Every online seller knows the platforms take a cut. What most sellers do not realize is exactly how much that cut is — or how dramatically it varies between platforms, product categories, and price points.
The difference between selling on eBay versus Etsy versus Amazon is not just a matter of audience and traffic. It is a fundamental difference in how much money you keep from every sale. On a $50 item the difference can be $5-10 per transaction. Across hundreds or thousands of sales per year that adds up to thousands of dollars in your pocket or theirs.
This guide breaks down the exact fees for each platform in 2026 and shows you how to calculate your real profit margin before you list a single item. Use our Marketplace Fee Calculator to run the numbers for your specific products.
The True Cost of Selling Online — What Most Sellers Miss
When sellers calculate their margins they typically think about two numbers: what they paid for the product and what they sell it for. The platform fees sit somewhere in the middle, often underestimated or forgotten entirely until the payout hits their bank account and is smaller than expected.
The fees you need to account for on every platform:
- Listing fees — charged per item listed, whether it sells or not
- Final value fees — a percentage of the sale price charged when an item sells
- Payment processing fees — typically 2-3% plus a fixed amount per transaction
- Subscription fees — monthly fees for store accounts or professional selling plans
- Shipping fees — if you use the platform's shipping labels or fulfillment
- Advertising fees — if you promote your listings
Most fee comparisons only show one or two of these. We are going to show all of them.
eBay Fees in 2026
eBay's fee structure is among the most straightforward of the three major platforms, though it still has enough complexity to catch sellers off guard.
Listing Fees
eBay gives sellers 250 free listings per month in most categories. Beyond that, insertion fees apply — typically $0.35 per listing. If you are listing hundreds of items this adds up quickly.
Final Value Fees
This is eBay's main revenue source. Final value fees vary by category:
- Most categories: 13.25% of the total sale amount (item price plus shipping) up to $7,500, then 2.35% above that
- Motors and vehicles: significantly lower fixed fees
- Books, DVDs, music: 14.95%
- Clothing and shoes: 15% up to $2,000
Note: eBay calculates final value fees on the total transaction amount including shipping — a detail that surprises many sellers who charge separately for shipping.
Payment Processing
eBay manages payments through its own system. Payment processing is included in the final value fee — there is no separate payment processing charge, which is simpler than some competitors.
Store Subscriptions
Optional eBay store subscriptions reduce final value fees and provide more free listings:
- Basic Store: $21.95/month — 1,000 free listings, reduced fees
- Premium Store: $59.95/month — 10,000 free listings, further reduced fees
- Anchor Store: $299.95/month — 25,000 free listings, lowest fees
Real eBay Example
You sell a $50 item with $8 shipping (total transaction: $58):
- Final value fee (13.25%): $7.69
- Total eBay fee: $7.69
- You receive: $50.31 before your cost of goods and shipping
Etsy Fees in 2026
Etsy has a more complex fee structure than eBay with several smaller fees that combine to a significant total take.
Listing Fee
$0.20 per item listed, renewed every four months or when the item sells. This applies whether the item sells or not — list 500 items and you pay $100 in listing fees before selling a single thing.
Transaction Fee
6.5% of the total sale amount including shipping and gift wrapping charges. This is Etsy's primary revenue source and applies to every sale.
Payment Processing Fee
If you use Etsy Payments (which is required in most countries):
- Canada: 3% plus $0.25 per transaction
- United States: 3% plus $0.25 per transaction
- United Kingdom: 4% plus £0.20 per transaction
Etsy Plus Subscription
Optional at $10/month. Provides listing credits, customization options, and discounts on custom domains. Most sellers find it marginal value unless they use all the listing credits.
Offsite Ads Fee
Etsy automatically enrolls sellers in Offsite Ads — advertising your products on Google, Facebook, and other platforms. If a sale results from an offsite ad click you pay an additional 15% fee (or 12% if you have made over $10,000 on Etsy in the past 12 months). Sellers with less than $10,000 annual revenue can opt out. Those above $10,000 cannot.
This fee surprises many Etsy sellers. You have no control over whether Etsy runs ads for your products, and you pay 15% extra when those ads result in sales.
Real Etsy Example
You sell a handmade item for $50 with $8 shipping (total: $58) in Canada:
- Listing fee: $0.20
- Transaction fee (6.5% of $58): $3.77
- Payment processing (3% plus $0.25): $1.99
- Total Etsy fees: $5.96
- You receive: $52.04 before cost of goods and actual shipping
If that sale came from an Offsite Ad, add another $8.70 (15% of $58) — bringing total fees to $14.66, leaving you with $43.34.
Amazon Fees in 2026
Amazon has the most complex fee structure of the three platforms, and the highest potential fees — but also the highest traffic and customer trust.
Individual vs Professional Selling Plan
- Individual: No monthly fee, but $0.99 per item sold. For anyone selling more than 40 items per month this is more expensive than Professional.
- Professional: $39.99/month regardless of how many items you sell. Essential for any serious seller.
Referral Fees
Amazon's equivalent of eBay's final value fee. Referral fees vary significantly by category:
- Electronics: 8%
- Clothing and accessories: 17%
- Home and kitchen: 15%
- Books: 15%
- Toys and games: 15%
- Health and personal care: 8%
- Jewelry: 20% up to $250, 5% above
- Most other categories: 15%
FBA Fees (Fulfillment by Amazon)
If you use Amazon's warehouses and fulfillment network (FBA) — which most successful Amazon sellers do — you pay additional fees:
- Fulfillment fee: Based on item size and weight. A small standard item (under 1 lb) costs approximately $3.22 to fulfill. A large standard item (1-2 lb) costs approximately $5.42.
- Storage fees: $0.87 per cubic foot per month (standard size, January-September). Rises to $2.40 per cubic foot in October-December (peak season). Long-term storage fees apply after 365 days.
Real Amazon Example
You sell a $50 home and kitchen item using FBA, weighing 1 lb (small standard size):
- Professional plan monthly fee (amortized per sale): variable
- Referral fee (15% of $50): $7.50
- FBA fulfillment fee: $3.22
- Total Amazon fees: $10.72
- You receive: $39.28 before cost of goods and FBA inbound shipping
That is 21.4% of the sale price in fees before you have counted the cost of shipping inventory to Amazon's warehouse.
Head-to-Head Comparison on a $50 Sale
Using the examples above for a $50 item with $8 shipping in Canada:
- eBay: $7.69 in fees — you keep $50.31 (86.7% of item price)
- Etsy (no offsite ad): $5.96 in fees — you keep $52.04 (89.7% of item price)
- Etsy (with offsite ad): $14.66 in fees — you keep $43.34 (74.7% of item price)
- Amazon FBA: $10.72 in fees — you keep $39.28 (67.7% of item price)
Run your own product through our Marketplace Fee Calculator to see the exact comparison for your price point and category.
Which Platform is Right for Your Product?
Fees are only one factor. Platform fit matters just as much — the best fee structure means nothing if your target customers are not there.
Choose eBay when:
- You sell used, vintage, or one-of-a-kind items
- You sell in categories with high eBay traffic — electronics, collectibles, auto parts
- You want auction-style selling to maximize price on rare items
- Your margins are tight and every percentage point of fees matters
Choose Etsy when:
- You make handmade, vintage, or craft supplies
- Your brand and aesthetics are important to buyers
- You want to build a recognizable shop identity
- Your items are unique enough that customers will seek them out specifically
Choose Amazon when:
- You sell new, branded, or wholesale products
- You want access to the largest customer base and Prime members
- You can absorb the higher fees through volume
- You want hands-off fulfillment through FBA
- Your product has strong demand that Amazon's search captures
Selling on Multiple Platforms
Many successful sellers list on two or three platforms simultaneously. A handmade jewelry seller might list on Etsy for brand-conscious buyers, eBay for deal seekers, and their own website for repeat customers who want to avoid marketplace fees entirely.
The challenge is inventory management across platforms. Tools like Sellbrite, Linnworks, and InventoryLab help synchronize inventory and orders across multiple marketplaces — worth the investment once you are selling significant volume.
The Real Question: What is Your Profit Margin?
Platform fees are just one cost. Your real profit margin calculation needs to include:
- Cost of goods (what you paid for the product or materials)
- Platform fees (calculated above)
- Shipping costs (what you actually pay to ship, not what you charge)
- Packaging materials
- Returns and refunds — budget 2-5% of revenue
- Your time — especially important for handmade items
- Storage costs
- Income tax on profits
A product that looks profitable at a quick glance often becomes marginal or unprofitable once all costs are included. Our Marketplace Fee Calculator includes all platform fees so you can quickly assess whether a product and price combination actually works for your business.
Calculate Your Real Marketplace Profit Now
Stop guessing at your margins. Enter your product cost, selling price, and shipping charges into our Marketplace Fee Calculator and see exactly what you keep after eBay, Etsy, or Amazon takes their cut.
The calculator shows you side-by-side fee comparisons across all three platforms so you can make an informed decision about where to list your products.