eBay vs Etsy Fees: Which Marketplace Is Cheaper for Sellers?

Q: What percentage does eBay take per sale?

eBay charges a final value fee of 13.25% on most categories (capped at $750 per item), plus $0.30 per order. Managed Payments processing adds approximately 2.7% + $0.30. Total eBay fees on a typical sale are 13–16% of the sale price.

Q: What percentage does Etsy take per sale?

Etsy charges 6.5% transaction fee + $0.20 listing fee + 3% + $0.25 payment processing (US). Total fees on a $50 sale are approximately $5.96, or about 10% of revenue collected.

Q: Is eBay or Etsy better for selling handmade items?

Etsy is better for handmade items. Etsy buyers specifically seek handmade and artisan goods, so conversion rates are higher for craft sellers. eBay is a general marketplace where handmade items compete alongside mass-produced goods.

Q: Does eBay charge listing fees?

eBay offers 250 free listings per month for most sellers. After that, insertion fees of $0.35 per listing apply. Etsy charges $0.20 per listing with no free tier.

eBay and Etsy are both marketplace giants, but they serve different audiences and charge very differently. Whether you're selling vintage collectibles, handmade crafts, or secondhand goods, here's what you'll actually pay on each platform.

eBay Fee Breakdown

Fee Type	Amount
Insertion fee	Free (first 250/mo); $0.35 per listing after
Final value fee	13.25% of total sale + $0.30 per order (most categories)
Managed Payments processing	~2.7% + $0.30 (included in final value fee for many categories)
Optional promoted listings	2–15% additional (you choose the rate)

Note: eBay's final value fee already includes the payment processing cut for most categories. The total all-in fee is typically 13–16% of the sale price plus $0.30 per order.

eBay Example — $50 sale

Final value fee: $50 × 13.25% + $0.30 = $6.93
Listing fee: $0 (within 250 free/mo)
Total eBay fees: ~$6.93 (13.9%)

Etsy Fee Breakdown

Fee Type	Amount
Listing fee	$0.20 per item (renews every 4 months or when sold)
Transaction fee	6.5% of sale price + shipping charged
Payment processing (US)	3% + $0.25
Offsite Ads fee	12–15% (only when a sale comes via Etsy's offsite ad)

Etsy Example — $50 sale, $8 shipping

Listing fee: $0.20
Transaction fee: $58 × 6.5% = $3.77
Payment processing: $58 × 3% + $0.25 = $1.99
Total Etsy fees: ~$5.96 (10.3% of $58 collected)

Fee Comparison at a Glance

	eBay	Etsy
Listing fee	Free (250/mo), then $0.35	$0.20 per listing
Selling fee	~13.25% + $0.30	6.5% + 3% + $0.25
Total on $50 sale	~$6.93 (13.9%)	~$5.96 (10.3%)*
Monthly fee	$0 (or $7.95–$349.95 for Store)	$0 (or $10/mo for Plus)
Buyer audience	General — 135M+ buyers	Handmade/vintage focused — 90M+ buyers
Best for	Used goods, electronics, collectibles	Handmade, vintage, digital downloads

*Etsy fee includes $8 shipping; eBay fee on item price only

When eBay Wins

Used electronics and tech: eBay is the dominant marketplace for secondhand phones, laptops, and gadgets. Buyers trust eBay's buyer protection for these purchases.
Collectibles and niche items: sports cards, coins, vintage electronics — eBay's auction format creates competitive bidding that can exceed fixed-price listings.
High-value items: eBay's final value fee is capped at $750 per item, making it cost-effective for high-priced goods.
Bulk listings: eBay's 250 free listings per month beats Etsy's per-listing fee for sellers with large catalogs.

When Etsy Wins

Handmade items: Etsy buyers specifically seek artisan and handmade goods. Conversion rates for craft sellers are far higher than on eBay.
Vintage goods: Etsy defines vintage as 20+ years old. Buyers expect curation and story; Etsy's audience delivers this better than eBay.
Digital downloads: SVG files, printables, templates — Etsy has built a strong audience for digital products that eBay lacks.
Lower per-sale fees: Etsy's ~10% is lower than eBay's ~14% on typical sale prices.

Etsy Profit Calculator — see your exact Etsy fees and net profit after all costs for any sale price.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage does eBay take per sale?

eBay charges approximately 13.25% + $0.30 per order on most categories. Total fees are typically 13–16% of the sale price.

What percentage does Etsy take per sale?

Etsy's combined fees (listing + 6.5% transaction + 3% processing + $0.25) total approximately 10–12% of the total collected from the buyer including shipping.

Is eBay or Etsy better for selling handmade items?

Etsy is better for handmade. Etsy buyers specifically look for handmade and artisan goods; conversion rates for craft sellers are significantly higher than on eBay's general marketplace.

Does eBay charge listing fees?

eBay gives 250 free listings per month. After that, $0.35 per listing. Etsy charges $0.20 per listing with no free tier.

Related Tools & Articles

→ Etsy Profit Calculator → Etsy Shipping Calculator → Etsy vs Amazon Fees → Etsy vs Shopify Fees