eBay

Is eBay worth it for resellers?

eBay's fee page lists 13.6% of the sale up to $7,500 per item in most categories, plus a per-order fee, and buyers pay you through eBay. For the wider model, see Reselling & Flipping.

How much eBay takes from your sales

The fee is charged on the total sale amount, which includes item price, handling, shipping collected from the buyer, sales tax and other applicable fees. The percentage therefore applies to more than the item price. eBay says it charges one final value fee and that sellers do not pay separate third-party payment processing fees. An order is any number of items one buyer buys at checkout with the same shipping method, and the per-order fee is added once per order. Insertion fees after the free allowance are non-refundable if the item doesn't sell.

eBay's User Agreement lets it change selling fees on 14 days' posted notice, with no notice needed for reductions or temporary promotions.

How and when eBay pays you

eBay says proceeds typically become available for payout 1-2 days after the buyer's payment is confirmed, unless a hold applies. The bank then takes more time. eBay states no single timing, because speed depends on when the buyer completes the order and your payout method.

eBay's new balance terms take effect November 4, 2026 for existing users (October 21, 2026 for new enrollees). Under them, eligible sellers are enrolled in eBay balance automatically after identity verification. Under those terms, on-demand withdrawal is the default and an automatic payout schedule is optional. Weekly or more frequent schedules enable on-demand withdrawals, and available funds are auto-disbursed no more than 330 days after your most recent sale. The balance is not a bank account and is not FDIC pass-through insured. eBay's help page still lists daily, weekly, biweekly and monthly automatic payout choices, and eBay hasn't said whether existing schedules carry over.

eBay seller requirements and how long approval takes

eBay's User Agreement bars use of its services by anyone unable to form legally binding contracts, with under 18 as its example. Registration asks for a street address and an SSN, EIN or ITIN, which eBay says it uses to verify identity and comply with laws, including tax laws. It also confirms your payout account.

Payouts can be held if eBay cannot validate a Form W-9 or if registration details don't match. On limits, the User Agreement says only that eBay may limit or restrict seller accounts that fail performance standards.

Can eBay deactivate your seller account?

The User Agreement lets eBay limit, suspend or terminate accounts in its sole discretion, and says any appeal is optional (eBay "may offer" one). Reasons eBay lists for restrictions include unpaid costs, unresolved buyer issues, rule violations or suspected third-party access. Reinstatement steps arrive in Messages, and payouts may be held until a restriction is lifted. Sellers rated Below Standard can face lower search placement, reduced selling limits and holds.

The Money Back Guarantee is buyer-focused. You must respond to a not-received report within 3 business days, and eBay may recoup refunds from you. It excludes items such as real estate, digital content, services and motor vehicles, and payments made outside eBay. For payment disputes, seller protection requires a response within 5 calendar days. It excludes prohibited items and refunds made outside eBay, and orders of $750 or more need signature confirmation. A payment-dispute hold can last up to 90 calendar days. Other holds depend on your account status, as the transaction holds page describes.

Is eBay legit?

eBay Inc., based in San Jose, California, was founded in 1995 according to its FY2025 annual report filed with the SEC. The User Agreement names eBay Inc. as the U.S. contracting entity for eBay users. In January 2024, eBay agreed in federal court in Boston to pay $3 million and accept three years of independent monitoring to avoid further prosecution over a 2019 cyberstalking campaign. In September 2023 the EPA and DOJ sued eBay in New York, alleging it failed to stop sales of pesticides, restricted chemicals and emissions defeat devices. Trade press reports that eBay's Section 230 defense succeeded and DOJ dropped its appeal (update dated April 24, 2025).

Scams that use eBay's name

eBay's Security Center says what it will not do and what to watch for:

More checks are in How to spot side-hustle scams.

Taxes on eBay income

eBay says it issues a Form 1099-K for tax year 2025 when gross payments are over $20,000 and there are more than 200 transactions, by January 31. Its Seller Center FAQ says the threshold was restored to that level after the July 2025 tax bill and that eBay also issues the form if backup withholding applied. eBay's 10-K states the same threshold.

eBay vs other resale marketplaces

eBay's fee in most categories is 13.6% plus $0.40 per order. Mercari, Etsy, Poshmark and Facebook Marketplace are compared below.