Crosslist from eBay to Mercari
Mercari sells most of what eBay does, from clothing to electronics, with a simpler form: three category levels, brands from its own list, five condition words, no item specifics, and a price cap of $2,000.
- 24 photos on eBay, 12 on Mercari
- Prices up to $2,000
- No item specifics to fill
The two forms
What changes from eBay’s form to Mercari’s
| eBay | Mercari | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Up to 80 characters | Up to 80 characters |
| Description | A full description, with the details buyers filter by in item specifics | Up to 1,000 characters (“5+ words”) |
| Photos | Up to 24 | Up to 12 |
| Category | eBay’s most specific category for the item, which decides the item specifics it asks for | Three levels, such as Men › Tops › Button-front |
| Size | An item specific, in the categories that have sizes | From Mercari’s size groups for the category (Standard, Petite, Tall and more), written like “M (8-10)” |
| Condition | Set by the category. Clothing: New with tags, New without tags, New with imperfections, Pre-owned - Excellent, Pre-owned - Good and Pre-owned - Fair, plus condition notes | New, Like new, Good, Fair, Poor, each with Mercari’s own line explaining it |
| Brand | An item specific | Picked from Mercari’s list, or “No brand / Not sure” |
| Color | An item specific, in the categories that ask for it | No color box |
| Tags | No tags box: item specifics do that job | No tags box |
| Shipping | You choose in your shipping policy: the buyer pays, or you offer free shipping. eBay asks for the package weight and box size | Prepaid label or Ship on your own. With a prepaid label you answer “Offer buyers free shipping?” and the package weight sets the label |
| Also asks | Auction or Buy It Now, Best Offer, and condition notes for any flaws | A price from $1 to $2,000, and optional Smart pricing that lowers your price toward a minimum you set |
Condition
eBay’s condition words on Mercari
| On eBay | Pick on Mercari |
|---|---|
| New with tags / New | New |
| New without tags / Open box | Like new (“New without tags (NWOT). No signs of wear. Unused.”) |
| New with imperfections | Like new or Good, with the defect in the description |
| Pre-owned - Excellent / Used | Good (“Gently used. One / few minor flaws. Functional.”) |
| Pre-owned - Good | Good |
| Pre-owned - Fair | Fair (“Used, functional, multiple flaws / defects.”) |
| For parts or not working | Poor (“Major flaws, may be damaged, for parts.”) |
eBay’s conditions change with the category; these cover clothing and electronics. Mercari’s Like new is for unused items only, so a worn item in excellent shape is Mercari’s Good.
Fees
What each store takes
- eBay: In most categories, 13.6% of the total sale (item, shipping the buyer pays and sales tax) plus $0.40 per order ($0.30 on orders of $10 or less). eBay fee calculator
- Mercari: 10% of the item price plus any shipping the buyer pays. No payment processing fee for sellers. Mercari fee calculator
On a $40 sale with no shipping or sales tax charged to the buyer, eBay takes $5.84 (you keep $34.16) and Mercari takes $4.00 (you keep $36.00), before any shipping you pay. Fees checked .
By hand
How to move a listing from eBay to Mercari, step by step
Pick your best 12 photos
eBay allows 24; Mercari takes 12.
Copy the title, rework the description
Both titles take 80 characters. Mercari’s description holds 1,000 characters, and its form has no item specifics, so move the ones buyers need (model, size, material, measurements) into the description.
Pick the category and brand
Mercari’s three category levels, then the brand from its list, or “No brand / Not sure” if yours isn’t there.
Choose the condition
Use the table above.
Set up shipping
A prepaid label or Ship on your own, whether you offer free shipping, and the packed weight, which sets the label.
Price it
Mercari is fixed price, from $1 to $2,000: there are no auctions. Smart pricing can lower it over time toward a minimum you set.
When it sells, end the other listing
As soon as it sells on eBay or Mercari, end or delete the listing on the other store, so a second buyer can’t pay for an item you no longer have.
Watch out
What trips people up
- Anything you’d price over $2,000 can’t go on Mercari.
- eBay’s condition notes and Best Offer settings have no Mercari box: put flaws in the description.
- If your package is heavier than the label’s weight, Mercari charges you the difference. Weigh it packed.
With MagicListr
One listing fills both forms
Write the item once, and MagicListr fills in each store’s own form for you.
On eBay: eBay’s category and the item specifics it asks for, the condition in eBay’s words with any flaws in the condition notes, and the package weight and size.
On Mercari: Mercari’s category, its matching brand, its size and condition, and the shipping (who pays, answered once on your item).
When it sells on one, it comes down from the other. Sold on eBay? MagicListr deactivates the Mercari listing rather than deleting it, so you can bring it back if that sale falls through. Sold on Mercari? MagicListr ends the eBay listing.
Form details from each store’s own listing form, checked in October 2026, and from eBay: Adding pictures to your listings, eBay: Item condition by category, Mercari: Creating a listing (photos). Fees from each store’s fee page, checked . Stores change their forms, so check what yours shows. Store names are trademarks of their owners; MagicListr isn’t affiliated with them.