Max Buy Price Calculator
At the stall the question is not "is it cheap?" but "what is the most I can pay and still make my profit?". Enter what it sells for, where you'll sell it and the profit or ROI you want.
📸 At the stall? Skip the typing
Point your phone at the item: FlipTip identifies it, finds what it actually sold for, and shows this math — your profit after the fee of the marketplace you sell on, the most to pay and a clear buy or skip. 3 free scans a day, every paid plan free for 15 days.
Scan an item freeHow to work out the most to pay
Start from the sold price
Use what it actually sold for recently — sold listings, not asking prices.
Take off the selling costs
The marketplace fee, the shipping label and other costs come off what the buyer pays.
Keep your profit
In dollars (at least $20 on this one) or as ROI (at least double my money). The rest is the most you can pay.
Most to pay — eBay, at common sale prices
| It sells for | For $20 profit | For 100% ROI |
|---|---|---|
| $30.00 | — | $7.76 |
| $50.00 | $12.80 | $16.40 |
| $75.00 | $34.40 | $27.20 |
| $100.00 | $56.00 | $38.00 |
| $150.00 | $99.20 | $59.60 |
| $250.00 | $185.60 | $102.80 |
eBay, most categories, free shipping with a $9 label and $1 of other costs per item.
Fees used: eBay 13.6% of the total + $0.40 per order (most categories) · Mercari 10% · Poshmark 20%, $2.95 under $15 · Facebook Marketplace shipped 10%, min $0.80 · local cash sale free — checked October 2026. Details: eBay · Mercari · Poshmark · Facebook.
FAQ
How much should I pay for something to resell?
Work back from the sold price: take off the fees, shipping and other costs, then your profit. FlipTip's own rule of thumb for an offer is about the lower sold price divided by 1.6 — room for fees, shipping and a solid margin.
Should I aim for a profit in dollars or ROI?
Both matter. ROI protects you on cheap items (paying $10 to make $10 is 100%); a dollar minimum protects your time on expensive ones (a 30% ROI on a $200 item is still $60).
What if I don't know what it sells for?
Look up sold listings, or scan it with FlipTip — it finds the real sold prices and gives you the most to pay right away.