How each platform charges
Resale platforms do not just take a different percentage. They take it on different things: some charge on the shipping and the sales tax the buyer pays, some add a fixed fee per order, one switches to a flat fee on cheap items, and one has a minimum. That is why the platform with the lowest headline rate is not always the one that leaves you the most. These are the US rates the calculator uses, as published in October 2026:
| Platform | Selling fee | Payment processing | Charged on |
|---|---|---|---|
| eBay (most categories, no Store) | 13.6% | Included, plus $0.40 per order ($0.30 if the order is $10 or less) | Item, shipping the buyer pays and sales tax |
| Poshmark | $2.95 under $15, 20% at $15 and up | Included | Item price. The buyer pays the label |
| Mercari | 10% | None | Item and the shipping the buyer pays |
| Depop (US) | 0% | 3.3% + $0.45 | The whole order, including shipping and tax |
| Facebook Marketplace (shipped) | 10%, $0.80 minimum | Included | The whole order, including shipping and tax |
| Whatnot | 8% (lower at high volume) | 2.9% + $0.30 | Commission on the item; processing on the whole order |
| Etsy (vintage and handmade only) | 6.5% + $0.20 listing | 3% + $0.25 | Item and shipping; processing on the whole order |
Sources are each platform's own help or fee pages. Facebook is the one to double-check: its own pages have said 5% and current third-party guides say 10% with a $0.80 minimum, so the calculator uses 10%. Local pickup sales on Facebook have no fee. Book, media and a few collectible categories on eBay have higher rates, and Whatnot's commission drops as your monthly sales grow.
Worked example: a $48 jacket
You paid $12 for a denim jacket at a thrift store, including the cleaning. It should sell for $48 with free shipping, and the label costs you $8.50. With 7% sales tax:
| Platform | Fees | You receive | Profit |
|---|---|---|---|
| eBay: 13.6% × $51.36 + $0.40 | $7.38 | $40.62 | $20.12 |
| Poshmark: 20% × $48, buyer pays label | $9.60 | $38.40 | $26.40 |
| Mercari: 10% × $48 | $4.80 | $43.20 | $22.70 |
| Depop: 3.3% × $51.36 + $0.45 | $2.14 | $45.86 | $25.36 |
| Facebook (shipped): 10% × $51.36 | $5.14 | $42.86 | $22.36 |
| Whatnot: 8% × $48 + 2.9% × $51.36 + $0.30 | $5.63 | $42.37 | $21.87 |
| Etsy: 6.5% × $48 + 3% × $51.36 + $0.45 | $5.11 | $42.89 | $22.39 |
Poshmark takes the biggest fee and still leaves the most, because the buyer pays the $8.50 label. Depop has the smallest fee and comes second. eBay comes last on this item: its fee counts the sales tax, and with free shipping the label comes out of your side. The gap between best and worst is $6.28 on one jacket, which is about $630 on a hundred sales.
Cheap items: fixed fees take a bigger share
Fixed fees are the same on a $9 sale and a $90 sale. Take a $9 book you paid $3 for, with a $4.50 label: eBay's fee is $1.61 and you lose $0.11 after the label. Poshmark's flat $2.95 still leaves $3.05, because the buyer pays the label, and Depop leaves $0.73. On cheap items, the label decides more than the fee rate does. Bundling three cheap items into one sale pays the fixed fees and the label once instead of three times.
Big items: percentage fees take more dollars
At the top end it flips. A $180 item you paid $40 for, with $12 shipping charged and a $12 label: Depop's fee is $7.23 and you keep $132.77, while Poshmark's 20% is $36.00 and leaves $104.00. A 20% fee is fine on a $25 shirt with the label paid by the buyer; on a $180 jacket it costs you more than the label ever would.
What the fee does not include
- Promoted listings and boosts. eBay promoted listings, Depop boost (12% on boosted sales) and Etsy Offsite Ads come on top when a sale comes from them.
- Your time and supplies. Mailers, tape and the drive to the thrift store are business expenses, not fees.
- Taxes on your profit. Reselling for profit is self-employment income; see how much to set aside for taxes.
Frequently asked questions
Which resale platform has the lowest fees?
On fees alone, Depop in the US is lowest for most items: no selling fee, only 3.3% plus $0.45 payment processing. Mercari takes 10%, Whatnot about 11 to 12% with processing, Etsy about 11%, eBay about 15% and Poshmark 20%. The platform that leaves you the most profit can still be Poshmark, because its buyers pay the shipping label.
Does eBay charge fees on shipping and sales tax?
Yes. eBay's final value fee in most categories is 13.6% of the total amount of the sale, which includes the item price, the shipping the buyer pays and the sales tax, plus a per-order fee of $0.40, or $0.30 on orders of $10 or less.
How much does Poshmark take from a sale?
A flat $2.95 on sales under $15 and 20% on sales of $15 or more. The buyer pays for the prepaid shipping label, so the seller does not pay shipping.
What are Mercari's fees in 2026?
For listings created or updated since January 6, 2025, Mercari charges a 10% selling fee on the item price plus any shipping the buyer pays, with no separate payment processing fee. Buyers pay their own buyer protection fee on top.
Fee rates are US rates as of October 2026 and change from time to time. Check each platform's fee page before you rely on a number. JobCostLab is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the platforms named. This tool is not tax or accounting advice.
