Break-Even Price Calculator 2026: Cover Costs & Labor
Calculate the exact minimum price needed to avoid losing money on resale flips. Accounts for platform fees, shipping, and the value of your time.
What this tool helps you do
Calculate the exact minimum price needed to avoid losing money on resale flips. Accounts for platform fees, shipping, and the value of your time. Compare break-even prices across eBay, Mercari, Poshmark, Depop, Facebook Marketplace, Grailed, and local sales. See both financial break-even (cover costs only) and efficiency break-even (cover costs + earn your target hourly wage).
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a break-even price for reselling?
Break-even is the minimum sale price where you do not lose money. It includes your buy cost, shipping to acquire the item, platform fees, payment processing fees, and the value of your labor. For example, if you buy for $10, pay $3 shipping, and eBay takes $2.10 in fees (16.15%), your financial break-even is $15. But if you spent 1 hour on it and value your time at $50/hr, your efficiency break-even is $65. Always calculate both numbers before pricing an item.
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 (0% fees) have the lowest break-even — you keep 100% of the sale price. For online platforms, Mercari has the lowest effective fees (flat $2 payout fee, no percentage) for items over $50. Depop is cheapest for items under $50 (3.3% + $0.45). eBay (16.15%) and Poshmark (20%) are the most expensive platforms by fee rate. Use this calculator to compare all 7 platforms side-by-side for your specific item to find your optimal selling venue.
How do I calculate break-even price with platform fees?
The formula is: (Total Cost + Fixed Fee) divided by (1 minus Fee Rate). Example for eBay (16.15% fee, $0.30 fixed): Total cost is $20. Break-even = ($20 + $0.30) / (1 - 0.1615) = $24.23. For Poshmark (20% flat above $15, no fixed fee): $20 / (1 - 0.20) = $25.00. This calculator handles the math for all 7 platforms simultaneously, including labor cost in your efficiency break-even, so you do not have to run the formula manually for each platform.
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.
How does this calculator help me choose the best reselling platform?
By showing break-even prices for 7 platforms side-by-side, you can instantly see which maximizes your margin on a specific item. For a $20 total-cost item: eBay requires a $24.23 sale price, Poshmark requires $26.25, Mercari requires $23.00, and local cash requires only $20.00. Sell locally when your item suits it to maximize profit. For shipped items in the $50–$200 range, Mercari often beats eBay. Use the platform with the lowest break-even for each item rather than defaulting to one platform for everything.
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