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.
- Break-even priceSell at this and you make exactly nothing$21.30
- Target profit$15.00
- eBay fees at that price-$5.66
- Shipping label-$5.50
- Packaging and supplies-$0.50
- What you paid for it-$12.00
- Profit at that price$15.00
- Margin38.80%
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 it's calculated
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 %).
FAQ
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.