Reselling

How to Sell Magic Cards: TCGplayer vs eBay vs Facebook

· 10 min read · By the Friends & Family team

In our $40 example, TCGplayer and eBay fees land within about 10 cents of each other. The real differences are who your buyers are, how you ship and what protects you when a deal goes wrong.

How to sell Magic cards starts with matching the product to the marketplace. Singles with a clear market price usually fit TCGplayer or eBay. Sealed product, and presales that will ship within eBay's 40-business-day window, fit eBay. Lots and bulky boxes can fit Facebook Marketplace or Mercari.

The fees on the two big options are close, so the real choice is audience, shipping rules and risk. Below: what each marketplace charges (checked 2026-10-02), a worked example on a $40 single and a $120 sealed product, shipping basics and local-meetup safety.

Nothing here is a promise of profit. Results vary and nothing is guaranteed. Fees, shipping, tax, returns, unsold inventory and price drops all come out of your side. If you're brand new to reselling, start with how to start reselling.

What each marketplace charges (checked 2026-10-02)

Fees change, so check each page before you list.

TCGplayer. Marketplace sellers on Levels 1 to 4 pay a 10.75% commission. It applies to the items and the shipping you charge, and on the item amount it is capped at $75 per product. On top of that is a transaction fee of 2.5% + $0.30, charged on the order total including shipping and tax. TCGplayer raised the commission from 10.25% on February 10, 2026. TCGplayer Direct has separate fees and isn't covered here.

eBay. Collectible Card Games carries a 13.25% final value fee on the total sale (item, shipping and sales tax) up to $7,500 per item, then 2.35% on the rest. Add a per-order fee of $0.30 on orders of $10 or less, or $0.40 above that. You get up to 250 zero-insertion-fee listings a month (more with an eBay Store), then pay $0.35 per listing.

Mercari. 10% of the combined item price and buyer-paid shipping, on listings created or updated on or after January 6, 2025. Listing is free, and no separate payment processing fee applies to those listings. Mercari's new prepaid label prices start October 19, 2026, so re-check your shipping math.

Facebook Marketplace. On orders paid through Meta's checkout, the fee is 10% per transaction with an $0.80 minimum, calculated on the sale price, shipping and taxes. Meta's fee terms don't address local in-person sales, so check Meta's current terms before you assume a local deal is free.

Amazon. The Individual plan is $0.99 per item sold. The Professional plan is $39.99 a month. Both pay a referral fee that varies by category, and it's calculated on the total price including shipping. Amazon's pricing page lists 15% (with a $0.30 minimum) for Toys & Games. Some products need Amazon's approval before you can list them, so check Seller Central for your exact product before you buy inventory.

Worked example: a $40 single and a $120 sealed product

These are example inputs, not predictions. The single sells for $40 and the buyer pays $5 shipping. The sealed product sells for $120 and the buyer pays $10 shipping. Sales tax is left out. For Amazon, the example assumes the Individual plan and the 15% Toys & Games rate, which may not match your product.

Marketplace Fees on the $40 single (buyer pays $45) Left after fees Fees on the $120 sealed (buyer pays $130) Left after fees
TCGplayer about $6.26 about $38.74 about $17.53 about $112.47
eBay about $6.36 about $38.64 about $17.63 about $112.37
Mercari $4.50 $40.50 $13.00 $117.00
Facebook (Meta checkout) $4.50 $40.50 $13.00 $117.00
Amazon (Individual, 15% assumed) $7.74 $37.26 $20.49 $109.51

Here's how the two big ones work on the $40 single:

  • TCGplayer: 10.75% of $45 is $4.8375, plus 2.5% of $45 ($1.125) and $0.30. Total: $6.2625, so about $6.26.
  • eBay: 13.25% of $45 is $5.9625, plus the $0.40 order fee. Total: $6.3625, so about $6.36.

Those land close because 10.75% plus 2.5% equals eBay's 13.25%. The gaps come from the fixed fee ($0.30 vs. $0.40) and from tax. Add an example 8% sales tax to the $45 order and eBay's fee rises to about $6.84, because it charges on tax. TCGplayer's rises to about $6.35, because only its 2.5% part touches tax.

Cheap sales are different. On a $3 common where the buyer pays $3 in total, eBay's fee is about $0.40 plus the $0.30 order fee, roughly $0.70, or about 23% of the sale. TCGplayer's fixed $0.30 hurts the same way, which is why cheap singles do better in lots.

The table also leaves out the biggest costs. Say you paid $28 for the single (an example input) and the mailer and label cost $3.50. On eBay, that leaves $45 - $6.36 - $28 - $3.50 = $7.14. Now say you paid $105 for the sealed product and the label cost $9. On eBay: $130 - $17.63 - $105 - $9 = -$1.63. Same marketplace, same fee math, and one loses money. Check the whole equation before you buy.

TCGplayer vs eBay: how to choose

  • Audience. TCGplayer is a trading-card marketplace where buyers shop for specific cards, and sellers should expect heavy price competition on common singles. eBay is broader and draws collectors, sealed buyers and presale buyers.
  • Presales. eBay allows them if the title and description say "presale," the date it will be available to ship is stated, and the item ships within 40 business days of purchase. If your order is delayed or canceled, you're the one answering to the buyer.
  • Authentication. eBay's Authenticity Guarantee covers single cards in Collectible Card Games listed at $200 or more (before tax and shipping), raw or graded by one of the grading companies eBay lists, at no cost to sellers or buyers. Sealed boxes, packs, decks and lots are not eligible.
  • New accounts. Every new TCGplayer seller starts at Level 1, which caps you at 100 items, $1,000 of listings at once and $500 per item. You move up by shipping orders with good feedback, so plan around those limits before you buy inventory.

What sells where

This is our read, not a rule.

What you have Usually fits Why
Cheap singles (under about $5) Lots on eBay or Mercari, or a local store Fixed fees take a big share of a small sale
Mid-priced singles TCGplayer, eBay Buyers search for exact printings, so you can price from sold listings
High-value singles eBay Authenticity Guarantee at $200 or more, and a bigger collector audience
Collector Boosters, boxes, Commander decks eBay, TCGplayer, Mercari Sold listings make pricing easier, and shipping is predictable
Secret Lair and presale product eBay Its presale rules allow it, but only if the item ships within 40 business days of purchase
Big lots, bulk, bulky boxes Facebook Marketplace (local), Mercari Local pickup skips the shipping box
Sealed product with existing listings Amazon, if you're approved to list it Highest fees in our example, and approval can be a hurdle

Selling Secret Lair and sealed product

Secret Lair says US purchases are final at the time of sale. A pre-order can be canceled only before it's charged. You can't return your way out of a bad buy, so run the numbers before you order.

Past drops show how different they can be. Odds and Ends was a Commander deck where Wizards promised to fill every order placed in its 24-hour window, with most orders shipping in July 2027. The Zeta Set re-release shows how fast a reprint announcement can move presale prices.

Price from sold listings, not asking prices. Don't sell a presale you aren't sure you'll receive, and check the estimated ship date against eBay's 40-business-day limit first. Some Secret Lair orders ship months after launch. Our releases page lists upcoming Magic dates and retail prices, so you can run the fee math before a drop.

Shipping Magic cards: sleeves, toploaders and tracking

  • Singles worth protecting: a penny sleeve, then a toploader, then a bubble mailer. Add a stiff cardboard layer so the mailer doesn't bend.
  • Cheap singles on eBay: eBay Standard Envelope costs $0.82 to $1.40 depending on weight (up to 3 oz). It's limited to items selling for $20 or less, up to 24 raw cards, no more than 2 in toploaders, no graded cards, and under 0.25 inches thick. It includes tracking and $20 of shipping protection.
  • Cheap singles on Mercari: First-Class Envelope for trading cards is paper envelopes only (no bubble mailers), up to 3 oz, with up to $20 of shipping protection and limited tracking. Mercari's shipping announcement also lists 1 oz envelopes for single trading cards as free to ship, and 1 to 3 oz at 49 cents, both through January 4, 2027, so check current terms.
  • Higher-value orders: use a tracked service. Our $40 single is over eBay's $20 limit and Mercari's $20 protection cap. TCGplayer says orders over $49.99 must ship with tracking and orders over $250 need signature confirmation, and without tracking you waive the right to win a "package never arrived" dispute.
  • Facebook checkout orders: you have 7 calendar days to ship and mark the order as shipped. With your own label, you must also enter a tracking number. With a prepaid label, you don't need to mark it shipped. Orders not marked as shipped are canceled automatically.

Photograph the card or box before you seal it, and describe condition conservatively. Disputes get easier when you have proof.

Local meetups and scams

Meta says Purchase Protection applies to eligible orders purchased with shipping or checkout on Facebook Marketplace. It does not cover local pickups. When you sell in person, you carry the risk.

The FTC warns sellers about two common scams:

  • Fake payment notifications. A "buyer" insists on a payment app and shows you a fake confirmation. The FTC says not to accept a mobile payment from someone you don't know.
  • Overpayment checks. Someone sends a check for more than the price and asks you to send back the difference. Never deposit a check for more than the selling price. Fake checks can take weeks to be flagged.

The FTC also notes that many sites recommend selling to a local buyer you can meet in person and only accepting cash. Our own tips: meet in a public place, count the cash before the card leaves your hand, keep the chat on the platform, and don't ship a "paid" order until the money is really in your account.

Taxes and records

The IRS says marketplaces and payment apps must report payments on Form 1099-K once you receive more than $20,000 across more than 200 transactions. You must report all income from selling either way. Keep receipts, and ask a tax pro about your situation.

Is selling Magic cards worth it?

It can be, but only when the numbers work after fees, shipping and your purchase cost. Our example showed one sale leaving a few dollars and another losing money on the same marketplace.

Worth it: mid-priced singles you can price from sold listings, bundled cheap singles, and sealed product you bought at or below retail and can ship safely.

Not worth it: selling $2 cards one at a time, buying sealed product above retail on hype, and selling a presale you haven't received. Prices can also fall after you buy, especially after a reprint announcement.

FAQ

Is TCGplayer or eBay better for selling Magic cards?

Neither wins every time. Fees are close in our example, so pick on audience and product: TCGplayer for singles you can price from market data, eBay for sealed product, presales and higher-value singles.

Get Vinch's Magic calls in our Discord

Knowing where to sell is half of it. Knowing what's worth buying is the other half, and that's what Vinch does in our Magic: The Gathering Discord group, with buy, hold or pass calls on Secret Lair drops, new sets and Commander decks. He's one of 20+ staff, and you can ask questions 1-on-1. It's part of our wider reselling group, and if you're still comparing options, our guide to the best resell groups has a checklist you can run during any free trial.

Magic: The Gathering and Secret Lair are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast. Friends & Family is an independent reselling community and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast.

Sources

All pages below were checked 2026-10-02.

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