Mercari Fees vs eBay: Which Platform Takes Less in 2025?

Quick Answer:
Mercari charges a 10% seller fee plus a 2.9% + $0.30 payment processing fee, totaling around 12–13% per sale. eBay charges between 13.25% and 15% in final value fees (including processing) depending on category and store level. While Mercari’s fees are slightly lower and simpler, eBay offers more exposure, advanced tools, and scalability for high-volume sellers.

Introduction: Why Comparing Mercari and eBay Fees Matters

When choosing where to sell online, one of the first questions every reseller asks is:
👉 “Which platform lets me keep more profit?”

Two of the most popular marketplaces for resellers are Mercari and eBay. They both attract millions of buyers but have very different fee structures, reach, and selling tools.

Even a small fee difference — say 2% per transaction — can add up to thousands of dollars per year for active sellers. That’s why understanding how Mercari fees vs eBay fees stack up is crucial for making smart pricing and platform decisions.

This guide will break down:

Fee structures on both platforms
Real sale examples
Pros and cons for different types of sellers
How to automate fee tracking and pricing

What Are Mercari Fees?

Mercari uses a straightforward fee structure that appeals to casual and mid-volume sellers:

Fee Type	Rate or Amount	Description
Selling Fee	10%	Charged on the item’s final sale price
Payment Processing Fee	2.9% + $0.30	Charged on the total (item + shipping)
Direct Deposit Fee	$2	Only applied if under $10 payout
Listing Fee	$0	Free to list items

✅ Key advantage: Mercari’s fee system is predictable and easy to calculate.

📝 Example: If you sell an item for $100 + $10 shipping, Mercari will deduct:

10% of $110 = $11
2.9% + $0.30 of $110 ≈ $3.49
Total fee = $14.49

Automate this with Closo →Closo calculates Mercari fees automatically for each listing so you always know your net earnings.

What Are eBay Fees?

eBay’s fee structure is more tiered and depends on the category, seller status, and whether you have a store subscription.

Fee Type	Rate / Amount	Description
Final Value Fee	13.25%–15%	Varies by category, includes payment processing
Insertion Fee	$0.30	After free monthly listings
Promoted Listings Fee	2–10% (optional)	Charged only if an item sells through ads
International Fee	1.65%	If selling to a buyer outside the U.S.
Store Discounts	Varies	Lower final value fees for Store subscribers

eBay Store Subscribers Get Lower Fees

Basic and Premium Store sellers can pay as low as 11–12% in some categories.
Casual sellers pay the standard 13.25%–15%.

💡 eBay also offers Top Rated Seller discounts (up to 10% fee reduction), which can significantly affect margins.

Mercari vs eBay: Side-by-Side Fee Comparison

Feature / Fee Type	Mercari	eBay
Seller Fee	10%	13.25–15% (varies by category)
Payment Processing	2.9% + $0.30	Included in final value fee
Listing Fee	$0	$0.30 after free listings
Promotion	N/A	Optional (2–10%)
International Sales	N/A	1.65% extra
Store Discounts	N/A	Yes (lower fees for subscribers)
Payout Fee	$2 under $10	None
Traffic / Reach	Medium	High
Scalability	Moderate	Strong

👉 Summary: Mercari has lower and simpler fees, but eBay offers more reach, scaling, and pricing control.

Listing Fees, Payment Fees, and Withdrawal Fees

Mercari

✅ No listing fee.
💳 Payment processing fee: 2.9% + $0.30.
💸 $2 direct deposit fee only if payout < $10.

eBay

📝 Insertion fee after free listings.
🧾 Final value fee includes processing.
🌎 Extra for promoted or international sales.
💰 No payout fee.

Automate this with Closo → Closo can compare real-time fee impact across eBay, Mercari, and Poshmark before you list.

Real Example: $100 Sale on Mercari vs eBay

Component	Mercari	eBay (13.25%)
Item Price + Shipping	$110	$110
Seller Fee	$11 (10%)	$14.58 (13.25%)
Payment Processing	$3.49 (2.9% + $0.30)	Included
Total Fees	$14.49	$14.58
Net Payout	$95.51	$95.42

📌 Result: At this price point, fees are almost identical. But at higher volumes or with store discounts, eBay’s structure can be more favorable for scaling.

When Mercari Might Be the Better Choice

👤 Casual sellers — You don’t need to manage subscriptions or complex fee structures.
🧢 Lower-volume sellers — Mercari is simpler and quick to list on.
📦 Niche items — Mercari can work well for vintage, fashion, beauty, or hobby categories.
💰 Fee transparency — Predictable cut every time.

👉 Example: Selling vintage clothing at low volume with minimal marketing or promotion.

When eBay Might Be the Better Choice

🏪 High-volume sellers — Store subscriptions unlock lower fees and tools.
🌍 Global reach — eBay has millions more buyers than Mercari.
📊 Advanced pricing control — Promotions, auction options, international shipping.
🤖 Automation — Easier to integrate with third-party and AI tools.

👉 Example: Building a full-time reselling business with scaling and automation.

How to Automate Fee Tracking and Pricing

Many sellers make the mistake of calculating fees manually — or worse, not calculating them at all. This often leads to underpricing and lost profit.

Why Automation Matters

Accurately account for variable platform fees
Price to protect your margin automatically
Compare marketplaces in real time
Identify which platform gives you the best ROI per product

Closo can:

🧮 Calculate net payout for eBay, Mercari, and Poshmark
💸 Adjust pricing to keep your desired profit margin
🪄 Automate listing and crosslisting
📈 Identify which marketplace to list on first

Automate this with Closo → and let AI optimize your fees and profits.

FAQ

❓ What are Mercari fees?

Mercari charges a 10% seller fee plus 2.9% + $0.30 payment processing per sale.

❓ How much does eBay take in fees?

eBay charges between 13.25% and 15% depending on the category, plus optional promoted listing and international fees.

❓ Does Mercari charge listing fees?

No. Mercari doesn’t charge any listing fee — it’s free to list.

❓ Is Mercari cheaper than eBay?

For low-volume sellers, yes. But at scale, eBay’s store discounts can make it more cost-effective.

❓ Which platform gives more sales?

eBay has significantly higher traffic and buyer demand than Mercari, making it better for scaling.

Cross-Links

🏁 Final Thoughts

Both Mercari and eBay offer strong opportunities for online sellers, but their fee structures and selling strategies are different.

Mercari is ideal for simplicity and casual selling.
eBay offers scalability, discounts, and reach for serious resellers.

In the end, the best platform often isn’t one or the other — it’s both, used strategically. With the right pricing tools and automation, sellers can list on multiple platforms, compare net payouts, and maximize their margins.

Automate this with Closo → to turn fee differences into profit opportunities.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to Mercari vs eBay, the real answer isn’t which one is objectively “cheaper” — it’s which one fits your selling strategy best.

Mercari offers a simpler, lower-fee structure that’s perfect for casual sellers or those who want quick, no-fuss listings.
eBay provides broader exposure, scaling options, and the ability to reduce fees through subscriptions and performance.

For many resellers, the most profitable approach is multi-platform selling — listing on both marketplaces, pricing intelligently, and letting tools like Closo handle the complex math in the background. This ensures you keep more of your earnings without wasting time on manual fee tracking.

Automate this with Closo → to turn every fee difference into a profit advantage.