Short answer: on most eBay.com sales, eBay takes 13.6% of the total (item + shipping + tax) plus $0.30 or $0.40 per order — about 14% of what the buyer pays. Below are the real dollar amounts at different prices, and what pushes the number up or down.
Fees verified against eBay's official United States fee pages on 13 October 2026. Checked daily for changes (fee change tracker). Source: eBay eBay.com fee page.
The formula in one line
That's for most categories, no store, a buyer in the US and no promoted listings.
eBay's cut at different prices
| Total sale | Final value fee | Per-order fee | Total eBay fee | % of sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | $1.36 | $0.30 | $1.66 | 16.6% |
| $25 | $3.40 | $0.40 | $3.80 | 15.2% |
| $50 | $6.80 | $0.40 | $7.20 | 14.4% |
| $100 | $13.60 | $0.40 | $14.00 | 14.0% |
| $250 | $34.00 | $0.40 | $34.40 | 13.8% |
| $500 | $68.00 | $0.40 | $68.40 | 13.7% |
| $1000 | $136.00 | $0.40 | $136.40 | 13.6% |
The effective rate falls as the price rises because the per-order fee is fixed: $0.30 is 3% of a $10 sale but a rounding error on $1,000.
What makes eBay take more
- Buyer abroad: +1.65% of the total (waived if you use eBay International Shipping).
- Promoted listings: your chosen ad rate — often 2–20% — on top.
- Below Standard account: +6 percentage points (a 13.6% fee becomes 19.6%).
- Books, movies & music: 15.3% — a $40 box set costs $6.52.
- Jewelry & handbags: 15% (jewelry up to $5,000, handbags up to $2,000).
What makes eBay take less
- Sneakers $150+: 8% and no per-order fee — a $200 pair costs $16.00.
- Guitars: 6.7% — a $600 guitar costs $40.60.
- Trading cards & coins: 13.25%.
- A Basic store or higher: a lower table — 12.7% on most categories, 9.35% on phones and cameras, 7.35% on laptops and consoles. A $500 laptop costs $37.15 with a store vs $68.40 without.
- Top Rated Plus listings: 10% off the final value fee.
- Expensive items: above $7,500 per item the rate drops to 2.35% on the excess in most categories.
How much eBay takes in other countries
eBay's cut depends on the site you sell on — and in several European countries private sellers now pay nothing:
| Country | Private sellers | Business / standard | Per-order fee (paid) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Same as business | 3%–15.3% | $0.30 (orders ≤ $10) / $0.40 |
| Canada | Same as business | 3%–15.3% | C$0.30 (orders ≤ C$10) / C$0.40 |
| United Kingdom | Free | 6.9%–14.9% | £0.30 (orders ≤ £10) / £0.40 |
| Germany | Free | 6.5%–16% | €0.35 (orders ≤ €10) / €0.45 |
| France | Free | 5%–12% | €0.35 |
| Italy | Free | 6.5%–12.5% | €0.35 |
| Spain | 11.5% | 5%–9% | €0.35 (orders ≤ €10) / €0.45 |
| Netherlands | 11% | 6.5%–11% | €0.35 (orders ≤ €10) / €0.45 |
| Australia | Free | 13.4% | A$0.30 |
Your take-home isn't just sale minus fees
Your profit also depends on what you paid for the item, your real shipping cost, packaging, returns and tax.
The eBay profit calculator puts it all on one screen — pick your country, category and store plan and see net profit, ROI and margin.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage does eBay take from a sale?
On eBay.com, 13.6% of the total for most categories plus $0.30–$0.40 per order — about 14% overall. Category, store plan, international buyers and promoted listings change it.
Does eBay take fees on shipping?
Yes — the percentage is calculated on the total including the shipping you charge.
Does eBay charge a separate payment fee?
No. Payment processing is included in the final value fee.
Which category has the lowest eBay fee?
Heavy equipment (3%, 0.5% above $15,000) and NFTs (5%). Among everyday categories, guitars (6.7%) and sneakers over $150 (8%, no per-order fee).