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eBay sell-through rate calculator
Enter how many listings sold and how many are active. You get the sell-through rate, a read on demand, and an estimate of how long the current supply would take to sell.
What sell-through rate tells you
Sell-through rate measures demand against supply. A sold count on its own can mislead you: 50 sales looks healthy until you notice 5,000 identical listings waiting for a buyer. Sell-through rate puts both numbers in one figure, so you can compare a $15 paperback with a $600 camera on equal terms.
How to find the two numbers on eBay
- Search eBay for the item. Be specific: include the brand, model, and size or edition.
- Write down the number of results. That is your active listing count.
- Turn on the Sold Items filter. On desktop it sits in the left sidebar under Show only. In the app it is under Filter.
- Write down the new number of results. That is your sold count for roughly the last 90 days.
- Enter both numbers above.
Match the condition before you count. If you are selling a used item, filter both searches to Used, or the new and for-parts listings will blur the result.
What counts as a good sell-through rate
There is no official cutoff, and categories behave differently. These ranges are the rules of thumb most resellers work with.
| Rate | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 100% or more | More sold than are listed. Demand is ahead of supply. | Buy with confidence and price at or above the median. |
| 50% to 99% | Strong demand. Most well-priced listings find a buyer. | Price near the median sold price. |
| 20% to 49% | It sells, but there is real competition. | Buy only at a good margin and expect a wait. |
| Under 20% | A crowded or slow market. | Pass, or pay very little for it. |
Two ways to count, and why the answers differ
Resellers usually divide sold listings by active listings, which is the method this calculator leads with. It can go above 100% when an item sells faster than new listings appear.
The other method divides sold listings by all listings, sold and unsold together, so it never passes 100%. Some research tools report sell-through this way. Neither is wrong. Pick one and use it for every item so your comparisons stay fair. The calculator shows both.
Where the manual method falls short
- eBay's Sold Items filter only reaches back about 90 days, so seasonal items can look weaker or stronger than they are.
- Loose keywords pull in accessories, bundles, and unrelated items, which distorts both counts.
- The rate says nothing about price. An item can sell through at 90% and still lose money after fees and shipping.
Bayed works out sell-through rate on every search and shows it beside the sold price range and demand trend, so you can read all three together.
Common questions
What is sell-through rate on eBay?
It is the share of listings for an item that end in a sale over a set period, usually 90 days. It shows how quickly an item moves compared with how many are available.
Can sell-through rate be higher than 100%?
Yes, when you divide sold listings by active listings. A rate above 100% means more items sold in the period than are listed today, which points to demand running ahead of supply.
How often should I check it?
Check before you buy inventory and again before you list. Demand shifts with seasons, new product releases, and trends, so a number from three months ago may no longer hold.
Price your next listing with proof
Create your Bayed account, search the item in front of you, and see what buyers have actually paid for it.