Etsy vs eBay vs Facebook Marketplace for Sellers
Where to sell online: Etsy, eBay and Facebook Marketplace compared on audience, fees, shipping, effort and what sells best on each, with tips for choosing.
How to Sell on eBay: A Beginner’s Guide
How to start selling on eBay: setting up your account, researching sold prices, writing listings that sell, auction vs Buy It Now, fees, shipping and ratings.
Key takeaways
- Price from sold listings, not asking prices, and factor in fees and shipping.
- Great photos, searchable titles and honest condition notes sell items faster.
- Ship quickly with tracking and communicate clearly to build strong ratings.
On this page
eBay remains one of the best places to sell almost anything, from old electronics to collectibles, to buyers all over the country and beyond. Here’s how to get started without costly beginner mistakes.
Step 1: Set up your account
Create a seller account, verify your identity and add payout details. Complete your profile: buyers trust sellers with clear information.
Step 2: Research the price
Search for your item and filter by sold listings to see what people actually paid. Our guide to pricing used items to sell fast explains how to set a competitive price.
Step 3: Take great photos
Use natural light, a plain background and shoot every angle, including flaws. See product photos with a phone.
Step 4: Write a listing that gets found
- Title: brand, model, size, colour and condition, in plain words buyers search for.
- Item specifics: fill in every field; they drive search filters.
- Description: condition, what’s included, measurements and any defects.
Step 5: Auction or Buy It Now?
| Format | Best for |
|---|---|
| Auction | Rare or collectible items with uncertain value |
| Buy It Now | Most everyday items; predictable pricing |
| Best Offer | Items where buyers expect to negotiate |
Step 6: Understand fees
eBay charges fees on sales, typically a percentage of the total including shipping, which varies by category. Check current fees before pricing so your profit isn’t a surprise.
Step 7: Ship it right
Choose calculated or flat shipping, pack carefully, ship within your handling time and upload tracking. Compare carriers in our guide to the cheapest shipping options for small sellers.
Build your reputation
Respond to messages quickly, describe items accurately and resolve problems politely. Good ratings compound over time.
Stay safe
Only accept payment through eBay and never ship to an address or account outside the platform. Our guide to spotting fake buyers and sellers covers common tricks.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to list on eBay?
Many sellers get a number of free listings each month, with fees charged when items sell. Check the current fee schedule.
What sells best on eBay?
Electronics, collectibles, branded clothing, parts and niche items often sell well. See the best things to flip.
How do I avoid scams as a seller?
Keep all communication and payment on eBay, ship only to the address on the order and always use tracking.
Sources
Every article is edited by a human and checked against our editorial policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Keep reading
Cheapest Shipping Options for Small Sellers
How small online sellers can cut shipping costs: carriers, flat-rate vs weight-based, marketplace labels, packaging, dimensional weight and free shipping.
Product Photos With a Phone: A Seller’s Guide
How to take product photos that sell using just a phone: light, backgrounds, angles, showing flaws honestly, simple editing, and marketplace photo requirements.