Etsy vs eBay Fees in 2026: Which One Keeps More of Your Money?

Updated May 26, 2026

If you sell on both Etsy and eBay — or you’re deciding where to list — the fee difference adds up fast. Both take a percentage plus smaller fixed fees, but the math tips in different directions depending on your price point. Here’s the honest comparison.

Etsy’s fees

Listing fee: $0.20 per item (renews every 4 months).
Transaction fee: 6.5% of the item price plus the shipping you charge.
Payment processing: 3% + $0.25 (US; varies by country).

Combined, Etsy takes roughly 10–12% of a typical sale.

eBay’s fees

Final value fee: about 13.6% without a store, or 12.7% with a Basic store or higher.
Per-order fee: $0.30 for orders $10 or under, $0.40 above.
Payment processing is bundled into that final value fee.
Category rates vary — books are 15.3%, guitars just 6.7%.

Worked example: a $25 item

With no separate shipping charged:

Etsy: $0.20 + (6.5% × $25 = $1.63) + (3% × $25 + $0.25 = $1.00) = $2.83 (11.3%)
eBay: (13.6% × $25 = $3.40) + $0.40 = $3.80 (15.2%)

At this price, Etsy is cheaper by about $1.

Worked example: a $100 item

Etsy: $0.20 + $6.50 + $3.25 = $9.95 (10.0%)
eBay (no store): $13.60 + $0.40 = $14.00 (14.0%)
eBay (with store): $12.70 + $0.40 = $13.10 (13.1%)

Etsy stays meaningfully cheaper on percentage at higher prices too — but the gap matters more in absolute dollars.

So when does eBay win?

Low-fee categories. If your items fall into a category like musical instruments (6.7%), eBay can be dramatically cheaper.
Audience fit. Used, vintage, collectible, and parts sell to eBay’s buyers; eBay’s reach there is hard to beat regardless of a small fee difference.
With a store subscription and high volume, the 12.7% rate plus free listings narrows the gap.

For most new and craft sellers at typical price points, Etsy’s total fees are lower — but the right answer is the platform where your buyers actually are.

Check your own numbers

Plug in your real price, shipping, and costs:

Rates reflect US sellers as of May 2026. Confirm exact rates in your seller account.