How much does it cost to list an item on eBay?

Listing an item on eBay is often free for private sellers, who get a monthly allowance (e.g., 300 in the UK), but you pay a "final value fee" (around 10-13% for most items in the UK) when it sells, plus extra for optional upgrades or business accounts. Fees vary by country (UK vs. US), seller type (private vs. business), and item category, with extra charges for things like bold titles or international visibility, though the UK now includes a buyer-paid Buyer Protection Fee.

Does eBay charge you to list an item?

An insertion fee is the amount you pay eBay in order to list products on its marketplace. This will be charged every time you create or renew a listing, no matter if it actually sells. That said, eBay gives you 250 “zero-insertion” (aka free) listings per month—or more if you have an eBay Store subscription.

What is the 5000 rule on eBay?

The Reporting Threshold for eBay Sales

As a platform, eBay is required to issue Form 1099-K to sellers who generated more than a certain threshold. Under updated IRS rules, this threshold has a lowering trend. The mentioned threshold is $5000 for 2024 and $2500 for 2025. It is planned to be reduced to $600 for 2026.

Is it completely free to sell on eBay?

You can list up to 300 items for free each month; after that, you'll pay 35p per listing. You may incur additional fees if you add optional upgrades to your listing, or if an item sells or ships to a buyer in a different country. Learn more about fees.

Do I need to tell HMRC if I sell on eBay?

Yes, you must declare eBay sales to HMRC if you're "trading" (buying to resell or making items for profit) and your income exceeds the £1,000 Trading Allowance in a tax year; selling personal, used items you owned usually doesn't count, but selling for a profit does, and HMRC now receives data from platforms like eBay, so accurate record-keeping is crucial to avoid penalties.

How much does it cost to sell on eBay? How to use the eBay Fee Calculator

How can I avoid eBay fees?

Can you avoid fees on eBay? While you can't completely avoid fees on eBay, you can reduce them. You can optimize your listings to avoid extra charges, use free listing promotions, and subscribe to an eBay Store to get discounts on listing and final value fees.

Does eBay charge to renew a listing?

Good 'Til Cancelled listings are fixed price listings that renew automatically once per calendar month. eBay charges an insertion fee and applicable optional listing upgrade fees when you list your item for the first time, and each time it renews.

How many items should you list on eBay per day?

Side-hustle sellers typically average 2-5 listings daily (60-150 monthly), while full-time sellers often list 10-20+ items per day (300-600+ monthly). The exact number depends heavily on sourcing capacity, available time, and business goals.

Will eBay send me a tax form?

If your eBay gross sales add up to more than $20,000 and 200 transactions in a year, eBay will send you a Form 1099-K, which lists the total amount of payments you received throughout the year.

How many items can you list on eBay for free?

Insertion fees

For most casual sellers, it's free to list on eBay. If you list more than 250 items per month, you'll start paying a $0.35 insertion fee per listing. Category exclusions apply.

Is it worth selling on eBay now?

The short answer is a resounding yes, and the reasons why might surprise you. Despite the competition, eBay continues to be a powerhouse. As of the first quarter of 2025, the platform boasts 134 million active buyers and around 18 million sellers, with nearly 2 billion live listings at any given time.

When I sell an item on eBay, where does the money go?

Getting paid

Your buyers can choose from many payment methods, and you'll receive your payouts directly in your checking account or Visa or Mastercard debit card. You can track all of your payouts in the Payments tab in My eBay. Your fees and other selling costs are automatically deducted from your sales proceeds.

How much does eBay charge if an item doesn't sell?

If your item doesn't sell, you will not be charged any final value fees.

What is the cheapest way to post on eBay?

The cheapest way to ship on eBay is with Parcel2Go. Our delivery prices start from just £1.99 exc VAT. Private sellers will be mostly restricted to using eBay's new Simple Delivery system, which offer shipping rates more expensive than Parcel2Go.

How to sell on eBay for free?

No, its not entirely free. While you get a certain number of “zero insertion fee” listings each month (250 for casual sellers), eBay charges a Final Value Fee once your item sells. This fee is a percentage of the total sale price, including the item, shipping, and sales tax.

How many items can you sell on eBay as a beginner?

Went from 10 listing/sold limit as a new seller to 18 listing/sold limit after exhausting the first 10 in about a week and selling one or two items during that first week.

Does eBay usually side with buyers or sellers?

eBay generally favors the buyer due to its strong Buyer Protection Policy, prioritizing buyer satisfaction to keep the marketplace vibrant, meaning sellers often lose disputes unless they have undeniable proof, like tracking showing delivery, making it crucial for sellers to be meticulous with descriptions and records. While some sellers feel feedback removal favors them, the default for "Not As Described" or missing items leans heavily toward the buyer because eBay can't verify the item's condition or shipment, relying on buyer accounts.

What are the new rules for eBay sellers 2025?

What's Changing. Starting August 27, 2025, items valued at US$500 or above (including shipping fee) for shipping to the United States will require additional seller enablement on eBay. Note: This updates our prior threshold of US$2,500; all other terms remain the same.

Can you sell items as a hobby?

This is a very popular misconception - the reality is that any online or offline selling activity in which the main motive is to make a profit is deemed by the IRS to be a business - this applies no matter how much you are making in revenue.