If you’re selling used items online, Facebook Marketplace will save you more money than eBay in most scenarios. On shipped items, Facebook Marketplace charges just 5% plus $0.40, while eBay charges 13.25% plus $0.30—giving Facebook an 8.25 percentage point advantage. For local sales where the buyer picks up the item, Facebook Marketplace is completely free with zero fees, while eBay still charges its final value fee. This difference becomes significant quickly: selling a $200 used couch locally on Facebook Marketplace costs you nothing, while the same item would cost $26.50 on eBay.
The platform you choose depends on what you’re selling and whether you’re targeting local or national buyers. Facebook Marketplace dominates for furniture, apparel, and large items where local pickup makes sense. eBay remains competitive for niche collectibles and items that attract deal hunters across the country. For most people buying and selling used items casually, Facebook Marketplace’s fee structure offers real savings.
Table of Contents
- How Do eBay and Facebook Marketplace Fees Actually Compare?
- Understanding the Real Savings You’ll Keep
- Different Buyers Have Different Expectations on Each Platform
- How to Choose the Right Platform for What You’re Selling
- Watch Out for These Hidden Costs and Limitations
- Category-Specific Breakdown: Where Each Platform Wins
- The Future of Online Resale Platforms
- Conclusion
How Do eBay and Facebook Marketplace Fees Actually Compare?
eBay charges a final value fee of 13.25% plus $0.30 on most categories, with an additional $0.35 listing fee per item after you exceed 250 free monthly listings. A typical eBay seller pays roughly 13.6% in fees when you combine the final value percentage, the flat fee, and the listing cost. Facebook Marketplace charges 5% plus $0.40 for shipped items, but critically, local sales incur zero fees—the buyer simply picks up the item with no platform taking a cut. Consider a practical example: you’re selling a used bicycle for $150. On eBay, you’d pay $20.28 in fees (13.25% of $150 = $19.88, plus $0.30, plus part of your $0.35 listing fee amortized across your listings). On Facebook Marketplace, if the buyer picks it up locally, you keep the full $150.
If you must ship it, you’d pay $7.90 in fees. Even with shipping, Facebook Marketplace costs you less than half of what eBay would charge. The fee difference becomes even more dramatic on higher-priced items. A $500 used designer handbag sold locally on Facebook Marketplace costs $0. The same handbag on eBay would cost approximately $66.50 in fees. This isn’t a minor difference—it’s the difference between covering your shipping materials and keeping significant profit.
Understanding the Real Savings You’ll Keep
The 8.25 percentage point savings on shipped items matters, but the real advantage lies in Facebook Marketplace’s free local sales option. Most used furniture, appliances, and bulk items move best locally—buyers don’t want to pay shipping on heavy items, and you don’t want to risk damage in transit. On these sales, Facebook Marketplace’s zero fee structure is unbeatable. However, there’s a limitation: Facebook Marketplace’s free local sales only work if you actually find local buyers. The trade-off is that you’re limited to your geographic area, which could mean lower demand for niche items. eBay’s national and international audience means you might find a specific buyer willing to pay more for a rare collectible, even after accounting for eBay’s higher fees.
A vintage camera worth $300 might languish on Facebook Marketplace in your area but command $400 on eBay where collectors actively search for it. If you’re selling common items like used clothing, books, or kitchen equipment, local Facebook Marketplace sales almost always save you more. If you’re selling something specialized or collectible, you need to calculate whether the larger eBay audience justifies the higher fees. Another consideration: Facebook Marketplace’s 5% shipping fee still requires you to add $0.40 plus your actual shipping cost to the sale price. If you’re selling low-value items under $30, the $0.40 base fee represents a significant percentage. A $20 item shipped on Facebook costs $1.40 in fees (5% of $20 = $1, plus $0.40). That same $20 item on eBay costs roughly $3 in fees, so Facebook still wins—but on items under $10, fees become a major factor regardless of platform.
Different Buyers Have Different Expectations on Each Platform
eBay attracts deal hunters and collectors actively searching for specific items. Someone on eBay is often looking for a particular product category—vintage cameras, sports memorabilia, rare books—and will compare listings across the platform. They’re accustomed to eBay’s auction and buy-it-now formats and know to factor in shipping costs before bidding. Facebook Marketplace draws a different crowd: people browsing casually for furniture, apparel, and secondhand luxury items that they might discover through a friend’s share or their local neighborhood feed. This matters for your pricing strategy. A designer handbag listed on eBay will attract price-conscious buyers who know the market value.
The same bag on Facebook Marketplace might appeal to someone in your neighborhood who wants to buy locally and avoid shipping risk. eBay’s audience is larger but more price-sensitive. Facebook Marketplace’s audience is smaller but potentially less deal-hunting—they might value convenience and local pickup enough to pay slightly more. Understanding your buyer affects which platform saves you money. If you’re selling trendy used clothing, Facebook Marketplace users browsing their neighborhood will find you. If you’re selling vintage or collectible items, eBay’s deal hunters are your market, and their larger willingness to buy niche products might justify eBay’s fees even with lower profit margins.
How to Choose the Right Platform for What You’re Selling
The decision comes down to three factors: item type, price point, and your preference for local versus national sales. For large, heavy items like furniture, tools, or appliances, Facebook Marketplace’s zero fee local pickup option almost always wins economically. These items are expensive to ship, and buyers prefer to inspect them in person before paying. A used dining table is ideal for Facebook Marketplace—list it locally, avoid any fees, and have the buyer pick it up the next day. For items under $20, neither platform provides exceptional returns, but Facebook Marketplace still edges out eBay on fees. However, if you’re shipping many small items, eBay’s bulk listings and established seller reputation system might move your inventory faster, potentially offsetting the higher fees through volume.
A collection of used books, for example, might sell slowly on Facebook Marketplace locally but could move steadily on eBay at higher velocity, reducing storage costs. For mid-range items ($50-$300) that could work on either platform, consider the category. Is it trendy or niche? Facebook Marketplace users search for trends and local finds. Is it a collectible or specialty item? eBay’s deal hunters and category-focused shoppers are your audience. Do you need the sale quickly or can you wait for the right buyer? Facebook Marketplace moves faster locally but slower nationally. eBay takes longer but reaches more potential buyers.
Watch Out for These Hidden Costs and Limitations
Both platforms have costs beyond fees that affect your actual take-home profit. eBay and Facebook Marketplace both encourage shipping through their platforms, and integrated shipping costs more than shipping directly through the carrier. If you use eBay or Facebook’s shipping option, you’ll pay a premium compared to creating your own labels with USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Additionally, both platforms require you to protect yourself against buyer fraud and chargebacks. Offering return shipping to unhappy buyers eats into your profits on either platform. Facebook Marketplace’s main limitation is the lack of buyer protection beyond basic review systems. Unlike eBay’s money-back guarantee, Facebook offers no formal dispute resolution if a buyer claims the item didn’t arrive or isn’t as described.
This means you’re accepting more risk to save on fees. For expensive items, this risk factor might make eBay’s buyer protection worth the higher fees. For a $30 used lamp, the risk is manageable. eBay’s limitation is less obvious: their algorithm rewards sellers with lower shipping costs and fast handling times, which means you’re incentivized to undercharge shipping to maintain visibility. This can cancel out the fee savings you gain from shipping volume. Additionally, eBay’s final value fees apply to the full sale price including shipping, so expensive shipping actually costs you more in fees. A $100 item with $15 shipping on eBay incurs fees on the full $115, not just the $100 item price.
Category-Specific Breakdown: Where Each Platform Wins
Facebook Marketplace dominates for furniture, large appliances, and anything requiring local pickup. A used washer and dryer set might sell for $400 locally on Facebook Marketplace with zero fees (keep $400) versus $400 on eBay with roughly $53 in fees (keep $347). The cost difference is stark. Fashion items also move well on Facebook Marketplace—users browse by neighborhood for trendy secondhand clothing, shoes, and bags. A designer handbag usually sells for 10-15% more locally to someone who wants to examine it in person and avoid shipping risk.
eBay wins for vintage, rare, and specialty items. A first-edition book, vintage camera, or collectible action figure attracts serious buyers on eBay. These buyers actively search for specific items and often pay premium prices. A rare video game cartridge might fetch $80 on eBay with established buyers, but languish on Facebook Marketplace in your area where few collectors exist. The larger audience justifies the 13.25% fee structure.
The Future of Online Resale Platforms
Both platforms continue evolving their fee structures and tools. eBay has reduced listing fees for active sellers and added integrated shipping discounts. Facebook Marketplace has expanded business tools and seller protections, signaling intention to compete more directly with eBay for serious resellers. Over time, expect both platforms to offer specialized seller programs with lower fees for high-volume merchants.
If you plan to sell items regularly, watching for promotional fee reductions or seller loyalty programs could provide additional savings beyond the current fee structure. For casual sellers, Facebook Marketplace’s simplicity and zero-fee local option will likely continue attracting users. For collectors and specialty sellers, eBay’s category-focused buyer base remains valuable. The trend suggests these platforms will continue occupying different niches rather than one replacing the other.
Conclusion
Facebook Marketplace saves you more money than eBay on used items in most scenarios—specifically, 8.25% more on shipped items and everything on local sales. For typical used items like furniture, clothing, and household goods, Facebook Marketplace’s fee structure and free local pickup option provide real savings. The key is matching your item type to the right platform: use Facebook Marketplace for items that benefit from local pickup, and eBay for niche items that attract national collector audiences.
Start by calculating your fees on both platforms for the specific items you plan to sell. List low-risk items on Facebook Marketplace first to capture the fee savings, and reserve eBay for specialty items that justify its higher fees through access to a broader market. Track which platform generates faster sales and higher net profits for different item categories. Over time, you’ll develop a selling strategy that maximizes your take-home profit by leveraging each platform’s strengths.
