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How to start reselling on eBay
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Reselling on eBay is one of the few side hustles where you can start with things you already own and no money down. The basics are simple: price from what has actually sold, describe it honestly, ship it well, and know what fees take before you set a price.
Start with your own stuff
Before buying anything to resell, sell a few things from your closet, garage, or storage bin. You'll learn listing, shipping, and fees with zero risk, and turn clutter into your first inventory budget.
Price from sold listings, not active ones
Asking prices tell you what sellers hope for. Sold prices tell you what buyers paid. Search for your item on eBay, then use the filter to show sold items. Look at several recent sales in the same condition and note what shipping cost the buyer.
If you can't find recent sold listings for something, that's useful information too: it may sell slowly, or not at all.
Your first listing, step by step
- Photograph it well. Natural light, a plain background, every angle, labels and tags, and any flaws up close.
- Write a searchable title. Brand, item type, model or style, size, color, and key details. Use the words a buyer would type.
- Fill in item specifics. eBay uses them to match searches and filters, so complete as many as you can.
- Describe the condition honestly. Mention every flaw. Surprises lead to returns and bad feedback.
- Weigh and measure it packed. Shipping cost depends on weight and box size, so know them before you set shipping.
- Set your price using sold comps, then check what you'd keep after fees with the eBay fee calculator.
What eBay's fees take
As of November 2026, eBay's fee page lists these for most categories on eBay.com. Check eBay's current fee page before you rely on them, since rates change and some categories differ.
| Fee | Most categories |
|---|---|
| Final value fee | 13.6% of the total sale up to $7,500 per item (2.35% on the part above that) |
| Per-order fee | $0.30 on orders of $10 or less; $0.40 on orders over $10 |
| Listing (insertion) fee | Up to 250 free listings a month; $0.35 per listing after that |
Two details catch new sellers. First, the final value fee is charged on the whole order total, including shipping the buyer pays and sales tax, not just the item price. Second, some categories use different rates, such as books, movies, and music (higher) and athletic shoes priced at $150 or more (lower). Promoted listings and selling below eBay's performance standards add more.
Shipping without losing money
- Know your cost before listing. Weigh the item packed. A few ounces can push it into a pricier tier.
- Calculated shipping lets the buyer's location set the price, which protects you on heavy items.
- "Free shipping" isn't free. Build the cost into your price, and remember the fee is charged on that price too.
- Reuse clean boxes and mailers where it looks professional, and keep supplies costs in your numbers.
Track every dollar
Write down what you paid for each item, what it sold for, the fees, and the shipping. It shows which items are worth your time, and you'll need it at tax time, because reselling profit is taxable income. See side hustle taxes.
Quick answers
How much does eBay take from a sale?
For most categories on eBay.com, the final value fee is 13.6% of the total sale (including shipping and sales tax) up to $7,500 per item, plus $0.30 per order for orders of $10 or less or $0.40 for larger orders, as of November 2026. Some categories differ, so check eBay's fee page.
Does eBay charge fees on shipping?
Yes. eBay's final value fee is based on the total amount of the sale, which includes shipping charged to the buyer and sales tax, with a few exceptions listed on eBay's fee page.
What should I sell first on eBay?
Things you already own and no longer need. You learn listing, pricing, and shipping without risking money on inventory.
How do I find what something sold for on eBay?
Search for the item, then filter the results to show sold items. Compare several recent sales in the same condition, including what buyers paid for shipping.
Selling on eBay?
See what you'd really keep from a sale
Enter the price, shipping, and what you paid. The calculator subtracts eBay's fees and your costs and shows your profit, plus the lowest price that still breaks even.