
eBay Promoted Listings and Shipping: How Free Shipping Affects Ad Performance
Does free shipping boost your eBay promoted listings? Learn the connection between shipping strategy and ad ROI.

The Promoted Listings + Shipping Connection
eBay's promoted listings algorithm considers multiple factors. Shipping strategy is one of them.
How Free Shipping Affects Visibility
eBay Search Algorithm Factors:
- Price + shipping total
- Free shipping filter preference
- Best Match ranking signals
- Conversion rate history
- Many buyers filter for "Free Shipping"
- Free shipping listings appear in more searches
- Higher visibility = better promoted listing ROI
Promoted Listings + Free Shipping Data
Conversion Rate Comparison:
| Listing Type | Avg Conversion | With Promoted |
|---|---|---|
| Paid shipping | 3.2% | 4.1% |
| Free shipping | 4.8% | 6.2% |
| Lift from free shipping | +50% | +51% |
Calculating Your Optimal Strategy
Scenario: $30 item
Option A: $30 + $5.99 shipping
- Promoted fee (5%): $1.80
- Total visible: $35.99
- Conversion: 3.5%
- Promoted fee (5%): $1.80
- Total visible: $35.99
- Conversion: 4.8%
- 37% more sales, same cost
Best Practices
The Atoship Advantage
Lower shipping costs = easier to offer free shipping:
- USPS rates 15-20% below eBay labels
- More margin to absorb into price
- Better promoted listing ROI
Higher margin → Free shipping viable → Better conversions → Lower effective ad cost
Optimize both shipping costs and ad spend for maximum eBay profitability.
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