How Much Profit on a Resale?
Reselling looks more profitable than it is until you subtract the costs that hide behind the sale price: platform fees, shipping, and what you originally paid. This calculator nets all of them out so you see the real profit — and it uses each marketplace's typical fee, since they vary a lot.
Fees vary by platform
eBay runs around 13%, Mercari about 10%, and Poshmark takes a flat 20%. On a $45 sale that's a swing of several dollars straight off your profit. Picking the right platform for an item — and pricing the fee in — is the difference between a worthwhile flip and a wash.
Shipping is the silent margin-killer
If you offer free shipping, that label cost comes entirely out of your pocket. Enter both what you pay to ship and anything you charge the buyer to see the true picture. Many resellers discover that cheap items barely profit once a $6 label and a 13% fee are subtracted — which is why experienced sellers focus on items with enough margin to absorb both.
Frequently asked questions
- How much do resellers actually make?
- After platform fees, shipping, and cost of goods, margins are thinner than the sale price suggests — this tool nets them out.
- What are eBay and Poshmark fees?
- eBay is about 13%, Poshmark a flat 20%, Mercari roughly 10%.
- Should I offer free shipping?
- Only if the item's margin can absorb the label cost, which comes out of your profit.