eBay and Amazon are the two largest online marketplaces in the world, and most serious resellers eventually sell on both. But the fee structures are vastly different, and understanding the full cost picture is critical for pricing your items profitably on each platform.
eBay's Fee Structure
eBay charges a 13.6% final value fee on the total sale amount (including buyer-paid shipping) for most categories, plus a $0.30-$0.40 per-order fee. That's essentially the full cost — there's no monthly subscription required (though Store plans reduce fees), no fulfillment fees, and no storage costs. On a $50 item, eBay takes approximately $7.20, leaving you with $42.80.
Amazon FBA's Fee Stack
Amazon FBA layers multiple fees: a 15% referral fee for most categories, an FBA fulfillment fee of $3.22-$6.13+ depending on size and weight, plus monthly inventory storage fees. For standard-size items around $50, total Amazon fees run approximately $12.21 (24.4%). The Professional selling plan adds $39.99/month, though this is waived for the per-item $0.99 fee.
The Volume Equation
Amazon's higher fees come with a significant advantage: access to Prime members. Amazon's 200+ million Prime subscribers expect fast, free shipping, and the Buy Box algorithm favors FBA sellers. This means higher conversion rates and more sales volume. Many sellers find that Amazon's higher per-item cost is offset by 2-5x the sales volume compared to eBay.
For used items and one-of-a-kind products, eBay is typically the better choice. eBay's auction format and collector community create competitive bidding that can drive prices up. Amazon's product-centric model (where multiple sellers compete on the same listing) works better for new, commodity products.
Inventory risk is another major consideration. With eBay, your inventory stays in your home or warehouse — you can relist, reprice, or sell elsewhere anytime. With Amazon FBA, your inventory sits in Amazon's warehouses, subject to storage fees that increase over time and spike during Q4. If an item doesn't sell, you pay to get it back or Amazon disposes of it.
The savviest sellers use both platforms strategically: Amazon FBA for new, high-demand products where volume justifies the fees, and eBay for used, vintage, niche, or one-of-a-kind items where the lower fees and auction format maximize returns.