The price something sells for is never what lands in your pocket. Here's what each UK marketplace actually takes — and how to see your real profit per item.
For sellers, Vinted is unusual: it charges no selling fee. The "Buyer Protection" fee is paid by the buyer on top of your price, so you keep your full asking price. Your only cost is postage if you choose to cover it. That's a big part of why Vinted is so popular with UK resellers.
eBay's fees are the most involved. Private sellers in the UK now pay reduced or no selling fees in many categories, while business sellers pay a final value fee (a percentage of the total sale including postage) plus a small fixed fee per order. Percentages vary by category, so always check your seller account for your exact rate.
Depop charges a 10% selling fee on the item price plus postage, and payment processing is handled at checkout. Factor both in when you price.
Etsy takes a listing fee per item plus a transaction fee and payment-processing fee on the sale. For low-priced items these small fixed costs add up fast as a share of profit.
Whatever the platform, real profit is the same simple sum:
| Line | Example (Depop) |
|---|---|
| Sold for | £30.00 |
| Selling fee (10%) | – £3.00 |
| Postage you paid | – £3.20 |
| What the item cost you | – £10.00 |
| Real profit | £13.80 |
Do this on every sale and you know exactly which items — and which platforms — actually make you money. Do it across the tax year and your HMRC figures are ready too.
FlipMate auto-deducts each platform's fees and your postage so you see true profit per item — and a tidy UK tax-year summary. Free for your first 25 items.
Start tracking free →Fee figures are general and change frequently; confirm current rates with each marketplace. This is not financial or tax advice.