Sold vs. active listings
Use the same search wording on eBay for both counts. Enter the number sold during your chosen lookback period, the number active now, and the number of days represented by the sold count.
At the current pace, active supply is about 180 days. Compare this result with your margin and item cost before deciding what to buy.
How the two sell-through formulas differ
Reseller convention: sold listings ÷ active listings × 100. This can go above 100% when more items sold during the period than remain active now.
Share of listings sold: sold ÷ (sold + active) × 100. This stays between 0% and 100% and answers a slightly different question: what share of the observed listing pool sold?
Days of supply: active listings ÷ average sold per day. This estimates how long the current active supply would take to clear if the recent sales pace stayed the same. It is only a planning estimate; listing quality, price, condition, seasonality and competition can change the real outcome.
Use sell-through before sourcing—not after the cash is tied up.
A profitable-looking comp is not enough if dozens or hundreds of similar items are sitting unsold. Check demand first, then use the eBay profit calculator to decide whether the likely sale still leaves enough profit after item cost, fees, shipping and packaging.
Run inventory, sales and actual profit together.
The $79 Unhinged Reseller Desk keeps inventory, sales, returns, expenses, pricing, listing copy and actual-profit tracking together in one local-first tool.