBay takes $8.40 (8.0% + $0.40). Amazon takes $15.00 (15%) plus FBA fulfillment (~$4.50 for standard shoes), totaling around $19.50. eBay wins on fees; Amazon wins on reach and Prime eligibility.
When comparing marketplace fees, always calculate total cost including fulfillment. A lower referral fee means nothing if you pay $8 extra to ship each item yourself.
Subscription tiers
eBay offers four paid store tiers in the US, each providing a discount on the final value fee and a bundle of free insertion listings:
- Starter: $4.95/mo, saves 2% on FVF, 100 free listings
- Basic: $21.95/mo, saves 4% on FVF, 500 free listings
- Premium: $59.95/mo, saves 5% on FVF, 2,000 free listings
- Anchor: $499.95/mo, saves 7% on FVF, unlimited listings
The Anchor tier cuts FVF by 7 percentage points, reducing the standard rate from 13.6% to 6.6%. The breakeven point sits around $7,100 in monthly sales for standard-category items. High-volume sellers reach breakeven faster; low-volume sellers never justify the $499.95 monthly cost.
Amazon's Individual plan costs $0.99 per sale with no monthly fee. The Professional plan costs $39.99/mo with no per-sale fee. Referral rates remain the same across both plans. The Professional plan unlocks bulk listing tools, advertising eligibility, and access to restricted categories. Breakeven occurs at 40 sales per month.
Neither platform's subscription reduces fulfillment costs. eBay stores reduce FVF; Amazon Pro removes the per-item fee. The math favors eBay stores for high-value items and Amazon Pro for high-volume, low-margin goods.
Fulfillment costs
eBay sellers ship items themselves or use third-party services. eBay provides discounted shipping labels through partnerships with USPS, UPS, and FedEx—typically 10% to 30% below retail. Sellers keep full control over packaging, speed, and carrier choice. The trade-off: you handle customer service, returns, and logistics.
Amazon FBA charges per-unit fees based on size tier and weight. A small standard item (up to 12 oz) costs $3.22. A large standard item (1–2 lb) costs $5.42. Oversize items exceed $20. Monthly storage fees add $0.87 per cubic foot (Jan–Sep) or $2.40 (Oct–Dec). Long-term storage (over 365 days) costs an additional $6.90 per cubic foot.
FBA includes Prime eligibility, free returns processing, and Amazon customer service. You ship inventory in bulk to Amazon warehouses; they handle individual orders. The cost structure favors small, fast-moving items. Large or slow-moving products rack up storage fees that often exceed the referral savings.
Payment processing
eBay rolled payment processing into managed payments in 2021. Sellers no longer pay separate PayPal fees. The FVF and per-order fee cover payment processing. Payouts occur daily, weekly, or on-demand after a brief initial hold period.
Amazon does not charge separate payment processing fees for most transactions. Referral fees cover the cost. Sellers using Amazon Pay outside the marketplace pay 2.9% + $0.30, but standard marketplace sales face no additional payment charge.
Both platforms hold funds for new sellers. eBay typically releases funds within 2 business days; Amazon holds payments for 7 days (14 days for new accounts). Neither charges for payouts to a US bank account.
Other fees and surcharges
eBay charges optional fees for listing upgrades—bold titles, subtitles, scheduled listings, and promoted listings. Promoted listings cost between 2% and 15% of the sale price (you set the rate). Insertion fees apply if you exceed your monthly free listing allotment, typically $0.35 per listing.
Amazon charges $0.99 per item for Individual sellers, as noted. Refund administration fees range from $5 to $20 if a buyer returns a product and you're at fault (defective item, wrong description). High-volume refunds trigger account review. Amazon also deducts referral fees on shipping charges for certain categories, though not all.
Both platforms charge rental or monthly storage for specific programs. Amazon's storage fees are mandatory for FBA. eBay offers optional vault storage for trading cards but does not charge storage for typical inventory.
Which platform costs less
For a $50 book, eBay charges $8.05 (15.3% + $0.40). Amazon charges $9.30 (15% + $1.80 closing fee) plus FBA fulfillment of around $3.50, totaling $12.80. eBay costs less, but Amazon moves more volume and reaches Prime members.
For a $500 guitar, eBay charges $33.90 (6.7% + $0.40). Amazon charges $75.00 (15%) plus FBA fees of $15+ for a large package, totaling over $90. eBay wins decisively on fees. Shipping a guitar yourself costs $25–$40, still leaving eBay ahead.
For a $20 T-shirt, eBay charges $3.40 (15.0% + $0.40). Amazon charges $3.40 (17% on first $20) plus FBA fees of around $3.50, totaling $6.90. Amazon costs more, but Prime members buy T-shirts in seconds. Conversion rates often double on Amazon for commodity apparel.
Run the numbers for your catalog using the eBay profit calculator to see category-specific breakdowns. Small differences in FVF compound over hundreds of sales.
Frequently asked questions
Does Amazon charge more fees than eBay?
Amazon's referral fees range from 8% to 20%, while eBay's FVF sits at 13.6% for most categories. Amazon often costs more in referral fees alone, but eBay adds a $0.40 per-order fee. FBA fulfillment fees push Amazon's total cost higher for most items. FBM sellers on Amazon avoid fulfillment fees but sacrifice Prime eligibility and ranking benefits. The answer depends on category, item price, and fulfillment method.
Which platform is better for high-volume sellers?
Amazon's Professional plan costs $39.99/mo with no per-item fee, making it cheaper than eBay's Individual-equivalent model after 40 sales. eBay's Anchor store at $499.95/mo cuts FVF by 7 percentage points, which benefits sellers moving $10,000+ monthly in standard categories. FBA economies of scale favor Amazon for small, fast-moving inventory. eBay favors large, high-margin items where shipping costs matter less than FVF savings. High-volume sellers often use both platforms and route products based on category and size.
Are there hidden fees on either platform?
eBay's promoted listings can add 2%–15% to your cost if you opt in. International sales add 1.65% automatically. Below-standard sellers pay 6% extra; poor-performance sellers pay 8%. Amazon's FBA long-term storage fees surprise sellers who let inventory sit past 365 days. Refund administration fees ($5–$20) apply when you're at fault for a return. Both platforms charge for optional features (bold titles on eBay, vine enrollment on Amazon), but core selling incurs only the fees outlined in their standard rate cards.