Amazon vs. Etsy vs. eBay: Fee Comparison
What each platform actually takes from a $100 sale and a $50 sale, computed live from the same verified fee data as each individual calculator — nothing on this page is a hardcoded table.
| Platform | Total fees | Effective rate | You keep |
|---|
| Platform | Total fees | Effective rate | You keep |
|---|
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Reading this comparison correctly
These numbers aren't apples-to-apples in the way a simple percentage comparison implies. Amazon's fulfillment fee bundles in storage, pick-pack and shipping — costs an Etsy or eBay seller pays separately outside the platform's own fee schedule, often to a shipping carrier directly. A lower total-fee percentage on Etsy or eBay doesn't automatically mean more money in your pocket once you account for the packaging, shipping and time you're spending that FBA would otherwise absorb into its fulfillment fee.
Category matters as much as platform. eBay's 8% sneaker rate and Amazon's electronics rate both beat Etsy's blended effective rate on paper, but only for sellers actually operating in those specific categories — a standard clothing item on Amazon jumps to a higher referral fee past its price cliff, which changes the comparison entirely. Run your own numbers through each platform's individual calculator (linked below) rather than relying on this page's default assumptions, which use the standard/default category and no shipping charge on both platforms for a clean side-by-side view.
Frequently asked questions
Which marketplace takes the smallest cut?
It depends heavily on category and whether you're comparing FBA to a self-fulfilled Etsy or eBay sale. On a simple, no-shipping $100 sale in a standard category, Etsy's mandatory fees are typically lowest, eBay's are in the middle, and Amazon FBA's total (referral + fulfillment) is often highest — but Amazon's fulfillment fee also includes storage, packing and shipping that you'd otherwise pay for separately on the other platforms.
Is this comparison using real numbers or estimates?
The percentages and flat fees come from each platform's own verified fee schedule (see the date stamp on this page). The Amazon comparison uses a representative fulfillment-fee estimate rather than an exact figure, since Amazon's actual fulfillment fee depends on your specific item's size and weight tier.
Should I pick one platform or sell on all three?
Most established sellers eventually sell on more than one platform once a product proves itself, since each platform reaches a different buyer intent (search-driven on Amazon, discovery-driven on Etsy, deal-driven on eBay). Comparing fees on a single item is a starting point for pricing, not a reason to rule out a platform entirely.
Do these numbers include shipping costs I pay?
No — this comparison shows platform fees only, based on the sale price with no additional shipping charged to the buyer. Your actual shipping costs (postage, packaging) are separate from marketplace fees and aren't included here.