Etsy vs eBay Fees in 2026: Side-by-Side Calculator (9.5% vs 13.6%)

The fee structures side by side

Before the math, here's what each platform charges:

Etsy (2026):

eBay (2026):

The key structural difference: Etsy charges a small listing fee on everything (sold or not), while eBay charges a higher percentage only when items sell.

Head-to-head on a $30 item (no shipping)

Etsy:

• Listing fee: $0.20
• Transaction fee: 6.5% × $30 = $1.95
• Payment processing: 3% × $30 + $0.25 = $1.15
• Total: $3.30 (11.0% effective)

eBay:

• Insertion fee: $0
• Final value fee: 13.25% × $30 = $3.98
• Per-order fee: $0.30
• Total: $4.28 (14.3% effective)

Etsy saves you $0.98 per sale. At 50 sales/month, that's $49/month or $588/year.

Head-to-head at different price points

Etsy wins on every single price point for completed sales. The gap widens as price increases because eBay's 13.25% never drops (in most categories) while Etsy's fixed $0.20 + $0.25 become a smaller percentage of larger orders.

The unsold inventory problem

Here's where the comparison gets nuanced. Etsy charges $0.20 per listing whether the item sells or not. Listings expire after 4 months. If you renew, that's another $0.20.

Scenario: 100 listings, 30 sell per month

Etsy unsold listing cost:

• 70 unsold items × $0.20 = $14.00/month in dead fees
• Over 4 months (renewal cycle): $14 × 4 = $56 in listing fees for items that haven't sold

eBay unsold listing cost:

• 70 unsold items × $0 = $0 (within 250 free listings)

Adjusted comparison (100 listings, 30 sales at $30 avg):

Etsy still wins by $15.40/month — but the gap narrowed from $29.40 (sales-only) to $15.40 (including dead listings).

When does eBay win? If you list 500 items and only 20 sell (4% conversion):

• Etsy: 20 × $3.30 + 480 × $0.20 = $66 + $96 = $162/month
• eBay: 20 × $4.28 + $0 = $85.60/month

eBay wins by $76.40/month for low-conversion, high-catalog sellers. This is the vintage/collectible seller's reality.

Worked example: handmade jewelry seller

You sell 40 unique earrings listings at $28 each. 25 sell per month. No shipping charge (free shipping built into price).

Etsy:

• Listing fees (40 × $0.20): $8.00
• Transaction fees (25 × 6.5% × $28): $45.50
• Processing (25 × (3% × $28 + $0.25)): $27.25
• Total: $80.75
• Revenue: 25 × $28 = $700
• Effective rate: 11.5%

eBay:

• Listing fees: $0
• Final value (25 × 13.25% × $28): $92.75
• Per-order (25 × $0.30): $7.50
• Total: $100.25
• Revenue: $700
• Effective rate: 14.3%

Etsy saves $19.50/month ($234/year) for this seller. The 15 unsold listings cost only $3.00 in dead fees — not enough to flip the advantage.

Worked example: vintage reseller with large catalog

You list 300 vintage items at $35 average. 25 sell per month (8.3% conversion).

Etsy:

• Listing fees (300 × $0.20): $60.00/month
• Transaction (25 × 6.5% × $35): $56.88
• Processing (25 × (3% × $35 + $0.25)): $28.75
• Total: $145.63

eBay:

• Listing fees: $0 (within 250 free; 50 extra × $0.35 = $17.50)
• Final value (25 × 13.25% × $35): $115.94
• Per-order (25 × $0.30): $7.50
• Total: $140.94

eBay wins by $4.69/month here. The 275 unsold Etsy listings at $0.20 each ($55/month in dead fees) tip the scales.

When to choose which platform

Choose Etsy if:

• Your items sell within 1–2 months (low dead-listing cost)
• You sell handmade, vintage, or craft supplies (Etsy's buyer intent is higher)
• Your average price is $20–$100 (Etsy's fee advantage is largest here)
• You want built-in traffic from Etsy's search (no ad spend required to start)

Choose eBay if:

• You list 200+ items with low conversion (under 10%)
• You sell electronics, auto parts, or collectibles (eBay's buyer base is stronger)
• You want zero cost for unsold inventory
• You use Promoted Listings selectively (pay only when ads convert)

Sell on both if:

• Your items appeal to both audiences
• You can manage inventory sync (avoid double-selling)
• The marginal listing cost on Etsy ($0.20) is worth the exposure

The Offsite Ads wildcard

Etsy's Offsite Ads (12–15% on attributed sales) can flip the comparison. If 30% of your Etsy sales come through Offsite Ads at 15%:

Additional cost: 30% × 15% × revenue = 4.5% on total revenue

On $700/month revenue: $31.50 extra. Your Etsy effective rate jumps from 11.5% to 16.0% — now more expensive than eBay.

Factor this in using the Etsy Fee Calculator with the Offsite Ads toggle.

Next steps

1. Run your top 5 items through the Marketplace Fee Comparison to see side-by-side fees.
2. Calculate your Etsy all-in rate with the Etsy Fee Calculator (include Offsite Ads if applicable).
3. Calculate your eBay all-in rate with the eBay Fee Calculator.
4. Count your unsold listings. Multiply by $0.20. That's your monthly Etsy dead-listing cost.
5. If your catalog is large and conversion is low, test eBay for 30 days and compare total fees.