How much does eBay take from a sale? For most categories in 2026, the final value fee is 13.6% of the total sale amount plus a $0.30 to $0.40 per-order fee. Here is the complete breakdown so you can price with confidence instead of guessing.
Final value fees: the main cost
The final value fee is eBay's commission, charged on the total amount of the sale: item price plus buyer-paid shipping and handling. Key 2026 rates:
- Most categories: 13.6% on the first $7,500, then 2.35% above that
- Books, DVDs, music: 15.3%
- Collectibles and trading cards: 13.25%
- Guitars and basses: 6.7%
- Store subscribers: discounted rates (about 0.9 to 1% lower depending on tier)
Per-order and insertion fees
Every order carries a fixed per-order fee: $0.30 on orders of $10 or less, $0.40 above $10. Listing is free for your first 250 listings per month; beyond that, insertion fees run $0.35 per listing whether the item sells or not. Most casual sellers never pay insertion fees, but high-volume Good-Til-Cancelled inventory can burn through the free allowance on renewals.
A worked example: a $50 sale
Sell a $50 item with $5 buyer-paid shipping in a standard category. Final value fee: 13.6% of $55 ($7.48), plus the $0.40 per-order fee. Total eBay fees: $7.88, leaving $47.12 before your product cost and what you actually paid the carrier. Check your exact category and numbers with our free eBay fee calculator.
Fees that surprise sellers
Promoted Listings ad fees (a percentage you choose, charged only when the ad leads to a sale), international fees of about 1.65% on cross-border orders, and below-standard seller surcharges can all stack on top. The listing upgrade options (bold titles, extra photos beyond the free ones) are rarely worth it for most sellers.
Rates verified against eBay's published 2026 schedule. eBay changed its base rate in 2026, so guides quoting 13.25% for most categories are out of date. Always confirm current fees in Seller Hub before pricing.