eBay vs Poshmark vs Mercari Fees
See how official US eBay, Poshmark and Mercari fees, checked on 11 November 2026, treat the same sale. Official sources are linked at the end of this page.
By Alex, Alex Builds Studio · Updated 2026-11-11
| Platform | Total seller fees | Your payout | Profit |
|---|---|---|---|
| ebay | $8.29 | $49.71 | $25.71 |
| etsy | $5.96 | $52.04 | $28.04 |
| poshmark | $10.00 | $40.00 | $16.00 |
| mercari | $5.80 | $52.20 | $28.20 |
| paypal | $1.73 | $56.27 | $32.27 · Highest profit in this comparison |
| depop | $2.36 | $55.64 | $31.64 |
| whatnot | $5.98 | $52.02 | $28.02 |
All platforms are compared for free. Shipping bases differ — Poshmark buyers usually pay the prepaid label.
This is an estimate. Your official seller statement is authoritative.
eBay, Poshmark and Mercari can all take a US clothing or accessories sale, but they do not take it the same way. This page is the editorial companion to the free three-platform comparison: it explains the breakpoints, the shipping traps, and the inventory types that tend to favor one fee structure over another, using official rates checked on 11 November 2026. The calculator above uses one shared sale. The prose below tells you when that shared sale is a fair fight, and when it is not. OpenFeeCalculator is not affiliated with any of the three companies, and a lower fee is not automatically a better business.
Three fee shapes, not three percentages
eBay, for most US categories, charges 13.6% of the total sale — item, shipping collected, and sales tax — plus $0.30 or $0.40 per order. That makes shipping-inclusive listings more expensive in fee terms than they look, and it makes sub-$15 sales carry a fixed fee that is large relative to the price. Poshmark charges $2.95 when the listing is under $15, and 20% of the listing price at $15 and above. In the official model we follow, that 20% is not applied to a separately paid prepaid label. Mercari charges sellers 10% of the item price plus buyer-paid shipping, and the 3.6% Buyer Protection fee is paid by the buyer, not taken from the seller payout, according to the help article we fetched. Saying 'Poshmark is twice Mercari' is only true if you ignore those bases.
Where the ranking usually flips
Under $15, Poshmark's flat $2.95 can beat both eBay and Mercari on seller fees, especially if you were about to pay eBay's $0.40 and a percentage of shipping and tax. At $15 exactly, Poshmark jumps to 20% of $15, or $3.00, which is almost the same dollar amount as $2.95 and then pulls away as the price rises. A $40 mid-tier top is a common flip point in informal advice; whether it actually flips depends on who pays postage. If the Poshmark buyer pays the prepaid label and you enter $0 shipping charged, 20% of $40 is $8.00. The same $40 with $6 shipping on eBay is a $46 sale and about $6.66 in fees before tax. Mercari on $40 + $6 is $4.60. Mercari often shows the lowest seller fee in that mid range, provided you accept its buyer-paid protection fee on the other side of the ticket and you are comfortable with that platform's audience.
Higher-priced items, or items in eBay categories with lower official rates, change the story again. Sneakers over $150 are 8% of the eBay total sale and waive the per-order fee; a $200 pair can be cheaper on eBay than a 20% Poshmark listing of the same price, even before you count Poshmark's different shipping flow. Trading cards have their own eBay row and a very different Whatnot structure, which is why they should not be forced into a clothing-style three-way. Tax also hits eBay harder than Poshmark in this model, because eBay's official base includes sales tax and Poshmark's 20% is on the listing price. If you collect $8 of tax on a $100 item, eBay's percentage is computed on $108 plus shipping, not on $100.
| Scenario (no tax unless noted) | eBay most categories, no store | Poshmark | Mercari seller fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| $14.99 item, $0 shipping charged | 13.6% of $14.99 + $0.40 ≈ $2.44 | $2.95 flat | 10% of $14.99 ≈ $1.50 |
| $15.00 item, $0 shipping | 13.6% of $15 + $0.40 = $2.44 | 20% = $3.00 | 10% = $1.50 |
| $50 item, $8 shipping, no tax | 13.6% of $58 + $0.40 = $8.29 | 20% of $50 = $10.00 (label assumed buyer-paid) | 10% of $58 = $5.80 |
| $200 sneakers over $150, $0 shipping, no tax | 8% of $200, no per-order = $16.00 (use the sneaker calculator, not this default column) | 20% of $200 = $40.00 | 10% of $200 = $20.00 |
Audience, time-to-sale, and why fees are not the whole decision
A marketplace with a slightly higher fee can still be the right place if that is where the buyer already is, or if the listing format matches the item. Poshmark's social sharing and prepaid labels are part of its product, not a footnote. eBay's auction format, Best Offer, and broader search still matter for unique or collectible goods. Mercari's simpler 10% seller fee is attractive on mid-price used clothing, but sell-through and second-chance offers are not in this calculator. We will not invent conversion rates to close that gap. Use the numbers for the fee layer, then apply your own history for how long an item actually takes to sell.
How to use this calculator
- Run the same sale in the comparison grid. Start with one item price, then vary shipping and the $14.99 / $15.00 pair.
- Adjust for who pays the label. Poshmark results assume you understand the prepaid-label flow. Set shipping charged to zero when that is the honest model.
- Leave special eBay categories to their own calculator. Sneakers over $150 and trading cards should not stay on the most-categories column.
- Do not let the lowest fee pick the platform alone. Fees are one layer. Audience and time-to-sale are yours to judge.
Frequently asked questions
Which platform takes the least on a typical $50 clothing sale?
With $8 shipping and no tax, Mercari's 10% of $58 ($5.80) is lower than eBay's $8.29 and Poshmark's $10.00 on a $50 list price, using official rates checked on 11 November 2026. Shipping assumptions can change that.
When does Poshmark win on fees?
Often under $15, where the official seller fee is $2.95 instead of 20%.
Does eBay always cost more than Mercari?
No. Lower official eBay rows, such as sneakers over $150 at 8%, can undercut both a 20% Poshmark fee and Mercari's 10% of a shipping-inclusive total.
Is tax treated the same way?
No. eBay's official final value fee is calculated on a total that includes sales tax. Poshmark's 20% is on the listing price in this model. Always enter tax to see the gap.
Are you affiliated with these marketplaces?
No. OpenFeeCalculator is an independent tool from Alex Builds Studio.
Can I add Etsy or Depop to this comparison?
Yes. Open the full comparison page to add Etsy, Depop, Whatnot and PayPal next to this resale trio, still at no charge.
Does Mercari take 3.6% from the seller?
The help article we fetched describes the 3.6% Buyer Protection fee as buyer-paid. This comparison does not deduct it from the seller payout.
Where are the official sources?
Linked on this page and on each platform calculator, all checked on 11 November 2026.
Sources and updates
- Seller fees | eBay Seller Center, checked 2026-11-11.
- Guide to Poshmark, checked 2026-11-11.
- Fees on Mercari | Mercari Help, checked 2026-11-11.