Break-Even Price Calculator 2026: Cover Costs & Labor
Calculate the resale price that covers item cost, seller-paid shipping, supplies, risk reserve, platform fees, labor value, and offer buffer.
What this tool helps you do
Calculate the minimum resale price that covers buy cost, seller-paid shipping, supplies, risk reserve, platform fees, labor value, and offer buffer across eBay, Mercari, Poshmark, Depop, Facebook local and shipped checkout, Whatnot, Etsy, and Vinted.
Interactive inputs and calculations load after the app boots. Use this prerendered preview to understand what the tool covers before opening the live experience.
Best for
- break even calculator
- minimum sale price calculator
- reseller break even
- how much to sell for profit
- pricing calculator reseller
Break-even worksheet for reseller pricing
This calculator turns a potential buy into a pricing floor before you list. Enter buy cost, seller-paid shipping, supplies, risk reserve, labor hours, target hourly rate, and offer buffer to see the minimum sale price needed by marketplace.
Financial break-even covers monetary costs and current modeled platform fees. Efficiency break-even adds the value of your time. Suggested list price is solved so a discount equal to the selected offer buffer still lands on the efficiency floor.
The platform rows use the shared US marketplace fee policy reviewed 2026-08-20. Account-specific promotions, international fees, buyer tax, and platform programs should be verified before using the result for unusual or high-value transactions.
- Primary job: decide whether to buy, pass, or raise the listing price before a flip starts.
- Inputs resellers actually have: buy cost, shipping, supplies, expected issue reserve, labor time, hourly floor, and target listing buffer.
- Output decision: net-zero price, wage-covering price, suggested list price, and platform ranking.
Official US marketplace fee sources checked August 20, 2026
eBay selling fees
Official eBay seller-fee basis and current per-order fee schedule.
Mercari seller fees
Official Mercari seller-paid fee basis for item price plus buyer-paid shipping.
Poshmark seller fees
Official Poshmark commission and under-$15 flat-fee support reference.
Facebook Marketplace shipped checkout fees
Official Meta reference for shipped checkout fee and minimum.
Etsy Fees and Payments Policy
Official Etsy listing, transaction, and payment-fee policy reference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What costs should I include in a reseller break-even price?
Include buy cost, seller-paid shipping or acquisition shipping, supplies, a return or issue reserve, platform fees, and the value of your labor. The calculator separates net-zero break-even from efficiency break-even so you can see both the cash floor and the wage-covering floor.
Should I include my time as a cost in break-even calculations?
Yes, always. If you are treating reselling as a business and not a hobby, your time has value. Failing to account for labor leads to "profitable" flips that pay you $10/hour or less. This calculator shows both "Net Zero" (covering just monetary costs) and "Efficiency Break-Even" (covering costs plus fair wages). Professional resellers use the Efficiency number as their minimum — anything below that and you are effectively working for free.
Which reselling platform has the lowest break-even price?
Local cash sales and Vinted personal-closet sales have the lowest modeled seller-fee break-even because standard seller fees are zero in those scopes. For shipped online sales, the answer depends on sale price and marketplace: Mercari is modeled at 10%, Poshmark changes at the $15 threshold, Etsy adds listing, transaction, and processing fees, and eBay uses category and order-fee assumptions. Use this calculator to compare platforms side-by-side for your specific item instead of relying on a single flat-fee shortcut.
How do I calculate break-even price with platform fees?
The formula is your required net divided by the share you keep after percentage fees, with fixed order, listing, or processing fees added through the calculator. For example, if you need $55 net on eBay, the sale price must cover the category-rate assumption plus the current per-order fee. Poshmark uses a $2.95 fee under $15 and 20% at $15 or more, while Etsy includes listing, transaction, and payment-processing fees. This calculator handles those thresholds and labor cost in your efficiency break-even so you do not have to run separate formulas manually.
What is a good target hourly rate for reselling in 2026?
A minimum of $50/hour is a healthy target for sustainable full-time reselling in 2026. Beginners may start at $30–$40/hr while learning, but if you are not reaching $50/hr within 6 months, you are likely sourcing inefficiently, pricing too low, or spending too much time per item. Top resellers target $100–$200/hr by focusing on high-value niches and batching their workflow. Set your target based on what your time is worth in the job market, and raise the floor as your skills improve.
Why is my break-even price higher than market comps?
If the calculator shows you need $60 to break even but comparable sold listings are at $45, do not buy the item. Either the item takes too long to process — fix this by batching — or it is simply not profitable at current market rates. Competitors pricing at $45 may be hobbyists who do not value their time, or they acquired inventory cheaper than you did. Professional resellers pass on unprofitable deals instead of hoping to make it work. Discipline beats optimism every time in this business.
Why should I add a risk reserve?
Returns, defects, partial refunds, relisting friction, and small missing supplies can erase thin profit. A fixed reserve lets you price with a cushion instead of pretending every sale will be perfect.
What does the offer buffer do?
The calculator divides the efficiency floor by one minus the buffer rate, so an offer that percentage below list still reaches the floor. It is a planning input, not proof buyers will accept the list price.
How does this calculator help me choose the best reselling platform?
By showing break-even prices for multiple marketplaces side-by-side, you can instantly see which venue leaves enough room for margin on the exact item. The calculator accounts for current practical thresholds such as eBay order fees, the Poshmark under-$15 flat fee, Etsy fixed and percentage fees, and zero-fee local/Vinted scopes. Low-fee venues can win on pure fee math, but shipped marketplaces can win on buyer reach, sell-through speed, and category fit.
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