Amazon vs eBay: which takes less from your sale?

The short answer: on a $50 item with $8 shipping that you ship yourself, eBay takes less in 15 of the 20 categories both price, including most everyday goods ($8.29 on eBay against $9.69 on Amazon’s Individual plan). Amazon takes less in consumer electronics, laptops and computers, video game consoles, car and truck parts and tires, where its referral rate is lower than eBay’s.

The same sale on Amazon and eBay

Item priceShipping you charge

CategoryMost other itemsHome and kitchenToys and gamesSports and outdoorsTools and home improvementHealth and beautyBaby productsBooks, movies and musicClothingSneakers and shoesHandbagsJewelryWatchesGuitars and bassesConsumer electronicsLaptops and computersVideo game consolesVideo gamesCar and truck partsTiresItems sold a monthSets the cheaper Amazon plan

Amazon

Amazon pays you (Individual plan, you ship)

$48.31

Fees $9.69 (16.7% of $58.00)

Fee by fee

• Referral fee (Everything Else: 15%, minimum 0.30)$8.70
• Individual plan, per item sold$0.99

Shipping it yourself. Amazon fulfilment (FBA) adds a fulfilment fee by size and weight.

eBaykeeps you more

eBay pays you (no Store)

$49.71

Fees $8.29 (14.3% of $58.00)

Fee by fee

• Final value fee (Most categories (no Store))$7.89
• Per order fee$0.40

eBay takes its percentage on the whole amount the buyer pays: item, shipping and sales tax (0% here).

eBay leaves you $1.40 more on this sale.

Visit Amazon →Visit eBay →

You ship the order yourself on both (no Amazon fulfillment fee). Buyer in the US, no sales tax, no ads.

Fees verified Oct 20, 2026 from each platform's own fee pages. Each line links to its source.

Category by category

Category names differ between the two, so we matched each eBay category to the Amazon category that sells the same kind of item. Trading cards and coins have no row in Amazon’s standard referral table, so they are left unmatched rather than guessed.

How each one charges

Amazon takes a referral fee on each item: a percentage set by category, on the item price plus the shipping you charge (sales tax that Amazon calculates is left out), never less than a small minimum per item. Most categories pay 15%. Some rates step down above a price, and some step up: clothing, for one, pays less on cheap items and more above a set price. Books, music, movies and video games add a $1.80 closing fee per item. On top, you pay for a selling plan: $0.99 per item sold on Individual, or $39.99 a month on Professional.

eBay takes a final value fee: 13.6% of the total sale in most categories, shipping and sales tax included, plus $0.40 per order ($0.30 on orders of $10 or less). There is no monthly fee without a Store.

Sales tax counts on eBay, not on Amazon

eBay’s percentage includes the sales tax the buyer pays; Amazon’s referral fee leaves out tax it calculates. With 8% sales tax on the $50 item and $8 shipping, eBay’s fee rises from $8.29 to $8.92, while Amazon’s stays at $9.69. In a high-tax state, that narrows eBay’s lead.

Selling more than 40 items a month on Amazon

Amazon’s Professional plan ($39.99 a month) costs less than the Individual plan’s $0.99 per item once you sell more than 40 items a month. Above that, the plan’s cost spread over your sales is less than the per-item fee, so Amazon’s fee on every row of the table drops. At 41 items a month, a $50 item with $8 shipping in most categories costs $9.68 on Amazon. eBay’s own Store plans do the same for eBay at higher volume: see when an eBay Store pays for itself.

What this comparison leaves out

• Amazon fulfillment (FBA). If Amazon stores and ships your stock, it adds a fulfillment fee by size and weight, plus monthly storage. This page compares shipping it yourself on both.
• Ads. Both sell ads that cost extra on top of the fees: eBay’s Promoted Listings and Amazon’s advertising.
• Postage. You pay for the label on both; compare prices in the cheapest way to ship.

Every fee on each side is on its own page: eBay’s fees by category and every Amazon fee, with FBA. To weigh both against Etsy or your own store, put one sale through every platform.

Honest Fees is independent and not affiliated with Amazon or eBay, and neither is a partner. Amazon is a trademark of Amazon.com, Inc. eBay is a trademark of eBay Inc.

Common questions

Is it cheaper to sell on Amazon or eBay?

It depends on the category. On a $50 item with $8 shipping, eBay takes less in 15 of 20 matched categories, including most everyday goods ($8.29 vs $9.69). Amazon takes less in consumer electronics, laptops and computers, video game consoles, car and truck parts and tires.

Does Amazon or eBay take a bigger cut?

In most categories Amazon's referral fee is 15% of the item and shipping, plus $0.99 per item on the Individual plan. eBay's is 13.6% of the total sale plus $0.40 per order. Amazon's rate is lower in some categories, such as consumer electronics, and higher in others, such as guitars and basses.

Do Amazon and eBay charge fees on shipping?

Yes. Both charge their percentage on the shipping you charge the buyer. eBay also charges it on the sales tax; Amazon leaves out tax it calculates.

Do I need a monthly plan to sell on Amazon or eBay?

No. Amazon's Individual plan has no monthly fee and charges $0.99 per item sold; Professional is $39.99 a month. eBay has no monthly fee unless you open a Store.