One of the biggest challenges for eBay sellers is understanding exactly what fees you'll pay on a sale. eBay's fee structure has multiple components, and they vary by category and marketplace.
The fee components
1. Final Value Fee (FVF) This is the main selling fee. For most categories on eBay UK, it's **12.8%** of the total sale price (including postage). However, some categories have different rates:
- Musical Instruments: 5.5%
- Business & Industrial: 10%
- Most other categories: 12.8%
2. Regulatory Operating Fee A separate fee charged on top of the FVF. On eBay UK, this is currently **0.5%** of the sale price.
3. Per-Order Fee A fixed fee per order. On eBay UK, this is **£0.30** per order.
4. Payment Processing Fee eBay processes payments through their Managed Payments system. The fee is typically **2.5% + £0.25** per transaction on eBay UK.
5. Promoted Listings Fee (Optional) If you use eBay's advertising (Promoted Listings Standard), you'll pay an additional percentage when your promoted listing results in a sale. The rate varies but is typically 2-10%.
Example calculation
Let's say you sell a pair of trainers for £50 on eBay UK:
| Fee | Amount |
| Final Value Fee (12.8%) | £6.40 |
| Regulatory Fee (0.5%) | £0.25 |
| Per-Order Fee | £0.30 |
| Payment Processing (2.5% + £0.25) | £1.50 |
| **Total Fees** | **£8.45** |
That's 16.9% of your sale price going to fees. If you paid £25 for those trainers, your actual profit is £16.55.
Why this matters for sourcing
When you're deciding whether to buy a product to resell, you need to know your fees *before* you buy. A product that looks profitable at first glance might not be once you account for all the fees.
That's exactly what ScanJunki does — it calculates your fees per-category, so you know your true profit before you buy.