Pricing too low gives profit away, and pricing too high leaves the item unsold. A few steps keep you out of loss-making sales.
1. Add up your total cost
Include what you paid, postage, packaging and any eBay fees. Business sellers pay fees on the postage they charge as well as the item price.
2. Find your break-even price
This is the item price at which you make no profit. Our free eBay fee and profit calculator works it out for you, for both private and business sellers.
3. Check what similar items actually sold for
Search for the item on eBay and use the “Sold items” filter to see what buyers really paid, not what sellers are asking. Compare like with like: the total a buyer pays includes postage and eBay’s Buyer Protection fee, so compare the full price, not only the item price.
4. Decide your target profit
Pick the profit you want per item and see which list price delivers it. If the sold prices are below that, the item may not be worth buying to resell.
Not sure what target to aim for? Our free resale profit planner shows profit per item, per hour and how many sales you need each month.
5. Leave room for offers
If you accept Best Offers, check that the lowest offer you would accept is still above your break-even price.
6. Compare private and business selling
The same sale can leave you with noticeably different profit depending on your seller type. If you are unsure which applies to you, check eBay’s rules and the UK government’s guidance on tax for online sellers.
After you list, record what each item cost and sold for in our eBay profit tracker spreadsheet, so your next prices rest on real numbers.
This article is general information, not tax or financial advice.
Get the free eBay profit tracker (lite)
A one-tab spreadsheet that shows what you really earn on each sale, after fees, postage and costs. Enter your email and we will send it to you, plus the occasional seller tip.