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 | −$3.80 · 15.2% | $21.20 | −$2.50 · 10.0% | $22.50 | +$1.30 |
| $50.00 | −$7.20 · 14.4% | $42.80 | −$5.00 · 10.0% | $45.00 | +$2.20 |
| $100.00 | −$14.00 · 14.0% | $86.00 | −$10.00 · 10.0% | $90.00 | +$4.00 |
| $250.00 | −$34.40 · 13.8% | $215.60 | −$25.00 · 10.0% | $225.00 | +$9.40 |
| $500.00 | −$68.40 · 13.7% | $431.60 | −$50.00 · 10.0% | $450.00 | +$18.40 |
| $1,000.00 | −$136.40 · 13.6% | $863.60 | −$100.00 · 10.0% | $900.00 | +$36.40 |
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 is tiered: $0.30 on orders of $10.00 or less and $0.40 on orders over $10.00. It is charged once per buyer purchase regardless of how many items are in the order, and is waived entirely on Athletic Shoes sold at $150 or more.
- 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
- Sellers pay a flat 10% selling fee on the item price plus any buyer-paid shipping. That is the entire seller cost — there is no payment processing fee.
- The 2.9% + $0.50 payment processing fee that older guides still list was charged to the BUYER, not the seller, and Mercari removed it entirely on 6 January 2025.
- Buyers now pay a 3.6% Buyer Protection fee on the item price plus shipping. It does not come out of your payout, but it raises the buyer's total — price with that in mind.
- Cashing out by direct deposit is free (the old $2 fee was dropped in January 2025); a failed direct deposit costs $2. Instant Pay costs a flat $3 per cash-out, capped at $600/month.
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.
The bottom line
On fees these two land close — eBay runs 13.6% general while Mercari is a flat 10% with no processing fee. So the decision isn't cost, it's reach versus simplicity.
eBay's 25+ years of incumbency give it the largest buyer pool in US resale and the deepest category support — electronics, collectibles, parts, and niche goods all have established demand. The price is complexity: category-specific rates, a steeper listing learning curve, and more seller-policy surface area. Mercari strips that back to a flat structure and a clean, app-first flow that gets a casual seller live in minutes.
If you're moving volume, selling across many categories, or need the biggest possible audience, eBay's reach wins. If you're a casual seller clearing a few hundred items a year and value speed and predictability over maximum exposure, Mercari is the easier home. Neither penalizes listing on both — and plenty of sellers do exactly that.
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 (13.6% for most categories, 13.25% for trading cards, 8% for Athletic Shoes over $150, 15.3% for books/movies/music, 15% for jewelry, lower rates for heavy equipment). eBay also adds a per-order fee of $0.30 on orders up to $10.00 and $0.40 above that, 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?
A flat 10% selling fee on the item price plus any buyer-paid shipping — and that is the entire seller cost. On a $30 item with $5 shipping you pay $3.50 and keep $31.50. Mercari charges sellers no payment processing fee: the 2.9% + $0.50 that most fee guides still quote was charged to the BUYER, and Mercari removed it outright on 6 January 2025.
Does Mercari charge fees on shipping?
Yes. Since the January 2025 change the 10% selling fee applies to the item price plus any shipping the buyer pays, so charging for shipping does increase your fee. Offering free shipping and building the cost into the item price gives the same result — the fee lands on the combined total either way.
More comparisons
See all comparisons →Want to run the numbers on your specific sale?