RecommendHow to Start Selling on eBay and What to Expect from eBay Fees

If you're thinking about selling things online, eBay is one of the best places to start. Many people use eBay to sell new or used items, clean out their homes, or even run full-time businesses. But if you're new, you might be wondering how to sell on eBay, how much does eBay take from a sale, and what eBay selling fees really look like. This guide will walk you through everything step by step.

Selling On eBay For The First Time? Here's Everything You Need To Know

Selling on eBay is simple, but there are a few important things you should understand before you begin.

First, eBay is a huge online marketplace. In 2025, eBay had over 130 million active buyers around the world. That means your items have a good chance of being seen if you list them correctly.

If you're wondering how to sell on eBay, here’s the basic idea:

• Create a free eBay account.
• List your item with a title, description, photos, and a price.
• Choose how you want to ship the item and who pays for shipping.
• When your item sells, you pack and ship it to the buyer.

You can sell all kinds of things: clothes, books, electronics, toys, and even collectibles. Just make sure the item is allowed under eBay’s rules.

One thing to note: eBay charges selling fees, which we’ll explain more later. But don’t worry—millions of people are already selling, and many are making real money from it.

Why eBay Remains A Great Place To List Items For Sale

You might be thinking: With so many online stores today, why choose eBay?

Here are a few reasons backed by real numbers:

• High Traffic: eBay has 1.6 billion monthly visits according to Similarweb in 2025. That’s more than most other eCommerce platforms.
• Strong Mobile Use: Around 60% of buyers use mobile phones to shop, and eBay’s app makes it easy to reach them.
• Global Reach: eBay allows international selling, so your product could reach buyers in other countries.
• Safe Payments: eBay uses a payment system that protects both sellers and buyers.

Plus, if you're just starting, eBay is great because you don’t need to build your own website or attract your own traffic. You just list your item, and eBay helps bring shoppers to you.

Step-By-Step Guide To Listing Your First Item On eBay

If you’re new to selling online, eBay is one of the easiest places to start. You don’t need your own website, and you don’t need to be a tech expert. You just need something to sell, a computer or phone, and a little patience.

Here’s a detailed guide on how to sell on eBay from start to finish:

1. Set Up an eBay Seller Account

Go to ebay.com and click on “Register” to create an account. Use your real name, email, and a safe password. Once your account is made, go to “Sell” and follow the steps to set up your seller profile.

You’ll also need to link a bank account so eBay can send you the money from your sales. eBay handles payments directly now, so you don’t need PayPal.

2. Decide What You Want to Sell

Look around your home for things you don’t use anymore. Think of old books, video games, clothing, electronics, shoes, or even collectibles. Check if they’re in good condition and clean them up if needed.

Then search on eBay for similar items. This helps you understand how much people are willing to pay and how you should price yours.

3. Take Clear Photos

Photos are super important. Buyers can’t touch or hold your item, so clear images help them decide. Use a plain background. Take pictures from the front, back, sides, and show any labels or flaws. Use natural light when possible.

4. Write a Strong Title and Description

Your title should include important details like brand, color, model, and size. For example:

“Nike Air Max Shoes Men’s Size 10 White Blue”

In the description, write about the item’s condition, any damage, how it’s used, and what the buyer will get. Be honest. If the item has a scratch, say so.

5. Choose the Right Category

eBay will suggest a category for you, like "Men’s Shoes" or "Video Games." Use the correct one so buyers can find your item more easily.

6. Set Your Price

There are two options:

• Auction: Buyers place bids, and the highest bid wins.
• Buy It Now: You set a fixed price and buyers can buy it right away.

If you’re just starting, Buy It Now is simpler and gives you more control.

7. Pick Shipping Options

You can choose to have the buyer pay for shipping or offer free shipping and include the cost in your item’s price. Use a small scale to weigh your item and enter the correct size and weight into eBay’s shipping calculator.

8. Use ZiBird to Sell Safely (For Advanced or Multiple Accounts)

If you plan to manage more than one eBay account, or if you work in a team, ZiBird helps a lot. ZiBird gives sellers a secure environment where each account runs safely in its own space.

eBay often flags accounts when users switch between them or change devices or IP addresses too much. This can lead to restrictions or account suspensions. ZiBird helps prevent these issues by keeping each account isolated. Sellers who use ZiBird are less likely to lose money from account bans.

9. List Your Item

Once everything looks good, click “List Item.” Congratulations! Your product is now on eBay for sale. You’ll get a notification when someone buys it.

How Much Does eBay Take From A Sale? Understanding The Full Cost

A lot of people ask, “How much does eBay take from a sale?” The answer depends on what you’re selling, how much it sells for, and whether you use extra tools or services.

Let’s go over the common eBay selling fees:

1. Final Value Fee

This is the main fee you pay. It’s a percentage of the total sale price, including shipping. In most categories, eBay takes about 13.25%. Some categories may be lower or higher.

For example:

• You sell a jacket for $50
• You charge $10 for shipping
• Total sale = $60
• eBay takes 13.25% of $60 = $7.95

This fee is automatically deducted from your payout.

2. Payment Processing Fee

eBay also charges a 2.9% + $0.30 fee per transaction to handle the money transfer.

From the example above:

• 2.9% of $60 = $1.74
• Add $0.30 = $2.04

So, with both the final value fee and processing fee, you’d pay:

• $7.95 (final value) + $2.04 (payment fee) = $9.99 total fees

3. Listing Fees (Optional)

You can list up to 250 items per month for free. If you list more than that or want to add special upgrades (like bold title or subtitle), you’ll pay small fees. For most new sellers, these aren’t needed.

4. Extra Services (Optional)

Some sellers pay extra for Promoted Listings to get more views. These have additional fees based on how well your listing performs.

Summary Table:

It’s important to understand how much eBay takes from a sale so you can price your items in a way that still makes you money.

Selling Smarter: Tips To Lower Fees And Maximize Profit

Now that you understand how to sale on eBay and what the fees look like, here’s how to make more money while spending less on fees.

1. Use Free Listings Wisely

Stick to the free 250 listings per month if you can. Don’t waste listings on items that won’t sell. Do research before listing to make sure there’s demand.

2. Combine Shipping When Selling Multiple Items

If a buyer wants to purchase more than one item from you, offer combined shipping. It saves them money and helps you reduce costs too.

3. Avoid Unnecessary Add-Ons

eBay offers extras like extra photo slots or bold fonts, but these usually don’t help much for cheap items. Save these upgrades for higher-value products.

4. Offer Free Shipping With Pricing Strategy

Buyers love free shipping. You can add the shipping cost into your item’s price to cover it. This keeps your listing simple and attracts more buyers.

5. Maintain a High Seller Rating

Respond to messages quickly, ship items fast, and solve any problems. Sellers with good ratings can become Top Rated, which sometimes gives them discounted final value fees.

6. Use ZiBird to Protect Multiple Accounts

If you manage more than one eBay store, or share accounts with others in your team, ZiBird is a must. It protects you from account bans by giving each account its own digital “space.” You don’t have to worry about switching networks, clearing cookies, or using risky VPNs.

This not only protects your account but also helps avoid sales delays caused by sudden suspensions or login flags.

7. Watch Your Performance Dashboard

eBay provides tools to show you how your listings are doing. Check your performance often. If a listing isn’t getting views, try changing the photos or adjusting the price.

8. Schedule Listings for the Best Times

List items during high-traffic periods, like weekends or evenings. eBay lets you schedule listings so they go live when more people are shopping.

Conclusion

Starting to sell on eBay is a great way to turn extra items into cash or even build a small business. Now you know how to sell on eBay, what to expect from eBay selling fees, and how much eBay takes from a sale.

While there are fees, smart sellers learn to work around them by pricing carefully, using tools like ZiBird, and offering good customer service. Whether you're selling one item or starting a store, eBay can help you reach buyers around the world.

So take the first step. Look around your house for something you don’t need, list it on eBay, and start learning by doing.