eBay vs Etsy Fees: Which Is Better for Your Shop?
Published 4 min read
In this guide
If you sell handmade goods, vintage items or craft supplies, you've probably wondered whether eBay or Etsy will leave you with more money per sale. The two platforms charge in quite different ways. This guide compares the structure of each, shows where the costs pile up, and explains how to compare them for your own products.
eBay figures are US rates from our calculator, last checked on September 25, 2026. Etsy changes its fees from time to time and some depend on your country, so we describe how its fees work and link to the official page instead of quoting numbers that may be out of date. Check current rates on Etsy's fees and payments policy.
Side-by-side comparison
| Fee type | eBay (US) | Etsy |
|---|---|---|
| Listing fee | Free up to your monthly allowance; insertion fees beyond that | A listing fee for every listing, charged again when it renews or sells another unit (check current rates) |
| Main selling fee | Final value fee: 13.6% of the total in most categories | Transaction fee: a percentage of the item price plus shipping and gift wrap (check current rates) |
| Payment processing | Included in the final value fee | Separate payment processing fee that varies by country (check current rates) |
| Fixed fee per order | $0.40 ($0.30 if $10 or less) | Part of the payment processing fee in many countries |
| Advertising | Optional Promoted Listings | Optional Etsy Ads; Offsite Ads fee on sales from Etsy's external ads, which is mandatory for higher-volume shops (check current rates) |
| Subscription | Optional eBay Store | Optional Etsy Plus |
| What you can sell | Almost anything legal, new or used | Handmade items, vintage items and craft supplies |
How eBay's fees work
eBay keeps things relatively simple: a final value fee on the total the buyer pays, plus a per-order fee. Payment processing is included, and most sellers can list without paying insertion fees because of the monthly free allowance.
Example: a $35 handmade item with $5 shipping, in most categories, no Store:
- Final value fee: $40 × 13.6% = $5.44
- Per-order fee: $0.40
- Total eBay fees: $5.84
eBay has a "Crafts" category and a large market for vintage and collectibles, but no requirement that items be handmade or vintage. See our complete eBay seller fee guide for every rate.
How Etsy's fees work
Etsy's costs come from several smaller fees that are charged separately:
- Listing fee for each listing, which renews after a set period or when a unit sells.
- Transaction fee, a percentage of the item price, shipping and gift wrapping.
- Payment processing fee, a percentage plus a fixed amount that depends on your bank's country.
- Offsite Ads fee, a percentage of the order when a sale comes through Etsy's ads on other websites. Shops above a sales threshold can't opt out.
- Optional costs, such as Etsy Ads, Etsy Plus, and currency conversion if you list in a different currency from your bank account.
To compare with eBay, add the listing fee, transaction fee and payment processing fee for a typical order, using the current rates on Etsy's fees page.
Which is cheaper?
It depends on your shop:
- Many low-priced listings that sell slowly: Etsy's per-listing fee and renewals add up. eBay's free listing allowance can make it cheaper.
- High-priced items: eBay's rate drops to 2.35% above $7,500 (or above $2,500 with a Store). Etsy's percentage fees don't have a similar tier.
- Sales from offsite ads: the Offsite Ads fee can make those Etsy orders much more expensive than a normal sale.
- Truly handmade, personalised or gift items: Etsy's audience is searching for exactly this, and a quicker sale at a slightly higher fee can still earn you more over the month.
The honest answer is to compare net profit per sale and how fast items sell on each platform, not just the headline fee.
How to compare for your own products
- Pick a typical item and note its price, shipping charge, cost and postage.
- Enter it into our US eBay fee calculator to get your eBay fees and net profit.
- Work out Etsy's fees for the same order using the current rates on Etsy's fees page. Include the listing fee, transaction fee and payment processing fee, and the Offsite Ads fee if it applies.
- Compare the net profit, then think about which platform will sell the item faster.
Our eBay profit margin guide explains how to judge whether a margin is healthy.
Other differences worth knowing
- Pricing formats: eBay has auctions and Best Offer; Etsy is fixed price. See auction vs fixed price.
- Audience: Etsy buyers often look for unique, handmade and gift items. eBay's audience is broader, with strong demand for vintage, collectibles and used goods.
- Seller performance: eBay offers 10% off final value fees for Top Rated sellers on qualifying listings.
- Selling abroad: both platforms support international sales, with extra fees on eBay. See eBay international selling fees.
Selling on both
Many makers and vintage sellers list on both platforms. If you do, keep your stock in sync so you don't sell the same one-of-a-kind item twice, since a cancelled order can hurt your eBay seller rating. And track profit per platform so you know where each type of item does best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Etsy or eBay cheaper to sell on?
It depends on your items. eBay charges one final value fee that includes payment processing, with free listings up to your allowance. Etsy charges separate listing, transaction and payment processing fees. Compare net profit per sale for your own products.
Does eBay charge a listing fee like Etsy?
eBay gives every seller a monthly allowance of free listings and charges insertion fees only beyond that. Etsy charges a listing fee for every listing.
How much are eBay fees on a $35 item?
In most US categories, a $35 item with $5 shipping costs $5.44 in final value fees plus a $0.40 per-order fee, so $5.84 in total.
Can I sell handmade items on eBay?
Yes. eBay has categories for crafts and handmade goods, and it doesn't restrict you to handmade or vintage items like Etsy does.