eBay fees 2026 UK: private vs business

If you sell on eBay in the UK, the fee that hits your pocket depends on one thing: whether you're listed as a private or business seller. Most casual clear-outs should stay private. Anyone buying to sell at volume usually ends up on business — and the cut is much steeper. Category matters too: trading cards, clothing and electronics do not all share the same business rate.

Private sellers: £0 seller fees

In 2026, eBay Private sellers pay £0 in final value fees on most personal sales — including trading cards, clothing, electronics and watches when you are clearing your own items. You keep the sold price (minus postage you pay yourself, packaging, and your time). That puts private eBay in the same ballpark as Vinted and Gumtree for seller cost.

The big exception is motor vehicles (cars and motorcycles): final value fees still apply even on private accounts. Private is aimed at occasional sellers clearing their own stuff — not a full-time resale business. If eBay decides you look commercial, they can push you onto a business account.

eBay buyer protection fee UK

Search results often mix up eBay and Vinted. On Vinted, buyers pay a separate Buyer Protection fee at checkout. On eBay UK, buyers typically pay the item price plus postage — there is no separate “buyer protection fee” line on the receipt the way Vinted shows one.

Protection for buyers is part of eBay's managed payments setup. The cost sits on the seller side for business accounts (final value fee, per-order fee, regulatory operating fee and VAT on those fees). Private sellers on eligible listings pay none of that on most categories.

Business sellers: roughly 10–13%

eBay Business fees are where people get surprised. A typical UK order includes:

• Final value fee — varies by category (often 9.9% to 12.9%; see table below)
• Per-order fee — about 30p on orders up to £10, 40p above £10
• Regulatory operating fee — around 0.35% of the sale
• VAT at 20% on those fees (reclaimable if you are VAT-registered)

On a £20 sale at the common ~12.8% rate, that often lands around £3–£4 in total platform fees — before postage and packaging. On the same sale as a private seller, fees are £0.

Final value fees by category (business sellers)

Business final value fees depend on the category eBay assigns your listing. Rates below are the headline percentages from eBay's UK fee table — some subcategories and high-value items use tiered rates (a lower % up to a threshold, then a lower % on the remainder).

Private sellers on eligible personal listings pay £0 final value fee in all of these categories except motor vehicles. Our profit calculator uses 12.8% as a typical business estimate — run your exact category numbers if you are near a tier boundary.

Other fees: promoted listings, insertion & reserve

These come up often in search but are separate from the core final value fee:

• Promoted Listings — optional ads. You set a budget or ad rate; you pay when the promotion delivers a click or sale depending on campaign type. Not compulsory.
• Insertion fee — listing charges only apply after you use up your monthly free listings or add paid listing upgrades. Most casual sellers never hit this.
• Reserve price fee — if you set a reserve on an auction and the item sells, eBay charges a fee based on the reserve amount. Fixed-price listings do not use reserves.
• eBay Shop subscription — monthly shop tiers (Basic, Featured, Anchor) give more free listings and lower insertion fees if you list at volume. Only worth it when the maths beats pay-as-you-go.
• Regulatory operating fee — the ~0.35% charge on business sales, on top of final value and per-order fees. It appears on your invoice; private eligible sales skip it.

Which should you use?

Clearing old clothes, trading cards or gadgets you already own? Stay private if you can. Buying stock to flip every week? You'll likely need business — and you should price the category-specific cut into every listing. For clothes specifically, compare eBay Private with Vinted and Depop on our best platform guide.

Fees are only half the story. Postage, packaging, and an hour of photographing and packing can wipe out a “good” sale. Use the profit calculator to see net profit and your effective hourly rate on eBay Private vs Business for the same numbers. If you are selling regularly, also read the trading allowance and DAC7 reporting guides.

Official eBay fee sources

Rates change. For the authoritative numbers, use eBay's own UK pages:

• eBay UK fees for private sellers
• eBay UK fees for business sellers (full category table)

Frequently asked questions

Do UK private eBay sellers pay final value fees in 2026?

No — on most categories, UK private sellers pay £0 in final value fees. Motor vehicles are the main exception. You must be selling personal items you already own, not running a shop.

What are eBay UK private seller fees for trading cards in 2026?

Private sellers pay £0 final value fee on eligible personal trading card sales. Business sellers list under Collectables at around 10.9% final value fee plus per-order, regulatory and VAT charges.

What is the eBay buyer protection fee UK?

Buyers do not usually pay a separate protection fee at checkout on eBay UK. Marketplace costs fall on business sellers; private eligible listings stay at £0 seller fees on most categories.

What percentage is eBay's final value fee in 2026?

Business rates range from about 6.9% to 12.9% depending on category, plus per-order and regulatory fees. Private sellers on eligible listings pay 0% on most categories.

What are eBay promoted listing fees UK in 2026?

Optional only. You pay when your ad generates a sale or click, depending on the campaign — not on every listing by default.

What is the eBay insertion fee UK in 2026?

Free listings cover most casual sellers. Insertion fees kick in after you exceed your monthly allowance or buy listing upgrades.