Contents
What is Amazon to eBay arbitrage?
Amazon to eBay arbitrage is the practice of purchasing products from Amazon and reselling them at a higher price on eBay. The price difference — after accounting for all fees and costs — is your profit.
It works because the same product can have meaningfully different prices on different platforms. A kitchen gadget selling for £18 on Amazon might command £29 on eBay, where buyers search for convenience rather than the lowest price. Your job is to find those gaps and exploit them consistently.
The model works. The question is whether your margin calculations are accurate enough to know which products are actually working.
Is Amazon to eBay arbitrage legal?
Yes. You are purchasing products as a consumer and reselling them — a standard retail practice. Neither Amazon's consumer terms nor eBay's seller policies prohibit this for individual resellers.
The one area to watch: some brand owners have policies against resale through certain channels, and eBay's authenticity standards apply regardless. Always source from legitimate Amazon sellers.
How much can you realistically make?
| Seller type | Active listings | Monthly profit (net) | Time/week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part-time beginner | 10–30 | £300–£800 | 5–10 hrs |
| Part-time established | 50–100 | £800–£2,000 | 10–15 hrs |
| Full-time seller | 150–400 | £3,000–£10,000 | 30–40 hrs |
| Scale operation | 400+ | £10,000+ | Team required |
These are net profit figures — after eBay fees, Amazon costs, shipping and exchange rate effects. Many beginners overestimate because they calculate gross margin and miss the 13–15% eBay takes on top.
The fees you must account for
This is where most beginners lose money. eBay's fee structure is more complex than it appears.
eBay final value fee (FVF)
The FVF is eBay's primary charge — a percentage of the total transaction value, including what the buyer pays for shipping. If your item sells for £30 and you charge £4 shipping, eBay charges its fee on £34.
| Category | FVF rate |
|---|---|
| Most consumer categories | 13.25% |
| Books, DVDs & Films | 14.95% |
| Jewellery & Watches | 15.55% |
| Vehicle Parts | 10.9% |
| Business & Industrial (select) | 3–10% |
Fixed order fee
eBay charges £0.30 / $0.30 / €0.35 per completed transaction regardless of value. Small per sale, meaningful at volume.
Promoted listings
If you use promoted listings (most sellers do), you pay an additional percentage of the sale price on triggered sales — typically 2–12%.
Exchange rate spread
If you source in USD and receive GBP, the rate at payout can differ from your calculation. A 1–2% spread is typical. On high volumes, this is significant — and why ArbiKey uses live ECB rates.
The correct profit formula
Net profit = Sale price − FVF (on sale + shipping) − Fixed fee − Promoted listing % − Your postage − Amazon cost − FX adjustment
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| eBay sale price | £34.00 |
| FVF 13.25% of £38 (incl. £4 shipping) | − £5.04 |
| Fixed order fee | − £0.30 |
| Promoted listing 5% | − £1.70 |
| Your postage cost | − £3.50 |
| Amazon source cost | − £20.00 |
| Real net profit | £3.46 |
A seller estimating "£34 − £20 = £14 profit" would be wrong by £10.54. At 200 sales a month, that's £2,108 in phantom profit.
Choosing the right products
Profitable arbitrage depends on finding products where the eBay price consistently exceeds the Amazon price enough to cover all fees at 15–25% net margin, with consistent demand and manageable competition.
Best categories for arbitrage
- Home and kitchen
- Tools and DIY
- Health and beauty
- Pet supplies
- Toys and games
- Sports equipment
Categories to approach carefully
- Branded fashion (authenticity risk)
- Items over £100 (higher dispute rate)
- Anything with seasonal demand spikes
- Electronics (tight margins, high returns)
What margin target should you set?
| Net margin | Assessment | Risk level |
|---|---|---|
| Below 10% | Skip — one return wipes profit | Very high |
| 10–15% | Marginal — only viable at scale | High |
| 15–25% | Good — target range | Low–medium |
| 25–40% | Excellent — source as much as possible | Low |
| 40%+ | Outstanding — prioritise | Very low |
Setting up your tracking system
Whatever system you use, it needs to: apply the correct eBay FVF rate per category, charge FVF on the total including buyer shipping, deduct your actual postage cost, include promoted listing costs, apply live exchange rates, and reverse profit correctly when returns happen.
A spreadsheet can technically do this, but requires constant maintenance. A dedicated tool like ArbiKey handles all of it automatically.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Calculating gross margin instead of net. Sale price minus Amazon cost is not your profit. eBay takes 13–15% first.
- Forgetting the FVF on shipping. eBay charges its percentage on the full transaction including the buyer's shipping payment.
- Using a fixed exchange rate. Currency moves. A rate set six months ago can reduce your margin by 2–3%.
- Ignoring return rates by category. Some categories have 15–20% return rates. Factor this into your margin target.
- Not tracking returns in your profit figures. A profitable-looking month can be flat or negative once returns are netted out.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amazon to eBay arbitrage worth it in 2026?
Yes, but competition has increased and margins are tighter than five years ago. The sellers who succeed are those with accurate profit tracking. The model still works — it requires more discipline.
Do I need a business account?
Not initially, but once you're selling consistently you should register as a business seller on eBay. This unlocks higher selling limits and is legally required in most jurisdictions once you're selling for profit regularly.
What's the best eBay marketplace for arbitrage?
eBay UK is most popular for European sellers due to market size and the GBP/USD spread when sourcing from Amazon US. eBay DE is the second largest in Europe. ArbiKey supports US, UK, DE, CA and AU.
How do I handle VAT?
VAT varies by country and turnover. In the UK, registration is required above £90,000 annual turnover. Consult an accountant for your specific situation — ArbiKey focuses on profit tracking, not tax advice.
Track your eBay arbitrage profit accurately
ArbiKey applies the exact fee formula above — live ECB rates, correct category fee, FVF on shipping included.