How to use the eBay Selling Fees
- Enter the sale price and any postage you charge the buyer.
- Enter the final value fee percentage for your category and the fixed per-order fee.
- Add your item cost and the actual postage and packaging you pay.
- Read the net profit and margin.
How the calculation works
eBay's final value fee is charged on the total amount the buyer pays, which includes shipping and often tax. Charging postage separately therefore does not escape the fee, and free shipping simply moves the same total into the item price. A fixed per-order fee is added on top, which again hits low-value items hardest.
Category percentages differ, store subscriptions reduce them, and promoted listing fees are an additional percentage on sales that come through promotion. Sellers also underestimate packaging and the cost of a mis-sold or damaged item, so a realistic profit figure includes a small allowance for returns and postage disputes.
Net = (price + postage charged) × (1 − FVF%) − fixed fee − item cost − actual postage − packagingSource: eBay final value fee structure applied to total amount of sale. VERIFY current category percentages and per-order fees on eBay's published fee pages.
Worked example
An item sells for 64.00 with 4.99 postage charged; FVF 13.25% plus 0.30; item cost 22.00; actual postage 6.40; packaging 0.85.
- Total buyer pays = 68.99.
- Final value fee = 68.99 × 0.1325 = 9.14, plus 0.30 = 9.44.
- Costs = 22.00 + 6.40 + 0.85 = 29.25.
- Net = 68.99 − 9.44 − 29.25 = 30.30.
About 30.30 profit on a 68.99 sale, a 43.9% margin — before any promoted listing fee.
Frequently asked questions
Is the fee charged on postage as well as the item?+
Yes. The final value fee applies to the total the buyer pays, so charging postage separately does not avoid it. Free shipping built into the price costs the same in fees.
Do store subscriptions save money?+
They lower final value percentages and include free listings, so they pay off above a monthly volume threshold. Compare the subscription cost against your last three months of fees before subscribing.
How much do promoted listings add?+
Promoted listing ad rates are an extra percentage charged only on sales attributed to the promotion. Include the rate you actually set as a cost per unit, since it comes straight out of margin.
What happens to fees on a refund?+
The variable portion is generally credited on a full refund, but the fixed per-order fee is often retained, and you still absorb the outbound postage. Returns are rarely cost-neutral.
Last reviewed August 31, 2026. We review this page whenever the underlying formula, tax year, published rate or standard changes.