Comparison · general
eBay vs Mercari
Which marketplace has lower fees for resellers — and when does each one win?
Two of the most popular general-purpose resale marketplaces in the US. eBay has 25+ years of incumbency and the broadest buyer pool; Mercari is the simpler, more casual choice.
Net payout at common sale prices
| Sale price | eBay fees | eBay net | Mercari fees | Mercari net | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25.00 | −$3.61 · 14.4% | $21.39 | −$3.73 · 14.9% | $21.27 | +$0.12 |
| $50.00 | −$6.93 · 13.9% | $43.07 | −$6.95 · 13.9% | $43.05 | +$0.02 |
| $100.00 | −$13.55 · 13.6% | $86.45 | −$13.40 · 13.4% | $86.60 | +$0.15 |
| $250.00 | −$33.43 · 13.4% | $216.57 | −$32.75 · 13.1% | $217.25 | +$0.68 |
| $500.00 | −$66.55 · 13.3% | $433.45 | −$65.00 · 13.0% | $435.00 | +$1.55 |
| $1,000.00 | −$132.80 · 13.3% | $867.20 | −$129.50 · 13.0% | $870.50 | +$3.30 |
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.
Mercari
Open calculator →Casual marketplace for general goods
- The selling fee (10%) applies to the item price only — shipping and sales tax are excluded from this charge.
- Payment processing (2.9% + $0.50) applies to the full amount the buyer pays, item plus shipping.
- Mercari Shipping Label deducts the discounted label cost directly from your payout. Enter that cost in 'Your shipping cost' to see accurate profit.
- Mercari Shipping Protection covers eligible packages up to $200 at no extra cost to the seller — it does not change the calculator math.
Audience & fit
If you're selling a wide range of items and value buyer reach, eBay's audience is bigger. If you want a faster setup, cleaner UX, and a flat fee structure without category-specific gotchas, Mercari is the easier on-ramp — especially for casual sellers under a few hundred sales a year.
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 much does Mercari take from each sale?
Mercari charges a 10% selling fee on the item price only (not shipping), plus a payment processing fee of 2.9% + $0.50 on the buyer's total payment (item plus shipping). For a $30 item with $5 shipping, you'd pay $3.00 selling fee plus $1.52 processing — about $4.52 total, or roughly 13% of the gross.
Does Mercari charge fees on shipping?
Partially. The 10% selling fee applies only to the item price, but the 2.9% + $0.50 payment processing fee applies to the buyer's full payment, which includes shipping. So shipping is partially fee-free on Mercari, unlike eBay where all fees apply to item + shipping.
More comparisons
See all comparisons →Want to run the numbers on your specific sale?