eBay fee calculator: final value fee and what you keep
eBay's fee is a percentage of the total the buyer pays — including shipping and tax in most categories — plus a fixed amount per order. Put your numbers in and see the truth.
Final value fee percentages vary by category, seller level and country, and eBay changes them. Defaults are a starting point — replace them with what your own payout report shows.
What eBay takes
| Charge | How it works |
|---|---|
| Final value fee | A percentage of the total the buyer pays, usually including shipping and handling; the percentage depends on category and seller level |
| Fixed per-order fee | A set amount on every order, which matters most on cheap items |
| Promoted listings | An ad rate you choose, charged on sales that came through the promotion |
| Store subscription | A monthly fee that lowers the percentage — worth it only above a sales volume you can calculate |
The three mistakes that turn a profit into a loss
- Leaving shipping out. On most categories the fee applies to what the buyer pays for postage, so "free shipping" is not free — it is a fee-bearing price cut.
- Ignoring the fixed fee on cheap items. A $9 item with a 30-cent fixed charge loses a bigger share than a $90 item on the same percentage.
- Charging cost of goods at purchase price. Cleaning, parts, packaging and returns belong in the unit cost or the margin is imaginary.
One sale is an anecdote; the month is the business
The calculator answers a single listing. The month — fees, shipping, returns, ad spend, all of it together — is where sellers discover which items are quietly losing money. Margin Guard does that from your orders export: free for up to 200 orders, no account, no login.
Income and expenses with the tax split out, input tax credits, mileage at the CRA rate, and a quarterly summary of what you owe or get back.
GST/HST, Expense & Mileage Tracker — US$19