Facebook Marketplace charges no listing fees, but takes a cut when you sell certain items
Facebook Marketplace itself does not charge you to list items or browse. You will not pay to post a photo and description. However, Facebook does take a percentage when you sell something through their checkout system — the fee depends on what you are selling.
If you sell using Facebook's built-in payment system, Facebook takes 5 percent of the sale price plus a payment processing fee (usually around 2 percent, depending on your payment method). If you arrange payment outside Marketplace — cash, Venmo, PayPal — Facebook takes nothing. The catch is that Facebook's checkout system is optional for most items but required for certain categories like vehicles and equipment rentals.
Understanding which sales trigger fees and which do not will help you decide whether to use Facebook's payment system or handle payment separately.
Key Takeaways
- Listing items on Facebook Marketplace costs nothing, but selling through Facebook's checkout system costs 5 percent of the sale price plus payment processing fees.
- Local sales paid in cash or through external apps like Venmo or PayPal incur no Facebook fees.
- Certain item categories — vehicles, equipment rentals, and some services — require you to use Facebook's checkout system and therefore charge fees.
- The 5 percent fee applies to the item price only, not to shipping costs if you add them separately.
- Facebook's payment processing fee varies slightly by payment method but typically runs 2 to 3 percent on top of the 5 percent marketplace fee.
When Facebook takes 5 percent from your sale
Facebook charges 5 percent of the item sale price when you use their checkout system. This means if you sell something for $100 using Facebook's built-in payment option, Facebook takes $5. On top of that, the payment processor (usually Stripe or a similar service) takes an additional fee — typically 2.2 percent plus $0.30 per transaction, though this varies slightly by region and payment method.
The 5 percent fee does not explore to shipping costs you add separately. If you sell an item for $100 and charge $10 for shipping, Facebook takes 5 percent of the $100 only, not the $110 total. This is one reason some sellers add shipping costs as a separate line item rather than building them into the price.
You see the exact fees before you confirm the sale. Facebook shows you the item price, your payout amount, and the fees deducted — so there are no surprises at the end.
Sales that do not trigger Facebook fees
If you arrange payment outside Facebook Marketplace, you pay no fees to Facebook. This includes cash transactions, Venmo transfers, PayPal payments, or any other method you handle directly with the buyer. Facebook has no way to track or charge you for these sales because the payment never goes through their system.
Many local sales work this way. You list the item, the buyer messages you, you meet in person, they hand you cash, and the transaction is complete. Facebook never sees the money, so they take nothing. This is why some sellers prefer local cash sales — they keep 100 percent of the price.
The tradeoff is that you lose Facebook's buyer protection and payment dispute resolution. If something goes wrong, you have no recourse through Facebook. With Facebook's checkout system, both buyer and seller have some protection if a dispute arises.
Item categories that require Facebook checkout
Certain categories force you to use Facebook's checkout system, which means you cannot avoid the fees. These include vehicles, equipment rentals, and some service categories. If you try to list a car or rent out a power drill through Marketplace, Facebook requires the buyer to pay through their system.
For vehicles specifically, Facebook also charges a separate listing fee — typically $5 to $10 depending on your region — on top of the 5 percent sale fee if the vehicle sells. This is separate from the marketplace fee and is meant to cover the cost of vehicle verification and fraud prevention.
Before you list in these categories, check the fee structure for your region. Facebook's fee policies vary slightly by country and sometimes by state, so the exact amount may differ from what you see in another area.
How to see fees before you complete a sale
When a buyer checks out through Facebook Marketplace, the checkout page shows a breakdown of all fees. You will see the item price, any shipping cost, the 5 percent marketplace fee, and the payment processing fee listed separately. The buyer sees this too, so there are no hidden charges that appear after the sale.
As the seller, you can see your payout amount before you accept the payment. If you are using Facebook's checkout system, the money goes into your Facebook account first, and then you transfer it to your bank account. Facebook shows you exactly how much you will receive after all fees are deducted.
If you want to avoid fees entirely, you can message the buyer and ask them to pay outside the system — but this only works if Facebook Marketplace did not require checkout for that item category. For vehicles and rentals, you have no choice.
Shipping fees and how they interact with marketplace fees
If you offer shipping, you set the shipping cost separately from the item price. Facebook's 5 percent fee applies only to the item price, not the shipping. So if you sell a book for $20 and charge $5 shipping, Facebook takes 5 percent of $20 ($1), not 5 percent of $25.
This matters because it means you can price your item and shipping independently. Some sellers build shipping into the item price to avoid the appearance of high shipping costs, but this actually costs them more in Facebook fees. Others list a lower item price and higher shipping to reduce the fee base — though this can make the listing look expensive to buyers browsing.
The payment processing fee, however, applies to the total amount the buyer pays, including shipping. So if the buyer pays $25 total, the payment processor takes their percentage of $25, not just $20.
Disputing a fee or getting a refund
If you believe Facebook charged you incorrectly, you can contact Facebook through the Marketplace Help Center. Go to your Marketplace account, find the transaction in question, and select "Report a Problem." Describe the issue — for example, if you were charged twice or the fee amount was wrong — and Facebook will review it.
Facebook rarely refunds the marketplace fee itself, but they will correct obvious errors like duplicate charges. If a buyer disputes the purchase and gets a refund, Facebook also refunds their portion of the fees to the buyer, not to you. You lose both the item price and the fees you paid.
If you used Facebook checkout and the buyer paid through a credit card, the payment processor's fee is harder to dispute because it is not Facebook's fee — it belongs to the payment processor. You would need to contact your payment method provider directly if you believe that charge was wrong.
Comparing Facebook Marketplace fees to other platforms
Facebook Marketplace's 5 percent fee is lower than eBay (which charges 12.9 percent for most items) but higher than Craigslist (which charges nothing for most categories). However, the comparison depends on what you are selling and how you are selling it.
If you sell locally for cash, Facebook Marketplace costs nothing — the same as Craigslist. If you use Facebook's checkout system, you pay 5 percent plus payment processing fees. On eBay, you pay more in fees but get more buyer protection and reach a larger audience of people actively shopping. On Craigslist, you pay nothing but handle all payment and safety logistics yourself.
For high-value items, the fee difference matters. A $1,000 item costs you $50 in Facebook fees but $129 on eBay. For low-value items, the payment processing fee becomes a larger percentage of your profit, so local cash sales make more sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use Facebook's checkout system?
For most items, no — you can arrange payment however you want. For vehicles, equipment rentals, and some services, Facebook requires checkout. Check the listing page for your item category to see if checkout is mandatory.
Can I ask the buyer to pay me outside Facebook to avoid fees?
Yes, if Facebook Marketplace did not require checkout for that item. Message the buyer and propose an alternative payment method. However, both of you lose Facebook's buyer and seller protection if you do this.
What happens to the fees if the buyer returns the item?
If the buyer opens a dispute and wins, Facebook refunds the buyer's full payment including their portion of fees. You lose the item price and the fees you paid. This is why many sellers prefer cash sales — there is no dispute mechanism.
Does Facebook charge a fee to list items?
No, listing is free. You only pay fees when you sell through Facebook's checkout system. Vehicles are an exception — they may have a separate listing fee in some regions.
Why is my payout less than the sale price?
Facebook deducts the 5 percent marketplace fee and the payment processing fee before depositing money into your account. The payout shown at checkout is the amount you will actually receive after all fees.