Amazon vs eBay: seller fees
Marketplace seller fees · snapshot June 2026
For sellers, eBay is cheaper for sellers (~14.4% vs ~15.0% on a $50 sale). Amazon charges 8% to 45% by category (most categories 15%) and eBay charges 12.7% to 15.3% by category. On a $50 item that is about $7.50 on Amazon vs $7.20 on eBay. Snapshot June 2026 - marketplaces change fees; verify on the official fee page before relying on these figures.
Source: Official marketplace fee pages. Data as of June 2026.
Amazon vs eBay side by side
| Factor | Amazon | eBay |
|---|---|---|
| Type | General marketplace | General marketplace |
| Pricing model | Referral fee (percentage of total sale) by category + optional FBA fulfillment | Final value fee (percentage of total) + per-order fixed fee |
| Selling / commission fee | 8% to 45% by category (most categories 15%) | 12.7% to 15.3% by category |
| Per-order fixed fee | None | $0.40 |
| Payment processing | Bundled / none | Bundled / none |
| Listing fee | None | None |
| Monthly fee | $39.99/mo | None |
| Fee on a $50 sale | $7.50 | $7.20 |
| Best for | Branded products and private label at scale; high traffic but high fees and fierce competition. | Used, refurbished, collectibles and parts; broad audience with no monthly fee to start. |
Sources: Amazon Seller Central referral fee schedule · eBay Selling fees.
Verdict for sellers
On the headline fee a seller pays, eBay is cheaper for sellers (~14.4% vs ~15.0% on a $50 sale). But fees aren't everything: Amazon (largest us shopper base and built-in trust.) versus eBay (no monthly fee required to start selling.). Read each full breakdown — Amazon and eBay — and run your real numbers in the profit calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amazon or eBay cheaper for sellers?
On a $50 sale, eBay is cheaper for sellers (~14.4% vs ~15.0% on a $50 sale). Amazon: 8% to 45% by category (most categories 15%). eBay: 12.7% to 15.3% by category. Watch the gotchas: Amazon - total take with fba + referral often hits 30-40% of the sale price.; eBay - percentage applies to shipping and sales tax, inflating the effective rate.. snapshot June 2026.
Amazon vs eBay: which fee model is simpler?
Amazon uses referral fee (percentage of total sale) by category + optional fba fulfillment. eBay uses final value fee (percentage of total) + per-order fixed fee. Snapshot June 2026 - marketplaces change fees; verify on the official fee page before relying on these figures.
Amazon vs eBay: what does each take on a $50 sale?
Amazon takes about $7.50 (~15.0%). eBay takes about $7.20 (~14.4%).
More comparisons
Last updated: 2026-06-29