Comparison · niche
eBay vs Etsy
Which marketplace has lower fees for resellers — and when does each one win?
Vintage and handmade sellers face this fork constantly. eBay's general audience versus Etsy's curated handmade/vintage buyer base.
Net payout at common sale prices
| Sale price | eBay fees | eBay net | Etsy fees | Etsy net | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25.00 | −$3.61 · 14.4% | $21.39 | −$2.83 · 11.3% | $22.17 | +$0.78 |
| $50.00 | −$6.93 · 13.9% | $43.07 | −$5.20 · 10.4% | $44.80 | +$1.73 |
| $100.00 | −$13.55 · 13.6% | $86.45 | −$9.95 · 9.9% | $90.05 | +$3.60 |
| $250.00 | −$33.43 · 13.4% | $216.57 | −$24.20 · 9.7% | $225.80 | +$9.23 |
| $500.00 | −$66.55 · 13.3% | $433.45 | −$47.95 · 9.6% | $452.05 | +$18.60 |
| $1,000.00 | −$132.80 · 13.3% | $867.20 | −$95.45 · 9.5% | $904.55 | +$37.35 |
Net payout = sale price + shipping charged − platform fees. Both platforms calculated with default options and no shipping charged to buyer.
Fee structure
eBay
Open calculator →Auctions and fixed-price marketplace for general goods
- The Final Value Fee (FVF) is calculated on the total amount the buyer pays — item price + shipping + handling + sales tax.
- Per-order fee of $0.30 is charged once per buyer purchase, regardless of how many items are in the order.
- When the buyer's registered address is outside the US, eBay adds an international fee of 1.65% to the entire order total.
- Promoted Listings Standard charges your chosen ad rate only when the sale is attributed to a click on the ad within the last 30 days.
Etsy
Open calculator →Marketplace for handmade, vintage, and craft supplies
- The $0.20 listing fee is charged each time an item is listed or renewed (every 4 months). This calculator counts it once per sale.
- Transaction fee (6.5%) applies to the item price plus shipping the buyer pays. Sales tax is excluded from this fee.
- Payment processing (3% + $0.25 for US sellers) is applied to the total amount the buyer pays. International rates differ.
- Offsite Ads fee is only charged when a buyer clicks an Etsy ad off-platform (Google, Instagram, Facebook, etc.) and completes a purchase within 30 days.
Audience & fit
Etsy's buyers are willing to pay more for clearly identified vintage and handmade items — the brand premium offsets the higher transaction structure. eBay wins on raw fees but loses on intent matching. If your items are visibly vintage or craft-related, Etsy's audience converts at higher prices.
Frequently asked
How are eBay seller fees calculated?
eBay charges a Final Value Fee (FVF) as a percentage of the total amount the buyer pays — item price plus shipping plus handling plus sales tax. The FVF rate varies by category (13.25% for most categories, 8% for sneakers over $150, 14.95% for books/movies/music, lower rates for heavy equipment). eBay also adds a flat $0.30 per-order fee, and a 1.65% international fee if the buyer is outside the US.
Does eBay charge fees on shipping?
Yes. The Final Value Fee is applied to the item price plus the shipping the buyer pays, so charging more for shipping does not save you fees — it just shifts which line item the fees come from. Free shipping (where shipping is built into the item price) results in the same total fees.
How do Etsy Offsite Ads fees work?
When Etsy promotes your listings on external sites (Google, Facebook, Instagram, Bing) and a buyer clicks one of those ads and makes a purchase within 30 days, you owe an Offsite Ads fee on that sale. The rate is 15% for sellers under $10,000 in trailing-365-day sales, and 12% for sellers over $10,000. The fee is capped at $100 per order regardless of sale size.
Can I opt out of Etsy Offsite Ads?
Only partially. If your shop has under $10,000 in trailing-365-day sales, you can fully opt out in your settings. Once you cross $10,000, opt-out is no longer available, but you do get a reduced rate (12% instead of 15%) and the $100 cap. Most growing sellers cannot avoid this once they hit the threshold.
More comparisons
See all comparisons →Want to run the numbers on your specific sale?