eBay vs Mercari: a three-point fee gap, and what it is worth
Mercari is cheaper than eBay on fees at every price, usually by three to six points. The interesting question is not which one wins the arithmetic — it is whether the extra money per sale is worth the difference in how fast things actually sell.
Two very different fee designs
Mercari charges a flat 10% selling fee and nothing else. Since January 2025 there is no seller processing fee — the buyer pays shipping, and the 10% is calculated on the item price. That is the entire fee structure, which is why Mercari's numbers are easy to predict and why its sellers are rarely surprised at payout.
eBay charges 13.6% final value fee in most categories, a 0.35% regulatory operating fee for business sellers, and a per-order fee of $0.40 on orders above $10 ($0.30 at or below). Three components, all charged on a base that includes any shipping the buyer pays.
| Platform | Fees | Fee rate | Net per sale | vs best |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercari | $6.00 | 10.0% | $34.00 | — |
| eBay | $8.77 | 14.6% | $31.23 | -$2.77 |
Worked at a $60.00 sale, $20.00 unit cost and $0.00 of shipping you pay, general merchandise. Change any of those and the order can flip — that is what the calculator above is for.
The gap is fixed-cost driven, not percentage driven
At $20 eBay's effective rate is 16.0% — two and a half points above its headline, because the $0.40 per-order fee is 2% of a $20 sale. At $200 the same fee is 0.2%, and eBay's effective rate falls to 14.2%. Mercari stays at exactly 10% the whole way.
That means the gap per sale widens with price: $1.19 at $20, $2.44 at $60, $8.30 at $200. If you sell ten items a week at $60, Mercari is worth about $1,270 a year more in fees alone.
What eBay's extra three points buy
Volume. eBay's US buyer base is several times Mercari's, and its search is built around completed-sale data that buyers use to price. A generic item — a used camera lens, a replacement part, a textbook — sells on eBay in days and sits on Mercari for weeks. On inventory that turns, three points is cheaper than three months of holding cost.
Mercari rewards branded, photographable, consumer resale: sneakers, streetwear, cosmetics, games, small electronics. Its audience is browsing rather than searching for a specific part number, which is why the same item can go for more there — the comparison is between a quick sale at 10% and a slow one at 14.2%.
eBay vs Mercari — FAQ
Is Mercari cheaper than eBay?
Yes, on fees, at every price. Mercari charges a flat 10% and no seller processing fee since January 2025, while eBay charges 13.6% plus a 0.35% regulatory fee and a $0.40 per-order fee — about 14.2% at $200 and 15.9% at $20. On a $60 sale Mercari keeps $2.44 more.
Does Mercari charge a selling fee and a payment fee?
Only the selling fee. Mercari removed the seller-side payment processing fee in January 2025, so the 10% is the whole cost. Buyers pay shipping separately, and the fee is calculated on the item price rather than on item plus shipping as eBay does.
Why do sellers stay on eBay if Mercari is cheaper?
Sell-through. eBay has a far larger buyer base and a search built on completed-sale data, so specific or unusual items sell in days rather than weeks. Three points of fee is worth less than a month of holding inventory, which is why most resellers list on both and let the item decide.
Which is better for clothing and sneakers?
Mercari for most branded resale — sneakers, streetwear, cosmetics, games. Its audience browses categories rather than searching part numbers, and the flat 10% leaves more room. eBay wins on anything with a model number, where buyers search by exact specification.
Does eBay charge a fee on shipping?
Yes. eBay's final value fee is calculated on the total the buyer pays, including shipping and handling. Mercari calculates its 10% on the item price only, so charging separately for postage is treated differently by the two platforms.
Sources & last checked. Rates reflect Mercari's 2026 US seller terms (10% selling fee, no seller payment processing fee since January 2025, buyer-paid shipping) and eBay's 2026 US business-seller fees (13.6% final value fee to $7,500 then 2.35%, $0.30/$0.40 per-order fee, 0.35% regulatory operating fee). Last reviewed October 2026.
Mercari Fee Calculator →
Flat 10% and the free-shipping trap.
eBay Fee Calculator →
Category rates, per-order fees and Promoted Listings.