Marketplaces
eBay vs Etsy
Real fees on $25, $100 and $500 — and when to pick each. Etsy keeps you more on a $100 sale.
| Sale price | eBay fees | eBay you keep | Etsy fees | Etsy you keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25.00 | - $3.80 | $21.20 | - $2.83 | $22.18 |
| $100.00 | - $14.00 | $86.00 | - $9.95 | $90.05 |
| $500.00 | - $68.40 | $431.60 | - $47.95 | $452.05 |
Based on each platform’s standard 2026 fees with no add-ons. Use the calculators for your exact category, store tier, or promoted listings.
When to pick eBay
- Best for collectibles, used goods, and a wider global buyer base.
- Promoted Listings let you boost specific items on demand.
- Per-order fees ($0.30–$0.40) work well on higher-priced sales.
When to pick Etsy
- Best for handmade, vintage, and craft supplies.
- Listing fee is just $0.20 and lasts 4 months.
- Built-in audience actively shopping for unique items.
Why Etsy is cheaper on almost every sale
eBay charges one large percentage — 13.6% of the total the buyer pays, including shipping and sales tax — plus a $0.30–$0.40 per-order fee, with payment processing already inside. Etsy stacks three smaller charges: a $0.20 listing fee, a 6.5% transaction fee on item plus shipping, and payment processing of 3% + $0.25 in the US. Add them up and Etsy lands at roughly 10% against eBay's 14%, and because eBay's percentage is larger, the gap widens as prices rise: $4.05 on a $100 sale, $10.20 on a $250 sale.
The only price band where the two touch is under about $5, where Etsy's three fixed fees ($0.45 in total) weigh almost as much as eBay's single $0.30. Above that, Etsy wins on fees alone at every normal price point.
| Sale (free shipping) | eBay takes | Etsy takes | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25 | $3.80 | $2.83 | $0.97 |
| $100 | $14.00 | $9.95 | $4.05 |
| $250 | $34.40 | $24.20 | $10.20 |
The two things that flip the answer
Offsite Ads: if a buyer reaches your Etsy listing through one of Etsy's external ads, Etsy adds 12% (15% for shops under $10,000 in trailing sales that opt in, and the programme is mandatory above $10,000). A $100 sale that came through an ad costs $21.95 — well above eBay's $14. Shops with heavy Offsite Ads attribution can end up paying more than they would on eBay.
Category: eBay discounts several categories heavily — 9% on consumer electronics, 8% on sneakers over $150, 6.35% on guitars. In those categories eBay is cheaper than Etsy's 10%+, and Etsy's audience is rarely the right one for them anyway. For handmade, vintage and craft supplies, Etsy's cheaper structure and its buyer intent line up; for used electronics and collectibles, eBay's category rates and its larger buyer pool do.
Costs the table does not show
eBay's Promoted Listings are optional but widely used, at an ad rate you choose (commonly 2–15%) charged only when a promoted item sells. Etsy's listings expire after four months and cost $0.20 to renew, a real cost for slow-moving inventory. Both platforms charge their percentage on the shipping you collect, so free-shipping pricing does not change the fee base. And both handle payments internally, so there is no separate PayPal fee on either — a change that older comparisons still get wrong.
Go deeper
Other comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Does Etsy's Offsite Ads fee make it more expensive than eBay?+
Only on sales that came through an ad. A $100 Offsite Ads sale costs about $21.95 on Etsy (9.95% base plus 12%), against $14.00 on eBay. Sales that arrive organically stay at Etsy's cheaper 10%.
Is there any price where eBay is cheaper than Etsy?+
Only in eBay's discounted categories — electronics (9%), sneakers over $150 (8%), guitars (6.35%). In the standard 13.6% bracket Etsy is cheaper at every price above about $5.
Which is cheaper, eBay or Etsy?+
On a $100 sale, Etsy keeps more of your money. eBay charges $14.00 on $100 (you keep $86.00); Etsy charges $9.95 (you keep $90.05). The answer can flip on very small or very large orders — use the full calculators for your exact numbers.
When should I choose eBay?+
Best for collectibles, used goods, and a wider global buyer base. Promoted Listings let you boost specific items on demand. Per-order fees ($0.30–$0.40) work well on higher-priced sales.
When should I choose Etsy?+
Best for handmade, vintage, and craft supplies. Listing fee is just $0.20 and lasts 4 months. Built-in audience actively shopping for unique items.
Can I use both eBay and Etsy?+
Yes — many sellers cross-list to spread reach and compare what sells where. Just price each listing to cover that platform's specific fees so you stay profitable on either.
Where do these fee numbers come from?+
Each platform's published 2026 fee schedule, verified against its official help center. We update the rates as they change — see our methodology for details.