Best Platform for Selling Guitars & Basses in 2026
eBay's 6.35% flat rate for instruments is one of the lowest category rates on any marketplace -- big savings on expensive guitars.
The honest first routes for Guitars & Basses
For guitars and basses, start with eBay first and use Mercari as the clean second pass. Instrument shipping and buyer trust matter too much to chase a lazy low-fee answer.
Best first check: eBay
The category fee profile is materially better than the default marketplace assumption.
Open eBay routeClean second check: Mercari
Useful when you want to test simpler economics on the same instrument listing.
Open Mercari routeDo not ignore the box and insurance
Oversized or fragile fulfillment can erase a small fee edge quickly.
Fee comparison for Guitars & Basses
| Platform | Fees | You Keep | Effective Rate | vs Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depop | $26.36 | $758.64 | 3.4% | Lowest |
| eBay | $50.25 | $734.75 | 6.4% | +$23.89 more |
| Etsy | $75.03 | $709.97 | 9.6% | +$48.67 more |
| Mercari | $78.50 | $706.50 | 10.0% | +$52.14 more |
| Facebook Marketplace | $78.50 | $706.50 | 10.0% | +$52.14 more |
| Whatnot | $83.07 | $701.93 | 10.6% | +$56.71 more |
| Grailed | $98.54 | $686.46 | 12.6% | +$72.18 more |
| Amazon | $117.75 | $667.25 | 15.0% | +$91.39 more |
| StockX | $90.00 | $660.00 | 12.0% | +$63.64 more |
| Poshmark | $150.00 | $635.00 | 19.1% | +$123.64 more |
Check category rankings against fee data
This category hub ranks marketplace options for Guitars & Basses. Use the Fee Index for same-input marketplace rows, Fee Changes for recent policy updates, and Seller Reports for dated summaries before citing a category winner or fee trend.
After the source check, open the top platform calculators with your exact sale price, shipping, item cost, and category assumptions.
Test the winner before you list
Use this category ranking as the shortlist, then run the sale through payout, break-even, shipping, and item-specific guides before choosing the final marketplace.
Depop is the cheapest for Guitars & Basses at $750.00, charging $26.36 vs. Poshmark's $150.00 -- a $123.64 gap.