eBay Promoted Listings Break-even Calculator.
Find the highest General campaign ad rate a sale can absorb before estimated profit reaches zero, or test the exact ad rate you are considering.
Ad-rate limit
See the highest General campaign ad rate this sale can absorb before profit reaches zero.
Ad fees and final value fees use the total sale amount, including applicable tax.
Optional. eBay General fixed ad rates are currently 2%–100%.
Break-even ad rate
Enter the sale price and your costs to see the maximum sustainable ad rate.
For eBay General campaigns and standard US seller fees. Priority campaigns use cost-per-click pricing and need a different model.
What ad rate can I afford on eBay?
The calculator first estimates profit before advertising after the selected category final value fee and the seller costs you enter. It then converts that remaining profit into the maximum General campaign ad-rate percentage the sale could absorb before profit reaches zero.
That break-even rate is a ceiling, not a recommended target. A rate below it leaves some estimated profit; a rate at it consumes the remaining profit; a rate above it creates an estimated loss under the same inputs.
Test a Promoted Listings rate before using it
Enter the fixed General ad rate you are considering and the results show the estimated advertising fee, profit and margin at that rate. This makes it easier to compare a suggested ad rate with the economics of the actual item.
The fee base includes the total sale amount entered for the transaction, so item price, buyer-paid shipping and applicable sales tax can all affect how many dollars a given ad-rate percentage represents.
General campaigns are different from Priority campaigns
General campaigns use an attributed sale fee based on an ad rate. Priority campaigns use cost-per-click pricing, where clicks can cost money even when they do not become sales.
Because the economics are different, this calculator deliberately covers General campaigns only. A CPC break-even tool would need click cost and conversion-rate inputs rather than just a sale-level ad percentage.
Frequently asked questions
What is a break-even eBay Promoted Listings ad rate?
It is the General campaign ad-fee percentage at which the estimated profit on the sale reaches zero after the supported eBay fee and seller costs you entered.
How do I know what eBay ad rate I can afford?
Use the maximum break-even rate as the upper limit under your current inputs, then test the rate you are actually considering to see the remaining estimated profit and margin.
What amount is the General campaign ad fee based on?
For the supported General campaign model, the ad fee is calculated from the ad rate and total sale amount, which can include item price, shipping and applicable tax.
Can I test a specific eBay ad rate?
Yes. Enter the fixed General campaign ad rate and the calculator shows the estimated ad fee, profit and profit margin at that rate.
What if my break-even rate is below eBay's minimum fixed General rate?
That indicates the estimated sale does not have enough pre-ad profit to absorb even the minimum supported fixed General rate without reaching a loss.
Does this work for eBay Priority campaigns?
No. Priority campaigns are cost-per-click and need click cost plus conversion data rather than a sale-attributed percentage model.
Does the calculator include the normal eBay final value fee?
Yes. The break-even advertising calculation starts after estimating the supported standard final value fee for the selected category.
Related tools
Sources: eBay selling fees · eBay General campaigns