eBay Retail Arbitrage Calculator
Estimate your eBay retail arbitrage profit, margin and return after purchase costs, shipping and selling fees.
Overview
The eBay Retail Arbitrage Calculator helps you estimate whether a product is worth reselling on eBay. Enter your buy cost, expected sale price, buyer-paid shipping, your shipping cost and fee rates to quickly see estimated profit, margin and ROI.
How it works
The calculator adds your expected sale price and shipping charged to find total buyer revenue. It then estimates percentage-based marketplace and payment fees, adds any fixed fees, and combines those with your purchase cost and shipping expense. Net profit is revenue minus total cost. Profit margin shows profit as a percentage of revenue, while ROI shows profit relative to what you paid to source the item.
How to use this calculator
- 1Enter the amount you paid to source the item.
- 2Add the price you expect to sell the item for on eBay.
- 3Enter any shipping amount the buyer will pay.
- 4Add your actual shipping cost to send the item.
- 5Enter your estimated eBay fee rate, payment fee rate and any flat fees.
- 6Review the estimated net profit, margin, ROI and total fees.
Example Calculation
Purchase Cost
$15
Expected Sale Price
$40
Shipping Charged to Buyer
$5
Your Shipping Cost
$8
eBay Fee Rate
13%
Payment Processing Rate
3%
Fixed Fees
$0
Estimated Net Profit
$14.92
If you buy an item for $15 and sell it for $39.99 plus $4.99 shipping, with $7.50 shipping cost and typical fees, your estimated net profit is about $15.19, with a margin near 33.8% and ROI around 101.3%.
Frequently asked questions
What does this eBay retail arbitrage calculator estimate?
It estimates net profit, profit margin, ROI, total fees and all-in cost for a single eBay resale item.
Should shipping charged to the buyer be included in revenue?
Yes. If the buyer pays shipping to you, that amount is part of the money collected and is commonly included when estimating fee impact.
Does the calculator include eBay fees on shipping?
Yes. It applies your entered fee percentages to the total amount collected from the buyer, including shipping charged.
What costs are not included automatically?
It does not automatically include sales tax, returns, refunds, packaging supplies, storage costs or unsold inventory risk unless you add them to fixed fees.
How is ROI calculated here?
ROI is calculated as net profit divided by purchase cost, shown as a percentage. It helps compare sourcing opportunities quickly.
Can I use this for multiple items?
Yes. You can calculate one item at a time or enter average values per item for a batch, as long as your costs and sale price are on the same basis.
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Assumptions and warnings
Assumptions
- Results are estimates based on the sale price, shipping and fee rates you enter.
- Fee percentages are applied to the total amount collected from the buyer, including shipping charged.
- Taxes, returns, refunds, damaged items and inventory holding costs are not included unless added to your fixed fees.
- ROI is calculated using purchase cost only, not your full all-in cost.
Warnings
- This calculator provides an estimate only and is not financial or business advice.
- Actual eBay fees, shipping rates and selling outcomes may vary by category, account status and location.