Sell on eBay if you sell beyond clothes, want auctions or sell sneakers and designer bags with their own lower rates: most categories carry a 13.6% final value fee plus $0.30 or $0.40 per order, and your first 250 listings a month are free. Sell on Poshmark if you sell fashion in the US or Canada and want one 20% commission with a $2.95 minimum fee and no listing fee.
eBay's headline rate is lower than Poshmark's, and that's where most comparisons stop. The difference is in what each percentage is charged on, and in the category rates eBay sets for fashion. I read eBay's US selling fees page and Poshmark's fee settings, Posh Protect and about pages, so the figures below are each company's own as of October 2026.
eBay and Poshmark for sellers
| Details as of October 2026 | eBay | Poshmark |
|---|---|---|
| Listing fee (US) | 250 free a month, then $0.35 per listing | Free |
| Main selling fee | 13.6% of the total sale up to $7,500 in most categories | 20% commission, $2.95 minimum fee |
| Per order fee | $0.30 on orders of $10.00 or less, $0.40 above | None |
| What eBay's fee is charged on | Item, handling, shipping charged to the buyer and sales tax | Commission on the sale |
| Athletic shoes with a total sale of $150 or more | 8%, no per order fee | 20% commission |
How eBay works out its fee
eBay charges two main fees in the US: an insertion fee when you list and a final value fee when the item sells. Every month you get up to 250 zero insertion fee listings, then it's $0.35 per listing in most categories. The final value fee is 13.6% of the total amount of the sale up to $7,500, calculated per item, and 2.35% on any part above that, plus a per order fee of $0.30 for orders of $10.00 or less and $0.40 for orders over $10.00.
The phrase that matters is total amount of the sale. eBay's page says it includes the item price, any handling charges, shipping costs collected from the buyer, sales tax and any other applicable fees. On the plus side, eBay says you don't have to worry about third-party payment processing fees, and if you offer free domestic shipping you won't be charged a final value fee on shipping.
eBay's fashion categories have their own rates
If you sell clothes, shoes and accessories, check your category before you compare. eBay lists women's bags and handbags at 15% if the total sale is $2,000 or less and 9% above that. Men's and women's athletic shoes are free to list if the starting price is $150 or more, and then the final value fee is 8% with no per order fee; below $150 it's 13.6%. Jewellery is 15% up to $5,000 and 9% above, and watches are 15% on the first $1,000. For sneakers sold through Authenticity Guarantee with a free shipping label, there's no final value fee charged on shipping.
One warning: eBay can add to the final value fee if your account falls below its standards. Sellers evaluated as Below Standard pay an extra 6% on final value fees the following month.
Poshmark: one commission for US and Canada
Poshmark's own pages show a 20% commission with a $2.95 minimum fee for US sellers, a $3 minimum selling price and no listing fee. In Canada it's 20% with a $3.95 minimum fee and a $5 minimum price. There's no category table to look up and no per order charge, which makes it easy to price a rail of clothes in one go.
Poshmark is fashion first. Its about page lists 130M+ community members across the US and Canada, 350M+ items sold and $8B earned by sellers to date, and Posh Authenticate gives buyers free authentication and free shipping on items of $500 or more.
The catch in the headline rates
eBay's 13.6% looks far lower than Poshmark's 20%, but it's charged on the whole order, shipping and sales tax included, and the per order fee comes on top. After 250 listings in a month, each new listing costs $0.35 whether or not it sells, and eBay says insertion fees aren't refundable. On low-priced items, flat amounts on both sides matter more than the percentage: eBay's per order fee and Poshmark's $2.95 minimum fee.
Returns and protection
Posh Protect gives buyers 72 hours after delivery to open a return case, backed by photos, for undisclosed damage, a wrong or missing item, an item not as described, a fake, or an order that never arrived. If no case is opened within 3 days of delivery, payment goes to the seller automatically. Items that don't fit and changed minds aren't covered. On eBay, if you need to refund a buyer or cancel a sale, you may be eligible for fee credits under eBay's fee credits policy.
Who should sell where
- Clothes, shoes and bags only, in the US or Canada: Poshmark, built around fashion buyers.
- Sneakers with a starting price of $150 or more: eBay, where the final value fee drops to 8% with no per order fee.
- Designer handbags over $2,000: eBay's 9% band on women's bags, or Poshmark if you want free authentication for the buyer.
- A mix of fashion, collectables and homeware: eBay, with listings across every category.
- Auctions to find the price of a rare piece: eBay's auction-style listings.
For every fee in detail, read how much eBay takes from a sale and how much Poshmark takes. New to eBay? This guide to selling products through eBay walks through setting up.
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My advice for eBay and Poshmark sellers
If your stock is clothing with a few designer pieces, Poshmark keeps life simple with one commission and buyers who are there for fashion. If you sell sneakers, high-value bags or anything outside clothing, look up your eBay category first, because its category rates can come in well under 20%. Keep your seller standards up on eBay, or the extra 6% wipes out the gap.
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Frequently asked questions
Is eBay or Poshmark's fee lower?
eBay's final value fee is 13.6% of the total sale in most categories plus $0.30 or $0.40 per order, as of October 2026. Poshmark's own pages show a 20% commission with a $2.95 minimum fee. eBay's base includes shipping and sales tax.
Does eBay charge to list items?
You get up to 250 zero insertion fee listings a month in the US, then $0.35 per listing in most categories.
What does eBay charge on sneakers?
For men's and women's athletic shoes with a total sale of $150 or more, eBay lists an 8% final value fee with no per order fee, as of October 2026. Below $150 it's 13.6%.
Does Poshmark have a listing fee?
No. Poshmark's US seller cost is the 20% commission with a $2.95 minimum fee, and the minimum selling price is $3.
Does eBay charge payment processing fees?
No separate one. eBay says you don't have to worry about third-party payment processing fees, because its final value fee covers the sale.
How long do Poshmark buyers have to open a return?
72 hours after delivery. If no case is opened within 3 days of delivery, Poshmark releases payment to the seller automatically.
