Break-Even Calculator
Tell us what the item cost you and what shipping really costs, and this free break-even calculator finds the exact list price where your payout covers every cost — the lowest price you can accept on eBay, Etsy, Mercari and six more marketplaces before a sale starts losing money.
Fees checked October 2026 · US fee schedules
Your break-even price is your floor: below it, every sale loses money. Set your actual list price above it — use the price to net calculator to work out the price for the profit you actually want.
Example: $15 of costs on eBay
You bought an item for $10 and shipping really costs you $5 — $15 to cover. On eBay (13.6% + $0.40 per order), you need to list at $17.82 just to break even:
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| List price (break-even) | $17.82 |
| eBay fees (13.6% + $0.40) | −$2.82 |
| Your payout | $15.00 |
| Item cost | −$10.00 |
| Your shipping cost | −$5.00 |
| Net profit | $0.00 |
Break-Even Price on Every Platform ($10 Cost, $5 Shipping)
| Marketplace | Break-even price | Fees at that price |
|---|---|---|
| TikTok Shop (6%) | $15.96 | $0.96 |
| Depop | $15.98 | $0.98 |
| Mercari | $16.67 | $1.67 |
| Facebook (shipped) | $16.67 | $1.67 |
| Etsy | $17.07 | $2.07 |
| Whatnot (Standard) | $17.17 | $2.17 |
| eBay | $17.82 | $2.82 |
| Poshmark | $18.75 | $3.75 |
| StockX (Level 1) | $25.77 | $10.77 |
StockX stands out because its $5 minimum transaction fee and $5 seller shipping fee hit small items hardest. Fee models use standard/default categories; see our methodology for details.
How the Break-Even Price Is Found
Break-even is the price where payout exactly equals your costs:
List price − platform fees at that price = item cost + your shipping cost (minus any shipping charged to the buyer)
Because most fees are a percentage of the price itself, you cannot just add your costs and the fee rate together — a higher price means higher fees. This calculator solves it properly: it runs the same fee engine as our platform calculators and finds the exact cent where profit crosses zero, including flat fees and minimums like StockX's $5 transaction minimum.
Use your break-even price well
It is your offer floor. When a buyer sends a low offer, compare it to your break-even price, not to what you paid. Accepting below it means paying for the privilege of selling.
Add every real cost. Packaging, labels, tape and a small allowance for returns all belong in your item cost. A break-even price built on incomplete costs is a loss in disguise.
Break-even is not a target. It is the minimum. Price for profit with the reverse price calculator, then check the result in the reseller profit calculator.
Break-Even Calculator FAQs
How do I calculate my break-even price?
Add your item cost and real shipping cost, then find the list price where your payout — price plus shipping charged, minus all platform fees — exactly covers that total. Because fees are mostly a percentage of the price, the fee amount grows with the price, so the calculator solves it iteratively to the exact cent.
What is a good break-even price?
There is no universal number — it depends on your costs and the platform's fees. What matters is the gap between your break-even price and the market price. If items like yours sell for $30 and your break-even is $17.82, you have healthy room. If they sell for $19, the listing is probably not worth your time.
Should I ever sell below break-even?
Occasionally, yes — to clear dead inventory and free up cash and space, a small planned loss can beat months of storage. But it should be a deliberate decision with the number in front of you, not a surprise when the payout lands.
Does break-even include shipping?
Yes. Your real shipping cost is one of the two costs the price must cover. If you charge the buyer for shipping, that amount counts toward covering it — enter it in the "shipping charged to buyer" field and the required price drops.
Why is break-even so much higher on StockX?
StockX charges a minimum $5 transaction fee plus a $5 seller shipping fee on standard sales. On a $15-cost item those two flat charges alone add $10 before the 3% processing fee, pushing break-even to $25.77 — which is why StockX works best for higher-value items.
Explore more: all marketplace fee calculators · compare all marketplaces · 2026 fee comparison chart. We track rate changes on the fee change tracker.