Comparison · general
eBay vs Facebook Marketplace
Which marketplace has lower fees for resellers — and when does each one win?
Two completely different selling philosophies: eBay's shipped-nationwide marketplace versus Facebook Marketplace's local-pickup-first model.
Quick verdict on fees
Across 6 common sale prices ($25-$1,000), eBay nets more on 0 and Facebook Marketplace nets more on 6. Overall: Facebook Marketplace is the cheaper choice in this band.
Net payout at common sale prices
| Sale price | eBay fees | eBay net | Facebook Marketplace fees | Facebook Marketplace net | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25.00 | −$3.61 · 14.4% | $21.39 | −$1.25 · 5.0% | $23.75 | +$2.36 |
| $50.00 | −$6.93 · 13.9% | $43.07 | −$2.50 · 5.0% | $47.50 | +$4.43 |
| $100.00 | −$13.55 · 13.6% | $86.45 | −$5.00 · 5.0% | $95.00 | +$8.55 |
| $250.00 | −$33.43 · 13.4% | $216.57 | −$12.50 · 5.0% | $237.50 | +$20.93 |
| $500.00 | −$66.55 · 13.3% | $433.45 | −$25.00 · 5.0% | $475.00 | +$41.55 |
| $1,000.00 | −$132.80 · 13.3% | $867.20 | −$50.00 · 5.0% | $950.00 | +$82.80 |
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.
Facebook Marketplace
Open calculator →Local pickup and shipped sales via Meta's marketplace
- Selling fee is 5% per shipment with a $0.40 minimum per order.
- Local pickup transactions are FREE — Facebook Marketplace charges no fees when buyers and sellers arrange the pickup locally. This calculator models shipped sales only.
- Payment processing is bundled into the 5% selling fee — there is no separate processing charge.
- Buyers pay shipping at checkout for shipped items; that amount is included in the fee base.
Audience & fit
Local pickup on Facebook Marketplace is free — no platform fees at all. That makes it the cheapest option for furniture, appliances, large items, or anything that's not worth shipping. eBay wins for shippable items where you need national reach. Many resellers use both: Facebook for bulky/local, eBay for shippable.
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.
Is local pickup on Facebook Marketplace really free?
Yes. Facebook Marketplace charges zero fees on local pickup transactions where the buyer and seller arrange the exchange directly without using Facebook's payment or shipping integration. The 5% fee only applies when you use Facebook's shipping option for delivered orders.
What is the $0.40 minimum fee for?
Facebook applies a minimum fee of $0.40 per order on shipped sales to cover payment processing costs that don't scale with low sale prices. So a $5 sale would normally incur $0.25 (5%), but the minimum of $0.40 applies instead. The minimum only matters for sales under $8.
More comparisons
See all comparisons →Want to run the numbers on your specific sale?