Break-even resale price calculator
Enter what the item cost you and what you want to make, and get the exact list price that clears every fee.
List it at
$38.66
Clears $15.00 profit; break-even is $21.30
How to use it
- Enter what you paid for the item and the profit you want from it. Enter 0 to see the plain break-even.
- Pick the platform so the right fees are applied, including fees on any shipping you charge.
- Enter your expected label cost and packaging.
- Read the list price. Anything above it is profit beyond your target; anything below the break-even price is a loss.
Worked example
You paid $12.00 for a pair of boots, want $15.00 profit, and will sell on eBay with free shipping. Label $5.50, supplies $0.50.
Costs before fees are $33.00. At $38.65: eBay takes $38.65 × 13.6% = $5.26 plus $0.40 = $5.66, leaving $32.99, a cent short. At $38.66 fees are $5.66 and profit is exactly $15.00, so that’s the price. The break-even price, where profit is $0, is $21.30.
How this is calculated
At any list price, profit is the price plus shipping charged, minus the platform's fees at that price, minus your label, supplies and cost, and the calculator finds the lowest whole-cent price where that profit reaches your target. Because fees are rounded to the cent and some platforms have flat or tiered fees, it searches for the answer rather than using one formula, so the result is exact for each platform's schedule. eBay uses the standard 13.6% rate for most categories.
profit(price) = price + shipping charged − platform fees(price) − label − supplies − cost
The calculator finds the lowest whole-cent price where profit(price) is at least your target. Because fees are rounded to the cent and some platforms have flat or tiered fees, it solves this by search rather than a single formula, so the answer is exact for each platform’s schedule.
As a rule of thumb for a simple percentage fee: price ≈ (cost + label + supplies + target profit + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − fee %).
Rates, sources and limits
- eBay (US) rates effective 14 Feb 2025, checked 13 Sep 2026. Source
- Mercari (US) rates effective 1 Jan 2026, checked 13 Sep 2026. Source
- Poshmark (US) rates effective 1 Jan 2019, checked 13 Sep 2026. Source
- Depop (US) rates effective 23 Mar 2026, checked 13 Sep 2026. Source
- Etsy (US) rates effective 11 Apr 2022, checked 13 Sep 2026. Source
- PayPal (US) rates effective 29 Oct 2025, checked 13 Sep 2026. Source
- Stripe (US) rates effective 1 Jan 2024, checked 13 Sep 2026. Source
eBay uses the standard 13.6% rate for most categories.
Rates current as of 2026. Last reviewed 13 Sep 2026 by the CalcRabbit team. Estimates only, not financial, tax or medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
Why isn't the answer just cost plus profit divided by the fee rate?
That gets close, but platforms round each fee to the cent, add flat per-order fees, and in Poshmark's case switch from a flat $2.95 to 20% at $15. Searching for the exact cent avoids being a few cents short, which matters when you're pricing to a round number and want to know if $19.99 clears.
Does free shipping change the break-even price?
Yes, in two ways. Your label cost is a straight expense either way, but if the buyer pays shipping, most platforms charge their percentage on that shipping too. Try both by moving the label cost between the two shipping fields.
What target profit should I use?
It depends on your time. A common floor for casual resellers is $10 to $15 per item; full-timers often want $20 or more, or a return of at least 100% on cost. If the required list price is above what the item sells for, it's not worth buying.
Does this include income tax?
No. Profit here is before income tax and self-employment tax. Set aside a share of it; the freelance tax calculator gives a rough figure.