
How Much Does It Cost to Sell on eBay in 2025?
Whether you’re clearing out your garage or building a thriving side hustle, eBay continues to be one of the most accessible platforms to sell online. But before you jump in, one important question often pops up:
How much does it cost to sell on eBay in 2025?
The answer depends on what you’re selling, how often you sell, and whether you choose a store subscription. eBay’s fee structure can seem confusing at first, but once you break it down, it’s easy to understand where your money is going—and how to keep more of it.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through all the current eBay seller fees in 2025, help you calculate your true cost of selling, and offer a few tips to boost your profitability.
The Two Main Types of eBay Fees
Selling on eBay comes with two main types of fees:
- Insertion Fees (a listing fee)
- Final Value Fees (a fee based on what your item sells for)
Let’s break each of these down.
Insertion Fees: Your Upfront Cost
Every time you list an item on eBay, you’re charged an insertion fee. But here’s the good news:
eBay gives you up to 250 free listings per month if you don’t have a store.
After that, you’ll pay $0.35 per listing.
Example:
- You list 275 items in a month.
- First 250 are free.
- Remaining 25 = 25 x $0.35 = $8.75 in insertion fees
If you own an eBay Store, your monthly listing limit increases depending on the subscription level (more on that shortly).
Final Value Fees: eBay’s Commission
Once your item sells, eBay charges a final value fee. This is usually a percentage of the total sale price (including shipping and tax) plus a fixed fee.
In 2025, the standard final value fee for most categories is 13.25% + $0.30 per order.
But it can vary. Some categories like electronics or collectibles may have slightly lower rates (8% to 12.9%), while high-ticket items like jewelry or musical instruments may have caps on maximum fees.
Example:
- You sell a pair of shoes for $60 (including shipping and tax).
- Final value fee = 13.25% of $60 = $7.95
- Plus $0.30 fixed fee = $8.25 total
eBay Store Subscription Costs (Optional)
If you plan on selling frequently, opening an eBay Store can be a smart move. It gives you more free listings and lowers some of your fees.
Here’s a breakdown of eBay Store subscription costs in 2025:
Plan | Monthly Fee | Free Listings | Final Value Fee Discount |
---|---|---|---|
Starter | $4.95 | 250 | No discount |
Basic | $21.95 | 1,000 | Slight discount |
Premium | $59.95 | 10,000 | Greater discount |
Anchor | $299.95 | 25,000+ | Highest discount |
Enterprise | $2,999.95 | Custom | For high-volume sellers |
If you’re just starting, the Starter or Basic plan is typically enough. But as your sales volume grows, Premium or Anchor plans can save you a lot in fees.
Payment Processing Fees (Already Included)
Since eBay introduced Managed Payments, you no longer pay extra fees to PayPal. eBay now handles everything—from the buyer’s checkout to depositing your money.
All payment processing fees are included in the final value fee.
Optional Add-On Fees
Depending on how you list your items, you may also run into optional upgrade fees like:
- Bold titles or subtitle add-ons
- Scheduled listings
- International site visibility
- Gallery Plus for enhanced photo viewing
These are small charges (typically $0.10 to $1.50) but can add up if you use them frequently.
Selling Internationally? Expect Higher Fees
Selling to customers outside your country can open up new revenue—but it can also come with higher final value fees (up to 14.55%).
You may also pay currency conversion or international shipping fees, depending on your shipping method and buyer’s location.
Real-World Fee Example
Let’s say you’re a side hustle seller with 30 items sold this month. Here’s what your costs might look like without a store:
- 30 listings = free (within your 250/month)
- Average item sells for $40 → 13.25% = $5.30 + $0.30 fixed fee
- Total per item = $5.60
- Total eBay fees = 30 x $5.60 = $168
If you had a Basic store, you could reduce those per-item fees by a few percent, potentially saving $15–$25 over the month.
Tips to Reduce eBay Seller Fees
Want to keep more of your profits? Here are some quick, practical strategies:
- Bundle products to raise your average sale price and reduce fees as a % of revenue.
- Open a store once you’re listing more than 100–150 items per month.
- Price strategically to include shipping and take advantage of free shipping filters.
- Offer combined shipping to encourage multi-item purchases.
- Use eBay’s Fee Calculator (yes, they have one!) to plan your profit margins ahead.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring shipping costs when calculating total sale price.
- Not reading fee policies for niche categories (like vehicles or high-end watches).
- Listing too many unsold items, racking up insertion fees.
- Failing to maintain seller performance standards, which can trigger extra fees.
So, Is Selling on eBay Still Worth It?
For many individuals and small businesses, yes—especially with no upfront subscription requirement and built-in traffic. But like any business model, it comes down to understanding your costs, managing your margins, and keeping operations lean.
If you’re asking, “How much does it cost to sell on eBay?” the answer in 2025 is: less than many platforms—but only if you manage your listings and pricing wisely.
Final Thoughts
eBay has come a long way since its early days as an auction-only site. Today, it’s a full-featured ecommerce platform with millions of buyers, strong mobile visibility, and flexible options for sellers of all sizes.
By understanding the fee structure, planning ahead, and using eBay’s tools to your advantage, you can maximize your profits and build a sustainable selling strategy.