eBay vs Poshmark vs Mercari: Which Takes Less?
Depop included – real fee lines, not listicle percentages.
Compare four platforms on your exact price. Enter one number — the calculator runs each platform's real rate card on the same item and ranks the payouts.
eBay rows use the "most categories" rate (13.6% + $0.40 per order) — the calculator's category selector doesn't apply on this page. Depop shown with its US default: no commission, payment processing only. All figures from the versioned fees dataset — nothing hardcoded.
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| Platform | Rate card | Run it yourself |
|---|---|---|
| eBay | 13.6% most categories + $0.40 per order | eBay fee calculator → |
| Poshmark | $2.95 under $15 / 20% at $15 and up | Poshmark fee calculator → |
| Mercari | flat 10% | Mercari fee calculator → |
| Depop (US) | 0% selling fee + 3.3% + $0.45 processing | Depop on the compare table → |
1. Fee structures, side by side
Four platforms, four different shapes. The percentage alone never tells you the whole fee:
| Platform | Selling fee | Per-order / fixed | Basis | Source & verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eBay (most categories) | 13.6% up to $7,500, 2.35% above | $0.30 orders ≤$10 / $0.40 above | Total amount of sale (item + handling + shipping charged to buyer + sales tax) | eBay: selling fees ↗ 2026-10-21 ↗ |
| Poshmark | $2.95 flat under $15 / 20% at $15+ | none | Sale price; buyer pays shipping | Poshmark: fees ↗ 2026-10-21 ↗ |
| Mercari | 10% flat | none | Sale price + buyer-paid shipping (demo tables use sale price only) | Mercari: fees help ↗ 2026-10-21 ↗ |
| Depop (US sellers, USD) | 0% (since Jul 2024) | 3.3% + $0.45 processing | Item price + shipping + applicable tax | Depop: seller fees ↗ 2026-10-18 ↗ |
Two structural notes the table hides: Mercari's buyer protection fee (3.6%, buyer side) isn't deducted from your payout but it raises the total the buyer sees — which affects offers. And eBay's single final value fee already includes payment processing; the other three stack processing on top.
2. Same item, four payouts
Three price points, computed line by line with each platform's official rates (demo: shipping not included unless noted):
| Price | eBay keeps (fee / net) | Poshmark keeps (fee / net) | Mercari keeps (fee / net) | Depop keeps (fee / net) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $14.99 | $2.44 / $12.55 | $2.95 / $12.04 | $1.50 / $13.49 | $0.94 / $14.05 |
| $50.00 | $7.20 / $42.80 | $10.00 / $40.00 | $5.00 / $45.00 | $2.10 / $47.90 |
| $200.00 | $27.60 / $172.40 | $40.00 / $160.00 | $20.00 / $180.00 | $7.05 / $192.95 |
Basis notes, shown with the table on purpose: Poshmark's buyer pays shipping; Mercari's 10% basis is sale price + buyer-paid shipping (this table demos pure sale price); Depop figures are the US home-currency (USD) basis.
Two counter-intuitive results worth trusting over instinct:
- At the low end, Poshmark's flat fee is the most expensive line on the page. Under $15 the $2.95 flat fee is effectively 19.7% of a $14.99 sale — more than eBay's 13.6% + $0.40 and more than double Mercari.
- Depop is the cheapest at every price we computed — 0% selling fee plus 3.3% + $0.45 processing holds the bottom line from $14.99 to $200 (US sellers, USD transactions).
3. Best by what you sell
Fees are only half the decision — the other half is whether your buyer is on the platform:
- Clothes and fashion — Poshmark and Depop are where the fashion audiences are; buyer-paid flat shipping on Poshmark simplifies pricing; Depop skews younger and, for US sellers, is the fee floor. Run both through the calculator above before you list.
- Trading cards, electronics, collectibles — eBay's category reach and 13.25% card tier (see the trading cards calculator) usually beat fashion-first apps; Mercari's flat 10% is a strong second for locally shipped goods.
- Cross-list everything — the calculator exists so you can price the same item on each platform and keep the spread.
4. What about Depop?
Depop dropped its 10% selling fee entirely for US sellers in July 2024 (and for UK sellers in March 2024) — the fee moved to the buyer side as a marketplace fee of up to 5% + $1, which affects conversion but not your payout. What's left for a US seller is payment processing at 3.3% + $0.45 per order. Sellers outside the US/UK/Australia (or settling in other currencies) still pay the 10% selling fee. All figures per Depop's official seller fees page, verified Oct 18, 2026. Depop: seller fees (official) ↗
5. Beyond fees: reach, shipping, payouts
Fees decide margin; these decide whether the sale happens:
| Factor | What differs (qualitative — no numbers claimed) |
|---|---|
| Audience | Poshmark and Depop are fashion-first; eBay and Mercari are general marketplaces with broader category reach |
| Shipping | Poshmark's buyer-paid flat label vs. seller-arranged shipping elsewhere — your photos and packaging effort differ |
| Buyer-side costs | Mercari's buyer protection fee and Depop's buyer marketplace fee raise the buyer's total, which can cool offers |
| Payout rhythm | Each platform holds and releases funds on its own schedule — check before you price urgent cashflow needs |
After the fees come the taxes — what eBay reports to the IRS and what you owe either way: eBay 1099-K thresholds →
FAQ
Which is cheaper, eBay or Poshmark?
On fees alone, eBay takes less at every price point we computed: $7.20 vs $10.00 on a $50 item, $27.60 vs $40.00 at $200 (verified Oct 21, 2026). Poshmark's edge is its fashion audience and buyer-paid shipping — not its fee line.
Is Mercari cheaper than eBay?
Yes — Mercari's flat 10% undercuts eBay's 13.6% + $0.40 on most items ($5.00 vs $7.20 at $50). Note Mercari's 10% also applies to buyer-paid shipping when there is one, and buyers see a 3.6% protection fee on their side.
Is Depop cheaper than eBay?
For US sellers, yes — and by a lot. Depop charges 0% selling fee (since July 2024) plus 3.3% + $0.45 processing: $2.10 on a $50 item vs eBay's $7.20. Sellers outside the US/UK/Australia still pay 10%.
Which app is best for selling clothes?
Fashion audiences live on Poshmark and Depop. Between them, Depop is cheaper for US sellers (0% selling fee) and skews younger; Poshmark's buyer-paid shipping label is simpler. Cross-price your item in the calculator above before listing.
What about eBay vs OfferUp?
OfferUp works for local, cash-in-hand deals where no platform fee and no shipping apply — a different model from shipped marketplace sales. We model verified online-marketplace rates only; compare those on our compare page.
All four — which should I pick?
Fees: Depop (US) is the floor. Clothes: Poshmark or Depop. Cards, electronics, broad reach: eBay or Mercari. Enter your real price in the calculator at the top — the ranking flips less often than people assume, but always check your own number.