If your item doesn't sell on eBay, you generally only pay the insertion fee, which is the cost to list the item, but you don't pay the final value fee (percentage of sale). Insertion fees are non-refundable and apply per listing and category, though eBay offers free listings (around 250 monthly for basic sellers) before charging per listing (around $0.35). You might pay extra for listing upgrades like a reserve price, even if it doesn't sell, or if you ended the listing early with contact info exchanged.
If your item doesn't sell, you will not be charged any final value fees.
Is There a Fee for Unsold Items on eBay? You typically won't be charged a final value fee if your item doesn't sell on eBay. However, depending on your seller plan, you may still be charged a listing fee. Some platforms offer a limited number of free listings per month, but additional listings may incur a fee.
For example, if you ended your listing early, or if you didn't select the auto-relist option for your auction-style listings. We charge an insertion fee (or count it as a zero insertion fee listing) for both the original listing and the manual relisting.
When you can ask eBay to step in. Once the buyer has let you know that they have an issue, you have 3 business days to respond with a resolution. After that, if the matter hasn't been resolved, either of you can ask us to step in and help.
Yes, you must report all eBay income, even under $20,000, if you're selling for profit (as a business or hobby), but you only receive a Form 1099-K from eBay if you hit both the $20,000 gross payments and 200+ transaction thresholds for the 2025 tax year (filing in 2026), thanks to recent law changes that reverted the rule. The key is that the 1099-K is an information form, not the tax rule itself; you are responsible for reporting all taxable income from sales.
Side-hustle sellers typically average 2-5 listings daily (60-150 monthly), while full-time sellers often list 10-20+ items per day (300-600+ monthly). The exact number depends heavily on sourcing capacity, available time, and business goals.
The 'sell as similar' option treats it as a new listing, so it will appear at the top of the search results when buyers sort by 'newly listed'. The 'relist' option retains the start date of the original listing, so it will not move up in search results.
Insertion Fees
These fees are non-refundable, even if your item doesn't sell, so it's important to monitor your listing volume each month to avoid unexpected charges.
No, its not entirely free. While you get a certain number of “zero insertion fee” listings each month (250 for casual sellers), eBay charges a Final Value Fee once your item sells. This fee is a percentage of the total sale price, including the item, shipping, and sales tax.
The short answer is a resounding yes, and the reasons why might surprise you. Despite the competition, eBay continues to be a powerhouse. As of the first quarter of 2025, the platform boasts 134 million active buyers and around 18 million sellers, with nearly 2 billion live listings at any given time.
For a $100 sale on eBay, expect fees around $14 to $16, primarily a 13.6% Final Value Fee on the total sale (item + shipping + tax), plus a $0.40 per-order fee, varying slightly by category (e.g., higher for media, lower for some electronics/sneakers). So on a $100 item with $10 shipping ($110 total), you'd pay roughly $14.40-$15.84 in fees, leaving you with around $94-$95, depending on the exact category.
The cheapest way to ship on eBay is with Parcel2Go. Our delivery prices start from just £1.99 exc VAT. Private sellers will be mostly restricted to using eBay's new Simple Delivery system, which offer shipping rates more expensive than Parcel2Go.
If you don't have an eBay Store subscription, you can list up to 250 items for free each month. Beyond that, each additional listing costs $0.35. Once you exceed this limit, a per-listing fee applies: Basic Store: 250 free listings, then $0.30 per additional listing.
If your eBay sales add up to more than $20,000 in more than 200 transactions in a year, eBay will send you a Form 1099-K. This form reports your earnings to the IRS, ensuring it's aware of your sales activity. When you receive a Form 1099-K, it means that the IRS expects you to report this income on your tax return.
The "20k rule" refers to the traditional IRS threshold for reporting income from payment apps and online marketplaces on Form 1099-K: over $20,000 in gross payments AND more than 200 transactions in a calendar year. While a law (the American Rescue Plan) temporarily lowered the threshold to $600, recent legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) (OBBBA), has reinstated the $20,000/200-transaction rule for tax years starting in 2025, providing relief for casual sellers and gig workers.
Effective February 2025, ebay will hold private sellers funds for 14 days if the order is posted with an un-tracked delivery service (such as Royal Mail 2nd Class).
Off-platform requests: A seller asking to communicate or finalize the transaction off eBay is a huge red flag that they're trying to trick you. There's no reason you can't talk and transact exclusively on eBay.