Is Etsy or eBay cheaper for selling?

It depends on the item price and category. Etsy charges a $0.20 listing fee + 6.5% transaction + ~3% payment processing = ~10–11% total effective rate. eBay charges a $0.35 listing fee (free first 250/mo) + 13.6% final value fee (includes payment processing) + $0.40 per-order fee = ~14–15% total. Etsy is generally cheaper by about 3–4 percentage points for most items.

What are eBay's final value fees?

eBay final value fees (2026): Most categories 10.9–14.9% Clothing & Shoes 8%, Collectibles 10.9–14.9%, Electronics 8%, Motors Parts 11.5%. Plus $0.35 insertion fee per listing (first 250/month free for personal accounts).

What are Etsy's selling fees?

Etsy selling fees (2026): $0.20 listing fee per item, 6.5% transaction fee on item price + shipping, 3% + $0.25 payment processing fee (US). Etsy Plus subscription: $10/month for extra features. Offsite Ads: 15% (only when sale comes from Etsy ad).

Which platform is better for handmade items — Etsy or eBay?

Etsy is purpose-built for handmade, vintage, and craft supplies, with a buyer audience actively seeking unique items. eBay has broader reach but lower buyer intent for handmade goods. Etsy's lower fees and targeted marketplace typically make it the better choice for artisan sellers.

Does Etsy charge monthly fees?

No mandatory monthly fee for standard Etsy accounts. You only pay per listing ($0.20) and per sale. Etsy Plus ($10/month) is optional and adds features like listing credits and shop customization.

Etsy vs eBay Fee Calculator

Compare selling fees side-by-side. Enter your item price and shipping, and instantly see which platform puts more money in your pocket.

Last updated: April 2026 · Rates based on Etsy & eBay official fee pages

Sale Price ($)

Shipping Charged to Buyer ($)

eBay Category

Include Etsy Offsite Ads (15%) — applies when sale from paid ad Etsy Plus ($10/mo) — prorate per sale (÷ est. 30 sales/mo)

🟠 Etsy

Marketplace for handmade, vintage & craft

Listing Fee$0.20

Transaction Fee (6.5%)$0.00

Payment Processing (3% + $0.25)$0.00

Total Fees $0.00

Net Payout$0.00

Effective Rate0.0%

🔵 eBay

Global marketplace · 1.7B+ listings

Insertion Fee$0.35

Final Value Fee (13.6%)$0.00

Per-order Fee ($0.30 / $0.40)$0.00

Total Fees $0.00

Net Payout$0.00

Effective Rate0.0%

Etsy vs eBay: Which Platform Has Lower Fees?

For most product categories, Etsy charges lower total fees than eBay. Etsy's effective rate is typically 10–11% of the total sale value, while eBay's effective rate runs 16–18% depending on category and item price. The difference compounds significantly at higher price points — on a $100 sale, Etsy fees run about $10–11 versus eBay's $16–18.

Etsy Fee Breakdown (2026)

Listing Fee: $0.20 per item (renews every 4 months)
Transaction Fee: 6.5% of item price + shipping
Payment Processing: 3% + $0.25 per transaction (US)
Offsite Ads: 15% only when a sale originates from Etsy's paid ads (optional for shops under $10k/year)
Etsy Plus: $10/month (optional) — includes 15 listing credits and shop customization

Etsy Total Effective Rate: ~10–11% for standard sales (no Offsite Ads)

eBay Fee Breakdown (2026)

Insertion Fee: $0.35 per listing (first 250/month are free for personal sellers)
Final Value Fee: 13.6% for most categories (updated Feb 2025); 15.3% for Books/Movies/Music; 15% for Jewelry; 10.9–14.9%for select Collectibles & Coins; 6.7% for Guitars
Per-order Fee: $0.30 (orders ≤$10) / $0.40 (orders >$10) — payment processing is included in FVF, not charged separately
Promoted Listings: Additional 2–15% for eBay advertising (optional)

eBay Total Effective Rate: ~14–15% for most categories (13.6% FVF + $0.40 per order)

Fee Comparison Table

Fee Comparison Table
Fee Type	🟠 Etsy	🔵 eBay
Listing Fee	$0.20 per item	$0.35 (250 free/mo)
Transaction / Final Value	6.5%	8–14.9%
Payment Processing	3% + $0.25	Included in FVF (since 2023)
Advertising	15% (optional, Offsite Ads)	2–15% (optional)
Monthly Fee	$0 (Plus: $10)	$0 (Store: $4.95+)
Typical Effective Rate	~10–11%	~14–15%

When to Choose Etsy vs eBay

Choose Etsy if: You sell handmade, vintage (20+ years old), craft supplies, or unique items — Etsy's buyer base is specifically searching for these. Lower fees + targeted traffic = better margins.
Choose eBay if: You sell used electronics, collectibles, sports memorabilia, bulk inventory, or need auction-format pricing. eBay's 1.7B+ listings and global reach give broader access for commodity and used goods.
Sell on both if: Your items fit both markets — cross-list to maximize exposure. Tools like Vendoo and List Perfectly automate cross-platform listing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does eBay charge fees on shipping?

Yes. eBay's final value fee applies to the total amount including shipping. If your item sells for $40 + $10 shipping = $50 total, the 10.9–14.9% final value fee applies to $50, not just $40. Etsy also charges its 6.5% transaction fee on the combined item + shipping total.

What is eBay's 250 free listings policy?

Personal eBay sellers get 250 free listings per month (no insertion fee). Above 250, each listing costs $0.35. Business accounts and Store subscribers get more free listings — eBay Basic Store ($21.95/month) includes 1,000 fixed-price and 250 auction listings.

Are there taxes on Etsy or eBay fees?

Etsy fees are charged net of tax. eBay does not add tax to seller fees in most US states. However, both platforms are responsible for collecting and remitting sales tax from buyers in states with marketplace facilitator laws — this does not affect your net payout calculation.

What is Etsy's Offsite Ads fee?

Etsy runs ads on Google, Facebook, Pinterest, and other platforms. If a buyer clicks an Etsy ad and purchases within 30 days, you pay a 15% Offsite Ads fee. Sellers with under $10,000/year in sales can opt out. High-volume sellers ($10k+) are automatically enrolled.

Fee data effective: April 2026. eBay FVF 13.6% applies as of February 14, 2025 (updated from 10.9–14.9%. Payment processing is bundled in eBay FVF since 2023. Always verify on Etsy's fee page and eBay's official fee page (export.ebay.com).