eBay vs Mercari — Which Is Cheaper for Sellers?

The Quick Answer

For most items, Mercari is cheaper. 10% flat vs eBay's 13.6% + $0.40. But eBay has a much larger audience, more categories, and more tools. Cheaper fees don't matter if the item doesn't sell.

Compare your exact numbers on both platforms →

Fee Comparison

• Mercari: 10% flat, no processing fee, no listing fee
• eBay: 13.6% (most categories) + $0.40 per order, 250 free listings/month

On a $50 item with $7 shipping: Mercari takes $5.70, eBay takes $8.15. That's $2.45 more on eBay. Over 100 sales/year, that's $245.

Full details: Mercari fees | eBay fees

Audience and Reach

eBay has 130M+ active buyers globally. Mercari has ~20M in the US. For common items (clothing, electronics), both work. For niche items (vintage electronics, auto parts, collectibles), eBay wins — more eyeballs = faster sales.

If your item sits unsold on Mercari for months, the "cheaper" fees don't help.

Selling Experience

Mercari is simpler — list, price, ship. Great for beginners.

eBay is more complex — Item Specifics, store subscriptions, seller levels, promoted listings — but rewards power sellers with lower fees (Top Rated Plus = 10% FVF discount).

Deep dives: eBay seller guide | Mercari seller guide

Shipping

• Mercari: Prepaid labels by weight ($4.99–$22.99), or ship your own. 8% correction fee if you underpay weight.
• eBay: Discounted USPS/FedEx/UPS labels through the platform. More carrier options and slightly more flexibility.

Both charge fees on shipping amounts.

Returns and Buyer Protection

• Mercari: Buyers have 72 hours to rate/return. After that, sale is final. Your 10% fee is NOT refunded on returns.
• eBay: 30-day returns standard. More buyer-friendly (can feel seller-hostile). But eBay's $20 chargeback fee is rare.

Mercari's no-refund-on-fees policy hurts more on returns.

Best For Each

• eBay: Electronics, collectibles, auto parts, specialty items, high-volume sellers, international sales
• Mercari: General clothing, home goods, beginners, casual sellers, items under $50

The real answer: cross-list on both. Read our cross-listing guide.

The Verdict

If you sell fewer than 20 items/month in general categories, Mercari's simplicity and lower fees win. If you sell 50+ items/month, have niche inventory, or want to build a business, eBay's tools and audience justify the higher fees. Or just use both.

Compare your exact fees on both platforms →