The eBay Shipping Calculator compares the amount charged to the buyer with the seller's expected shipping and packaging expense. It reports the total fulfillment cost, shipping surplus or shortfall, and the effective shipping cost per item.
Use it when setting flat-rate shipping, evaluating free shipping, or checking whether combined shipping covers the actual carrier and packing costs. Carrier quotes, dimensions, zones, and service rules are not built in; enter the quote you obtained for the shipment.
1. Enter the carrier quote
Use the expected postage amount for the selected package and service.
2. Add packaging and handling
Include boxes, mailers, cushioning, labels, and any handling allocation you want counted.
3. Enter the buyer charge
Use zero for a free-shipping listing.
4. Set the item count
For combined shipping, enter the number of items packed in the shipment.
5. Check the difference
A positive result is a surplus; a negative result is a shipping shortfall.
The result compares only the entered fulfillment amounts. Marketplace fees assessed on shipping revenue are not deducted unless included in handling or another input.
The main result shows whether the shipping charge covers the entered shipment cost.
A shipping surplus is not necessarily profit after marketplace fees, refunds, or overhead.
Given: Postage is $11.80, packaging is $1.25, handling is $0, the buyer pays $12, and one item is shipped.
Calculation: Fulfillment cost = $11.80 + $1.25 = $13.05. Difference = $12 − $13.05 = −$1.05.
Result: The listing has an estimated shipping shortfall of $1.05.
No. Enter a rate from the carrier or shipping platform after considering weight, dimensions, origin, destination, and service.
Enter zero as the shipping charged to the buyer. The result will show the full fulfillment cost as a shortfall that must be covered by the item price.
You may include a handling amount when you want the comparison to reflect labor. Use a consistent allocation method across listings.
The buyer charge is greater than the entered fulfillment cost. It does not account for marketplace fees that may apply to shipping revenue.
Enter the combined carrier and packaging cost and the number of items in the shipment. The calculator will show average fulfillment cost per item.