eBay vs Etsy fees: compare the structure, then price the sale

Neither eBay nor Etsy has a universally lower fee for every seller or item. eBay's supported schedules depend on category and Store plan; Etsy's US order model separates listing, transaction and Payments charges. Advertising and tax bases can change the outcome. Compare the fee structure below, then use the independent eBay calculator and Etsy calculator only for conditions each tool actually supports.

Compare fee structures under explicit conditions

This comparison uses the site's reviewed domestic US / USD snapshot. eBay coverage is six exact categories and six subscriptions. Etsy coverage assumes an eligible Etsy.com sale by a US seller with a US bank and USD payment account. These are calculation scopes, not an assertion that every eBay product is eligible on Etsy.

Advertising conditions are not equivalent: eBay General campaigns and Etsy Offsite Ads use different attribution and fee bases. The structure table explains both programs; it does not assume the same advertising exposure or eligible products.

Sources and assumptions

The governing references are eBay selling fees, Store fees, General campaigns, Etsy fees and Etsy Payments. Our cost allocation and half-up per-component rounding are site assumptions, not platform policy. Use the source links for current rules and account-specific exceptions.

A hypothetical order under the historical snapshot

The following amounts are engine-generated hypothetical calculations under the reviewed 2026-10-11 snapshot, not live fees or actual platform invoices. Both scenarios use one domestic US order in USD: item price $100.00, buyer-paid shipping $10.00, collected sales tax $8.00, product cost $30.00, fulfillment cost $5.00 and other allocated costs $1.00. Gift wrap is $0.00, and no refunds, international fees or account adjustments are modeled.

The eBay scenario uses the exact Crafts category, no Store subscription and a seller-supplied 2% attributed General campaign rate. The Etsy scenario uses the calculator's standard US order model, a US bank and USD payment account, one allocated listing charge and no attributed Offsite Ads. “Standard” is a model scope, not a product category equivalent to Crafts. Etsy Ads spend and subscription overhead are not added beyond the stated other costs.

The dollar examples use different advertising conditions: eBay includes a 2% attributed General fee; Etsy has no attributed Offsite Ads fee. These figures do not isolate advertising-neutral platform costs or establish a universally cheaper marketplace.

These different account and advertising conditions explain these particular amounts; they do not establish which platform is universally cheaper. Before applying either scenario to a real product, independently verify its listing eligibility, category, account conditions and advertising record. Equal hypothetical prices do not imply equal demand, achievable prices or commercial performance. The eBay profit guide explains the cost reconciliation, and the Offsite Ads guide isolates Etsy advertising status while holding other inputs constant.

Check product and input compatibility

Before comparing amounts, confirm that the actual product is permitted on each platform under its current selling policies. A shared label such as Crafts does not establish equivalent category placement, eligibility, buyer demand or checkout conditions. We do not map eBay categories to Etsy categories or make a product-eligibility determination.

Use the same item price, charged shipping and known operating costs only when those values are plausible for each listing. Check the sales tax amount for each actual order. A matched hypothetical price can isolate fee differences but does not predict the price buyers will pay. If a category is unsupported, do not select a nearby category to manufacture a comparison.

Estimate each supported scenario separately

1. Gather the listing category, active account plan, order amounts and actual advertising status for each platform.
2. Open each calculator and verify its scope. Enter item price, inventory cost, charged shipping, fulfillment cost and tax separately.
3. Allocate relevant listing and subscription costs deliberately. Record the allocation so the two scenarios can be understood later.
4. Compare the fee components and net profit, not only the headline percentage. Save your assumptions with the result in your own records.

The eBay selling fees guide explains category tiers and the gross basis. The Etsy selling fees guide explains the different transaction and processing bases. For attributed advertising, consult the Offsite Ads guide rather than assuming the same ad percentage on both platforms.

Include business costs beyond the sale

A per-order fee estimate does not include every cost of running a shop. Unsold listings, supplies, returns, production time and subscriptions can affect the decision. Include known allocated expenses, and identify unknown costs explicitly. Selling eligibility, fulfillment requirements and the effort of maintaining a second catalog also need your own assessment.

Different ad programs charge under different conditions. An attributed-sale percentage is not interchangeable with click-based spend or a daily budget. This page does not estimate sales volume, traffic, conversion or advertising return, and it does not use fabricated market statistics to choose a platform.

What this comparison cannot conclude

There is no shared dynamic comparison form or automatic winner. The available models do not guarantee compatible categories, eligibility or all account conditions. Independent estimates remain useful when their assumptions are clear, but cannot establish a universal cheapest marketplace or reproduce every invoice.

For platform-neutral planning with known fee amounts, use the profit margin calculator. For candidate pricing under a flat custom fee, use the target profit calculator and then verify the candidate separately in the appropriate marketplace tool. Our methodology documents why the custom model is not a reverse eBay or Etsy calculator.