"Sold for $40!" is the number resellers post. The number that pays the bills is what's left after platform fees, shipping, what you paid for the item and the drive to the thrift store. Each platform charges in a different way: a percentage, a flat fee, nothing at all for the seller, fees on shipping or not. So the same item can leave you very different amounts.
Below we compare the main US platforms with the same two items, using the fee rules as we checked them in October 2026. Fees change often and vary by country, category and seller status, so treat this as a method and check the platform's own fee page before you rely on a number.
The fee rules we used (US, checked October 2026)
| Platform | Seller fee (typical case) |
|---|---|
| eBay | 13.6% final value fee on the total including shipping, plus $0.40 per order ($0.30 if the order is $10 or less). Most categories, no Store subscription. |
| Poshmark | $2.95 flat on sales under $15; 20% on sales of $15 or more. Buyer pays shipping with a prepaid label. |
| Mercari | 10% selling fee, charged on the item price plus shipping paid by the buyer. No separate payment processing fee. |
| Depop | No selling fee in the US/UK/AU. Payment processing 3.3% + $0.45 in the US (UK 2.9% + £0.30). Boosted listings add 12%. |
| Vinted | No selling fee for sellers. Buyers pay a Buyer Protection fee and shipping. |
Example 1: a $40 item with $8 shipping
You sell a jacket for $40. On eBay, Mercari and Depop, the buyer pays $8 shipping to you and you buy an $8 label. On Poshmark and Vinted, the buyer pays shipping directly through the prepaid label. You paid $6 for the jacket at a thrift store.
| Platform | What you receive | Fee | Label | You keep | Profit after $6 cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eBay | $48.00 | $6.93 | $8.00 | $33.07 | $27.07 |
| Poshmark | $40.00 | $8.00 | prepaid | $32.00 | $26.00 |
| Mercari | $48.00 | $4.80 | $8.00 | $35.20 | $29.20 |
| Depop (US) | $48.00 | $2.03 | $8.00 | $37.97 | $31.97 |
| Vinted | $40.00 | $0.00 | prepaid | $40.00 | $34.00 |
How the fees are calculated:
- eBay: 13.6% × $48 = $6.53, + $0.40 = $6.93. The fee applies to shipping too, so charging "free shipping" with a higher price doesn't avoid it.
- Poshmark: 20% × $40 = $8.00.
- Mercari: 10% × $48 = $4.80.
- Depop: 3.3% × $48 = $1.58, + $0.45 = $2.03.
- Vinted: $0 seller fee. The buyer pays Buyer Protection on top.
The difference between the best and worst outcome is $8 on one jacket. Over 50 sales a month, that's $400.
Example 2: a $12 item with $5 shipping
Cheap items behave differently, because flat fees hit harder. Say you sell a $12 top that cost you $2, with $5 shipping. On eBay, Mercari and Depop the buyer pays you $5 and you buy the label; on Poshmark and Vinted the buyer pays for a prepaid label.
| Platform | Fee | Fee as % of item price | Profit after $2 cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| eBay | $2.71 (13.6% × $17 + $0.40) | 22.6% | $7.29 |
| Poshmark | $2.95 flat | 24.6% | $7.05 |
| Mercari | $1.70 (10% × $17) | 14.2% | $8.30 |
| Depop (US) | $1.01 (3.3% × $17 + $0.45) | 8.4% | $8.99 |
| Vinted | $0.00 | 0% | $10.00 |
On Poshmark, a $12 sale pays a flat $2.95, almost a quarter of the price. Below $14.75, that flat fee is actually more than 20% would be, so very cheap items are expensive to sell there. Bundling several low-priced items into one listing is a common way around it.
Fees are only half the story
The platform with the lowest fee isn't automatically the best place to sell. Three things matter just as much:
- Sell-through rate. A $0-fee platform where the item sits for four months can earn less per month than a 13.6% platform where it sells in a week. Your money (and shelf space) is tied up in unsold stock.
- Price level. The same item often sells for different prices on different platforms. Vintage and branded menswear may fetch more on eBay, trend pieces on Depop, everyday fashion on Vinted. A $5 higher selling price beats a lower fee.
- Promotion costs. Promoted listings on eBay, Boosting on Depop and Bumps elsewhere are optional, but they're a fee. If you use them, include them in your numbers.
The costs most resellers forget
To know your true profit per flip, add these:
- Cost of goods, including the stuff that didn't sell. If you bought 10 items for $40 and 2 never sold, the 8 that sold carried the cost of all 10.
- Shipping supplies: mailers, tape, tissue, printer labels. Often $0.30–1.00 per order.
- Mileage. A 30-mile sourcing round trip at around $0.70 per mile is $21. Spread over the 15 items you bought, that's $1.40 per item. (The IRS standard mileage rate for 2026 is the official figure for US tax purposes, and HMRC approved mileage rates apply in the UK.)
- Returns and cancellations, including fees that aren't refunded.
- Your time. Sourcing, photographing, listing, answering offers and packing. If a $10 profit takes an hour, you're earning $10 an hour.
Taxes and platform reporting
Platforms report sellers to tax authorities. In the EU (DAC7) and the UK, marketplaces report sellers who make 30 or more sales or about €2,000 (about £1,700) a year. In the US, platforms send a 1099-K above the reporting threshold. Being reported doesn't automatically mean you owe tax, since selling your own used items at a loss usually isn't taxable income. But reselling for profit is a business, so keep records of what you paid, what you sold and your expenses. This is general information, not tax advice; check with your tax authority or an accountant.
In the UK, the tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April, and the £1,000 trading allowance can cover small trading income.
How to track true profit (simply)
For every item, record:
- Date bought, where, and cost
- Date sold, platform, sale price and shipping charged
- Platform fee, shipping label cost, supplies
- Profit = sale price + shipping charged − fees − label − supplies − cost of goods
Then once a month, total your profit by platform and subtract mileage and other expenses. Two months of this usually shows you clearly which platform and which categories are worth your time.
Skip the fee math
Our Reseller Profit Tracker has editable fee presets for eBay, Poshmark, Mercari, Depop and Vinted. You enter the sale and it calculates fees, profit and ROI per item, with a monthly dashboard and a UK tax-year tab. Pair it with the Mileage & Expense Tracker for sourcing trips, or get both (plus the inventory and sourcing tracker) in the Reseller Bundle.
