Free eBay Fee Estimate calculator with clear step-by-step results.
eBay charges its final value fee on the total the buyer pays including shipping, which is the detail that surprises sellers who price postage separately. Fees are deducted from that combined figure, then your real shipping cost and item cost come off to give the profit actually left.
Final value fee
Fee = (sold price + buyer-paid shipping) x fee rate + fixed per-order fee
Profit
Profit = payout - actual shipping cost - item cost
eBay fee rates vary by category, store subscription level, seller performance and marketplace, and promoted-listing fees are additional. Verify against your current fee schedule.
No. Whether postage is charged separately or built into the price, the fee applies to the total the buyer pays, so the fee is the same either way.
You are charging the buyer less than postage costs you. That is a valid strategy to win the sale, but the shortfall has to be priced into the item, not ignored.