Comparison · fashion
eBay vs Poshmark
Which marketplace has lower fees for resellers — and when does each one win?
The eternal question for fashion resellers: list on the broad-reach general marketplace, or stay in the closet-curated social ecosystem?
Net payout at common sale prices
| Sale price | eBay fees | eBay net | Poshmark fees | Poshmark net | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25.00 | −$3.61 · 14.4% | $21.39 | −$5.00 · 20.0% | $20.00 | +$1.39 |
| $50.00 | −$6.93 · 13.9% | $43.07 | −$10.00 · 20.0% | $40.00 | +$3.07 |
| $100.00 | −$13.55 · 13.6% | $86.45 | −$20.00 · 20.0% | $80.00 | +$6.45 |
| $250.00 | −$33.43 · 13.4% | $216.57 | −$50.00 · 20.0% | $200.00 | +$16.57 |
| $500.00 | −$66.55 · 13.3% | $433.45 | −$100.00 · 20.0% | $400.00 | +$33.45 |
| $1,000.00 | −$132.80 · 13.3% | $867.20 | −$200.00 · 20.0% | $800.00 | +$67.20 |
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.
Poshmark
Open calculator →Fashion-forward social marketplace
- Poshmark charges a flat $2.95 commission on sales under $15.
- For sales of $15 or more, Poshmark takes a flat 20%. There is no separate payment processing fee — it's bundled in.
- Poshmark handles shipping pricing — the buyer pays Poshmark for a priority mail label by weight tier. The seller chooses the label weight at listing time.
- Bundled sales (multiple items from one closet) use the same fee structure applied to the total bundle price.
Audience & fit
Poshmark has a more engaged fashion-specific buyer pool and the social mechanics (likes, shares, parties) move inventory. eBay is cheaper on fees and reaches more buyers but is less style-aware. High-end designer typically moves faster on Poshmark; general thrifted/midmarket fashion is roughly equivalent on either.
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.
Why does Poshmark take 20% of my sale?
Poshmark's 20% commission covers payment processing, the Posh Protect buyer guarantee, customer service, and shipping label costs (USPS Priority Mail flat rates that buyers pay). It is the highest percentage fee of any major resale platform, but unlike eBay or Mercari, there are no separate processing fees — the 20% is the all-in cost.
How does the $2.95 flat fee work for cheap items?
Sales under $15 are charged a flat $2.95 instead of the 20% percentage. This is actually a discount for very small sales — at $5, the flat $2.95 is 59% effective, but at $10 it's only 29.5%. At $14.99, the flat fee is $2.95 (19.7%), and at $15.00 the percentage kicks in for $3.00 (20%). There's a tiny cliff right at the threshold.
More comparisons
See all comparisons →Want to run the numbers on your specific sale?