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Reverb vs eBay Fees: Which Keeps More?
On a $50 sale with no shipping charged, Reverb keeps more by $2.61: Reverb charges $4.59 in fees and you keep $45.41, while eBay charges $7.20 and you keep $42.80. For music gear specifically, Reverb’s 5% selling fee beats eBay’s 13.6% most-categories rate by a wide margin — and Reverb’s buyers are musicians looking for exactly that gear.
Fees checked October 2026 · US rates · Estimates only, see Methodology.
Reverb vs eBay Calculator
Enter one sale and see both payouts side by side. Results update instantly. Reverb is shown at standard processing (3.19% + $0.49); Preferred processing (2.99% + $0.49) would save a little more.
WINNER ON THIS SALE
Reverb keeps $45.41
Reverb keeps $2.61 more than eBay on this sale.
The verdict on a $50 sale
Reverb wins the $50 test by $2.61. Its 5% selling fee plus 3.19% processing totals about 9.2% on a $50 sale, against eBay’s 13.6% plus a $0.40 per-order fee. The gap grows with price: on a $500 sale Reverb charges about $41.44 while eBay charges $68.40 — a $26.96 difference. One nuance: eBay’s Guitars & Basses category is only 6.7%, which on a $50 sale is $3.75 — cheaper than Reverb’s $4.59. For guitars specifically, eBay can win on fee alone; for most other music gear, Reverb wins on both fee and audience.
$50 worked example
| Line | Reverb | eBay |
|---|---|---|
| Sale price | $50.00 | $50.00 |
| Shipping charged | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Total fees | $4.59 (9.2%) | $7.20 (14.4%) |
| You keep | $45.41 ✓ You Keep Most | $42.80 |
| Net profit | $30.41 | $27.80 |
| Margin | 60.8% | 55.6% |
Net profit uses the standard test: $10 item cost and $5 actual shipping cost. Reverb shown at standard processing.
Fee table: Reverb vs eBay
| Fee | Reverb | eBay |
|---|---|---|
| Selling fee | 5% of item price, min $0.50, cap $500 | 13.6% of item + shipping on most categories (6.7% guitars & basses) |
| Processing | 3.19% + $0.49 standard; 2.99% + $0.49 Preferred | Included in final value fee; plus per-order fee |
| Per-order fee | None separate | $0.30 (orders $10 or less) / $0.40 (over $10) |
| Optional promotion | Bump % (optional) | Promoted Listings % (optional) |
When to pick each
Pick Reverb for guitars, pedals, synths, amps, and all music gear: the audience is musicians, the fee is lower than eBay’s standard rate, and listings are built for gear specs.
Pick eBay when you want the largest general buyer pool, when the item is not music gear, or when you are selling a guitar and want to compare eBay’s 6.7% guitars category rate — run both calculators for that specific case.
How to calculate it
Reverb fee = min(max(5% × sale price, $0.50), $500) + 3.19% × (sale price + shipping charged) + $0.49. eBay fee = 13.6% × (sale price + shipping charged) + $0.30 if the total is $10 or less, otherwise $0.40. Payout = sale price + shipping charged − fees. Profit = payout − item cost − actual shipping cost.
Tips to keep more
- On Reverb, Preferred processing (2.99% + $0.49) saves a little on every sale versus standard — check your eligibility in the Reverb fee calculator.
- On Reverb, Bump is optional promotion; test it only on slow-moving gear and compare the extra percentage against the sale it drives.
- On eBay, remember the per-order fee and that the 13.6% applies to shipping charged too.
- Cross-list gear where you can, and use the calculator above before accepting an offer on either platform.
Frequently asked questions
Is Reverb cheaper than eBay? +
For music gear at eBay’s standard rate, yes: on a $50 sale Reverb charges $4.59 versus eBay’s $7.20. The exception is eBay’s Guitars & Basses category at 6.7%, which is competitive with Reverb for guitars.
What are Reverb’s fees on a $50 sale? +
$2.50 selling fee (5%) + $1.595 processing (3.19%) + $0.49 = $4.59 at standard processing, and you keep $45.41. With Preferred processing the total is $4.49.
Does Reverb have a selling fee cap? +
Yes: the 5% selling fee is capped at $500 per item, with a $0.50 minimum. Processing is not capped.
Should I sell music gear on Reverb or eBay? +
Reverb for most gear: lower fees than eBay’s standard rate and an audience of musicians. eBay for the widest reach, or for guitars where its 6.7% category rate is competitive.
Related calculators and comparisons
- Reverb fee calculator
- eBay fee calculator
- Compare all marketplaces calculator
- 2026 marketplace fee comparison chart
- All marketplace comparisons
- Fee Change Tracker
Fees checked October 2026. Rates are US rates and may change; always confirm on the platform’s official fee pages. See our Methodology and Sources.