🎸 Reverb Fee Calculator
Calculate Reverb selling fees, payment processing, net profit, and break-even price for selling music gear and instruments.
How Reverb Fees Work in 2025
Reverb charges a 5% selling fee on the total transaction (item + shipping) with a maximum of $500 per listing. Additionally there is a payment processing fee of 3.19% + $0.49 per transaction. Combined total is approximately 8.19% + $0.49 — significantly lower than eBay's ~16% for the same music gear. There are no listing fees and no monthly subscription fees.
| Fee | Rate | On $300 sale |
|---|---|---|
| Selling Fee | 5% (max $500) | $15.00 |
| Payment Processing | 3.19%+$0.49 | $10.06 |
| Total Fees | ~8.4% | $25.06 |
| Listing Fee | $0.00 | Free |
Reverb vs eBay for Music Gear — Fee Comparison
Reverb's 5% selling fee plus 3.19%+$0.49 payment processing totals approximately 8.4% — significantly lower than eBay's 13.25% FVF plus 3% processing (approximately 16.25% combined). On a $500 guitar sale: Reverb fees total approximately $43, eBay fees total approximately $81. That $38 difference per transaction adds up quickly for frequent sellers. Reverb also has a music-focused buyer community that often pays more than eBay buyers for specialty instruments.
Shipping Music Gear — What Sellers Need to Know
Shipping instruments requires proper packaging: hard cases for guitars, double-boxing for fragile items, and adequate padding. A guitar shipped in a hard case requires approximately 20×10×50 inches of box space, costing $35–$75 via UPS or FedEx depending on distance. Always use Reverb's shipping labels for discounted rates and seller protection. Insure all shipments above $200 — instrument damage claims are common and uninsured losses come out of your pocket.
People Also Ask
Reverb charges 5% of total sale price including shipping (maximum $500 cap) plus 3.19%+$0.49 payment processing. Combined total is approximately 8.19%+$0.49 per transaction — one of the lowest fee rates for any marketplace selling music equipment.
Yes for most music gear. Reverb's ~8.4% combined fees are far lower than eBay's ~16.25%. Reverb's music-focused buyer community often pays premium prices for specialty items. Search ranking on Reverb is based on listing quality and price competitiveness rather than eBay's complex best-match algorithm. Most dedicated music gear sellers use Reverb as their primary platform.
Reverb Bump promotes your listings to the top of search results for a fee. The cost is typically 1–2% of the listing price. It's worth using on items that have been sitting unsold for 30+ days, or for high-value items where extra visibility justifies the cost. Calculate the Bump cost against expected faster sale timeline to determine ROI.
Reverb Selling Strategies
Photography and Description Standards for Reverb
Music gear buyers are technical and detail-oriented. Include photos of: every angle of the instrument, all hardware, any wear or scratches (clearly labeled), the headstock, serial number, electronics and controls, case if included, and any upgrades or modifications. Describe the year, country of manufacture, any modifications, and condition using Reverb's standard condition grades (Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor). Undersell condition rather than oversell — disputes from condition misrepresentation are the most common Reverb seller issue.
Pricing Strategy on Reverb — Using Price Guide Data
Reverb's Price Guide shows actual completed sale prices for specific makes and models — far more accurate than eBay's mixed-quality sold listings. Research your exact model, year, and color to find the true market value. Price within 5–10% of recent sales to sell quickly. Many sellers list 10–15% above recent sales to allow negotiation room — Reverb's offer feature lets buyers negotiate without requiring the seller to manually re-list at lower prices.
People Also Ask
Reverb has a dedicated seller protection policy for transactions using Reverb Payments. If a buyer claims an item is not as described, Reverb mediates the dispute. Using Reverb's shipping labels provides additional protection for lost or damaged packages. Detailed photos and accurate condition descriptions are your primary defense against not-as-described claims.
Yes — Reverb is the premier marketplace for vintage instruments. Rare and vintage items often command significant premiums from Reverb's knowledgeable collector community. For items valued over $1,000, consider Reverb's seller verification process which builds buyer confidence for high-value transactions.