You have a closet full of clothes to sell. Maybe it is your own wardrobe purge, or perhaps you are building a reselling business sourcing from thrift stores and estate sales. Either way, you are facing the same question thousands of sellers ask every day: should I sell on eBay or Poshmark?
Both platforms move millions of clothing items each year. Both have loyal buyer bases actively searching for fashion. But they operate very differently, and choosing the wrong one for your inventory could mean slower sales, lower profits, or frustrated buyers.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about selling clothes on eBay vs Poshmark in 2026. We will compare fees, shipping, audiences, and what actually sells on each platform so you can make the right choice for your business.
Quick Comparison: eBay vs Poshmark at a Glance
Before we get into the details, here is a side-by-side snapshot:
| Feature | eBay | Poshmark |
|---|---|---|
| Selling Fees | 12.9% + $0.30 | 20% (or $2.95 under $15) |
| Shipping | Seller chooses carrier/price | Pre-paid label, $7.67 flat |
| Audience | Broad (all ages, genders) | Primarily women 18-44 |
| Listing Format | Auction or fixed price | Fixed price only |
| Social Features | Minimal | Heavy (sharing, parties, following) |
| Best For | Men's clothing, vintage, niche items | Women's fashion, trendy brands |
| International Sales | Yes | US, Canada, Australia only |
Selling Fees: Where Your Money Goes
Let us talk about the number that matters most to your bottom line: fees.
eBay Fee Structure
eBay charges a 12.9% final value fee on the total sale amount (including shipping) plus a $0.30 per-order fee. For clothing items specifically, this rate applies to most categories.
Here is what that looks like in practice:
| Sale Price | eBay Fee (12.9% + $0.30) | You Keep |
|---|---|---|
| $25 | $3.53 | $21.47 |
| $50 | $6.75 | $43.25 |
| $100 | $13.20 | $86.80 |
| $200 | $26.10 | $173.90 |
eBay also offers promoted listings if you want more visibility. Standard promoted listings cost an additional percentage (typically 2-8%) only when your item sells through the ad.
Poshmark Fee Structure
Poshmark keeps things simple with a flat 20% commission on sales over $15. For items that sell under $15, they take a flat $2.95 fee instead.
| Sale Price | Poshmark Fee | You Keep |
|---|---|---|
| $10 | $2.95 | $7.05 |
| $25 | $5.00 | $20.00 |
| $50 | $10.00 | $40.00 |
| $100 | $20.00 | $80.00 |
| $200 | $40.00 | $160.00 |
The Fee Verdict
For most clothing sales, eBay offers lower fees. The difference becomes more significant as your sale prices increase. On a $100 item, you keep $86.80 on eBay versus $80.00 on Poshmark, a difference of $6.80.
However, Poshmark's flat $2.95 fee on items under $15 can actually be better than eBay's percentage-based fee. On a $10 sale, you keep $7.05 on Poshmark versus $6.17 on eBay.
If you sell mostly budget-friendly items under $15, Poshmark's flat fee structure can work in your favor. For mid-to-high-priced clothing, eBay's lower percentage means more money in your pocket.
Shipping: Convenience vs Control
How you get items to buyers differs significantly between these platforms.
eBay Shipping
eBay gives sellers complete control over shipping. You can:
- Choose any carrier (USPS, UPS, FedEx)
- Set your own shipping prices
- Offer free shipping (and factor it into your price)
- Use calculated shipping based on buyer location
- Purchase discounted labels through eBay
This flexibility is great for sellers who have negotiated rates or prefer certain carriers. But it also means you need to figure out packaging, weigh items, and calculate costs yourself.
Most clothing sellers on eBay use USPS First Class for lighter items (under 1 lb) at around $4-5, or USPS Priority for heavier items at $8-10.
Poshmark Shipping
Poshmark takes a simpler approach with a $7.67 pre-paid shipping label (as of 2026) included with every sale. The label covers packages up to 5 lbs via USPS Priority Mail.
This means:
- No weighing items or calculating costs
- Same shipping price regardless of destination
- Buyers always know the shipping cost upfront
- Labels are generated automatically
The downside? You cannot offer free shipping the traditional way. Some sellers work around this by listing items at lower prices and noting the shipping cost, but it is not as clean as eBay's free shipping option.
Shipping Cost Comparison
| Item Weight | eBay (Approx.) | Poshmark |
|---|---|---|
| 4 oz (lightweight top) | $3.50-4.50 | $7.67 |
| 8 oz (jeans) | $4.50-5.50 | $7.67 |
| 1 lb (jacket) | $8.00-10.00 | $7.67 |
| 3 lbs (multiple items/coat) | $12.00-15.00 | $7.67 |
For lightweight items, eBay shipping costs less. For heavier items or bundles, Poshmark's flat rate becomes the better deal.
Audience: Who Is Buying on Each Platform?
Understanding who shops on each platform helps you decide where your inventory will find buyers.
eBay Buyers
eBay has a massive, diverse audience. Over 130 million active buyers worldwide browse the platform for everything from electronics to collectibles to clothing. The fashion category sees strong traffic, but it competes with every other category for attention.
eBay's clothing buyers tend to be:
- More varied in age (wider demographic spread)
- Bargain hunters looking for deals
- Collectors seeking specific vintage or rare pieces
- Men shopping for themselves (stronger men's market)
- International buyers (eBay ships globally)
Poshmark Buyers
Poshmark is laser-focused on fashion. The platform has cultivated a community of over 80 million users who are specifically there to buy and sell clothing, shoes, and accessories.
Poshmark's typical buyer is:
- Female (approximately 70% of the user base)
- Between 18-44 years old
- Fashion-forward and brand-conscious
- Comfortable paying for trendy items
- Active on the app (browsing, liking, sharing)
If you primarily sell men's clothing, Poshmark's smaller male audience may limit your sales velocity. eBay's broader buyer base often moves men's items faster.
What Sells Better on Each Platform?
This is where the eBay vs Poshmark decision becomes clearer. Different types of clothing perform differently on each platform.
Best Sellers on eBay
- Men's clothing (especially athletic, workwear, and vintage)
- Vintage and retro pieces (70s, 80s, 90s styles)
- Rare or collectible items (limited editions, discontinued)
- Niche sizes (big and tall, petite)
- International brands (buyers worldwide can find you)
- New with tags designer items at discount
- Lots and bundles for other resellers
Best Sellers on Poshmark
- Women's contemporary fashion (current styles)
- Popular brands (Free People, Lululemon, Anthropologie)
- Trendy athleisure (especially Lululemon, Nike, Alo Yoga)
- Designer handbags and accessories
- Shoes (heels, boots, sneakers)
- New or like-new condition items
- Junior's and young women's styles
Brand Performance by Platform
| Brand Type | eBay | Poshmark |
|---|---|---|
| Lululemon | Good | Excellent |
| Vintage Levi's | Excellent | Good |
| Coach/Kate Spade | Good | Excellent |
| Men's Nike | Excellent | Fair |
| Free People | Fair | Excellent |
| Carhartt | Excellent | Fair |
| Anthropologie | Good | Excellent |
The Selling Experience: Daily Life as a Seller
Your day-to-day selling routine looks different on each platform.
Selling on eBay
eBay is more of a set-it-and-forget-it experience. You list your item with good photos and detailed descriptions, set a price, and wait for buyers to find you through search.
Daily tasks include:
- Answering buyer questions
- Processing orders and shipping
- Managing listings (repricing, relisting)
- Occasional promotion management
eBay rewards good SEO practices. Titles with relevant keywords, detailed item specifics, and competitive pricing help your listings rank in search. Once listed, items can sell to anyone searching, without much ongoing effort.
Selling on Poshmark
Poshmark operates more like a social media platform. Success often depends on engagement and activity within the app.
Daily tasks typically include:
- Sharing your listings (to followers and to parties)
- Sharing other sellers' items (community participation)
- Responding to comments and offers
- Participating in Posh Parties (themed selling events)
- Following other users and engaging with their closets
Many successful Poshmark sellers spend 30-60 minutes daily sharing and engaging. This active participation can drive sales, but it also requires more hands-on time than eBay.
If you prefer a more passive selling approach, eBay's search-based system may suit your style better. If you enjoy social interaction and community engagement, Poshmark can feel rewarding and even fun.
Pros and Cons Summary
eBay Pros
- Lower selling fees (12.9% vs 20%)
- Flexible shipping options
- Global buyer reach
- Better for men's clothing
- Strong vintage and collectibles market
- Less daily maintenance required
- Auction option for rare items
eBay Cons
- More competition across all categories
- Need to calculate shipping yourself
- Photos and SEO matter heavily
- Returns can be more complex
- Less community feel
Poshmark Pros
- Built-in fashion-focused audience
- Simple flat-rate shipping
- Strong community and social features
- Easy listing process
- Great for women's contemporary fashion
- Bundle discounts encourage larger orders
- Posh Parties provide extra exposure
Poshmark Cons
- Higher 20% commission
- Requires daily engagement for best results
- Smaller male buyer audience
- No international shipping (limited markets)
- Fixed price only (no auctions)
- $7.67 shipping may deter lightweight purchases
The Smart Solution: Why Not Both?
Here is the truth most comparison articles will not tell you: the best clothing sellers do not choose between eBay and Poshmark. They sell on both.
Think about it. You have a closet full of different items. Some will appeal to Poshmark's fashion-forward female audience. Others might move faster on eBay's broader marketplace. Why limit yourself to half the potential buyers?
The challenge, of course, is time. Listing the same item on multiple platforms means:
- Creating listings twice (or more)
- Tracking inventory across platforms
- Manually delisting when something sells
- Risk of overselling the same item
This is exactly the problem cross-listing software solves. With a tool like Voolist, you can list once and post to both eBay and Poshmark (plus other platforms like Mercari, Depop, and more). When an item sells on one platform, your inventory syncs automatically to prevent double-selling.
The math makes sense: more platforms equals more buyers equals faster sales. And when your inventory syncs automatically, you get the benefits of selling everywhere without the management headache.
Final Verdict: eBay vs Poshmark for Selling Clothes
So which platform is better for selling clothes? Here is my honest take:
Choose eBay if you:
- Sell primarily men's clothing
- Have vintage or collectible pieces
- Want lower fees on higher-priced items
- Prefer a hands-off selling approach
- Want to reach international buyers
Choose Poshmark if you:
- Sell women's contemporary fashion
- Have popular trendy brands
- Enjoy social selling and community
- Sell items that benefit from flat-rate shipping
- Like participating in themed selling events
Choose both if you:
- Want maximum exposure for your inventory
- Sell a variety of clothing types
- Are building a serious reselling business
- Can manage multi-platform selling (or use cross-listing tools)
The platforms are not competitors from a seller's perspective. They are complementary channels that reach different buyers. The Lululemon leggings that sit for weeks on eBay might sell in days on Poshmark. The vintage Carhartt jacket Poshmark buyers ignore could find its perfect buyer on eBay.
Why choose when you can win on both?
Ready to sell on multiple platforms without the hassle? Try Voolist and list your clothing across eBay, Poshmark, and more from one dashboard. No more double-listing. No more overselling. Just more sales.
