If this is your first time selling an item, you will be required to specify shipping. There are two ways to specify a shipping costs in your listing:

Flat shipping costs

When you select "Flat: same cost to all buyers" in the Sell Your Item form, you decide the shipping costs and which services to use. This option enables you to enter flat costs for U.S. and international shipping. If you are selling more than one item, you can enter a shipping cost for each additional item a buyer purchases. The cost you enter will appear on your item listing. Your buyers will be charged the shipping cost you specify when they pay for the item. Click the "Research rates" link on the Sell Your Item form or use the eBay shipping calculator to see sample costs for both domestic and international destinations.

Calculated shipping costs

eBay can automatically calculate U.S. Postal Service and UPS shipping costs for your buyers. The shipping costs are based on the size and weight of the packaged item and the seller's and buyer’s location. Buyers feel much more comfortable purchasing items if they know the shipping charges before bidding or buying. When you use calculated shipping, you won't need to guess the amount it will cost to ship the item within the U.S. or internationally to over other countries. Learn more about calculated shipping costs.

Listing an item

While listing your item, select the "Calculated: Cost varies by buyer location" option in the Shipping section of the Sell Your Item form. In order to calculate the shipping costs, you'll need to specify:

• Package type

• Weight of the package

• Shipping services

• Dimensions of the package

• Item location

• Handling time and costs

During the listing

A table of shipping rates will display to the buyers the calculated shipping charges. Buyers enter the appropriate ZIP Code or country to calculate shipping charges. Your packaging and handling fee will be included in the shipping charge, but not displayed to buyers. Because insurance is based on the final price, the insurance will be shown once the listing is closed.

Payment

The buyer will need to check out with eBay’s payment process to see the calculated shipping costs. Insurance is calculated based on the final item price. Once the buyer has paid, you can make sure the shipping amount paid is correct by using the shipping calculator links on the item listing or the Payment Status page.

Important: If you send an eBay invoice to a buyer or enter charges in a Selling Manager Sales Record, the shipping and insurance prices you enter will take priority over the calculated shipping costs, and the buyer will be charged the amounts you enter.

Note: Buyers using PayPal need to pay by clicking the Pay Now button on eBay or from a PayPal Winning Bidder Notification email. If they pay from the PayPal Web site, shipping charges cannot be calculated.