Marketplace fees for clothing
Clothing is one of the few categories where Amazon charges more than eBay or Etsy — 17% referral plus fulfillment. Here is the full comparison on a $40 item.
The same $40 item on four platforms
Assume a $40 sale, no buyer-paid shipping, a $15 item cost, and 100 orders/month for Shopify. Amazon uses FBA at $4.50 plus the 3.5% surcharge and $0.50 storage.
| Platform | Fees | Profit | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| eBay (13.6% + $0.40) | $5.84 | $19.16 | 47.9% |
| Etsy (6.5% + 3% + $0.45) | $4.25 | $20.75 | 51.9% |
| Shopify Basic (2.9% + $0.30 + plan) | $1.75 | $23.25 | 58.1% |
| Amazon FBA (17% + fulfillment) | $11.96 | $13.04 | 32.6% |
Why Amazon is different for clothing
- Apparel and accessories carry a 17% referral fee, one of the higher rates on Amazon.
- FBA fulfillment is based on size tier and weight; apparel is often light but bulky.
- Returns are higher in clothing, and refund administration fees can add up.
- Amazon brings Prime buyers and logistics — the higher fee buys demand and delivery.
At a higher price point
At $80 with a $30 cost, the spread widens: eBay profit about $38.72, Etsy about $41.95, Shopify about $47.09, Amazon about $31.24. The percentage-based fees scale with price, while Shopify’s plan cost per order stays roughly fixed.
Which platform fits which clothing seller
- eBay: used, vintage, streetwear, and resale where buyers search by brand and size.
- Etsy: handmade, personalized, and small-batch clothing with a story.
- Shopify: a brand with an existing audience, repeat buyers, and a content/ads engine.
- Amazon: new, branded apparel with the margin to absorb 17% + FBA and the volume to justify it.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage does Amazon take on clothing?
Amazon’s apparel and accessories referral fee is 17% in 2026, higher than the 15% most categories pay. FBA fulfillment and the 3.5% fuel surcharge are additional.
Is Etsy cheaper than eBay for clothing?
Etsy’s percentage stack (6.5% + 3% + $0.25 + $0.20) is usually lower than eBay’s 13.6% + $0.40 on a $40 item. But Etsy’s audience is different; compare sell-through and final price, not just fees.
Should I use Shopify for clothing?
If you have an audience or are willing to pay for traffic, Shopify’s lower per-sale fee and customer ownership can win. Without traffic, the marketplace fee is often cheaper than buying customers.
Tools worth a look
Optional tools that pair with this platform. Fee math does not depend on them.
Storefront, checkout, and payments in one platform.
The lowest per-sale fee only matters if you can drive traffic; Shopify is the storefront most sellers pair with a content or ads engine.
Explore Shopify →Bookkeeping and tax prep for sellers.
Marketplace fees are deductible; clean books make the deduction easy at year end.
Explore QuickBooks →Some links may be affiliate links; if you sign up through one, FeeNook may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only list tools relevant to the platform. Affiliate disclosure.
FeeNook is independent and not affiliated with eBay, Amazon, Etsy, or Shopify. Fee rules change; confirm the current rate in your seller dashboard. This article is general information, not financial or tax advice.