Running a sale in your eBay store sounds simple… until you hit the big question: How much should you discount your items? Too little and buyers scroll past. Too much and your profits evaporate. Let’s break down the numbers that actually work.
🎯 The Sweet Spot for eBay Sale Discounts
Most successful eBay sellers land in the 10–20% off range. It’s eye‑catching in search results without slicing too deeply into your margins.
Many sellers rely more on smart pricing than dramatic markdowns, but when they do run sales, moderate percentages tend to perform best. eBay’s Discounts Manager lets you choose any percentage you want — but they won’t tell you which one to pick. That part is up to strategy.
📦 What Most Sellers Actually Do
Your ideal discount depends on your goal:
- Clearing out old inventory:
Go bold with 20–30% off. This moves stale items quickly and frees up space. - Boosting holiday traffic:
Stick with 10–20% — enticing without tanking your margins. - Promoting new listings:
A gentle 5–10% gives buyers a nudge without devaluing fresh stock. - Standing out in a crowded category:
Try 15–25% to rise above the competition.
🧠 A Simple Rule for Choosing Your Percentage
If you want a no‑brainer formula, use this:
The longer an item has been listed, the bigger the discount.
- 0–30 days: 5–10%
- 30–90 days: 10–20%
- 90+ days: 20–30%
This keeps your store feeling fresh and your sell‑through rate healthy — two things buyers (and the algorithm) love.
✨ Wrap‑Up: Discount With Purpose
A great sale isn’t about slashing prices — it’s about using the right percentage at the right time. When you match your discount to your goal, you’ll attract more buyers, move more inventory, and keep your profits where they belong.
Now go launch that sale and watch your store light up.