Whther you’re brand new to eBay selling or looking to optimize your existing listings, it can be tough to craft a winning eBay item description. eBay also isn’t too helpful with your description during the listing process, as they simply take your item title and throw it in the description by default.

But I gotchu! Here are some pro tips for writing awesome eBay item descriptions that help you be transparent with your buyer while covering your bases (and appealing to the eBay search algorithm). You’ll also find some templates at the end that put this theory into practice.

Start Your Description with Basic Item Details

Let’s be real, it’s unlikely that a buyer is going to read your entire description (if any of it). Typically, they’re scanning the description looking for a couple key details about the item. Think about what you would want to know if you were thinking about purchasing the item and make sure that those points are front and center in your item description.

If you’re selling electronics or video games, you’d want to call out any models, model numbers, storage sizes, colors, and the like. You can list out stuff like compatibility and other more technical details, but keep in mind that doing so could encourage buyers to reach out to you with advanced questions. You may be open to that (or it could make perfect sense within your market), but you don’t need to share details beyond what’s physically on or in the item.

If you’re selling clothing, you’d want to call out any brands, sizes, measurements, colors, clothing types, and the like.

If you’re selling books, you’d want to call out the title, author, publisher, publish year, edition, binding, and the like.

At the same time, the very beginning of the item description is where you want to call out any functionality defects, missing pieces, damage, or other flaws that you definitely don’t want the buyer to miss. You don’t need to detail them in the first section, but it never hurts to explicitly call out than an item is “incomplete” or “being sold as-is for parts or repair” right from the get-go to save yourself from misunderstanding down the line.

Highlight any Flaws or Perks

Now that you’ve set the stage with what exactly is included, you can get into the item specifics. This typically looks like covering the functionality and condition of the item in as much detail as you can. While detailed pictures will go a long way, it’s always best to call out any high (or low) points within your item description.

If you’re selling electronics or video games, you’d want to call out the functionality of the item and if it has been tested along with any noteworthy cosmetic observations including cosmetic damage, missing pieces, discoloration, and the like.

If you’re selling clothing, you’d want to call out any noteworthy cosmetic observations including rips, tears, holes, stains, discoloration, odors, and the like.

If you’re selling books, you’d wants to call out any noteworthy cosmetic observations including ripped/folded/missing pages, stains, strength of the spine, and the like.

If the item is coming from a smoking home or was previously owned by a smoker, please make a note. While not required, it’s a common courtesy, especially for items like clothing and collectibles that could lose value or appeal if they have a smoky odor. Depending on what you’re selling, it could also make sense to call out if you have pets at your home or around the item you’re selling.

On the flipside, you should also call out anything that’s especially cool about your listing, like if it’s a limited edition item, autographed, some components are still sealed, it’s out-of-print, or any other detail that you think would be helpful for a buyer to know.

Pro tip: a smart move overall is to underpromise and overdeliver. You definitely don’t want to sell yourself short and undervalue an item, but it’s better to describe something as “used that shows signs of wear and use” instead of “mint, brand new condition.” Condition is so subjective, especially when it comes to collectors, so I always err on the used side (for example, I always describe my games as in “Good” condition).

Anticipate Buyer Questions

It’s impossible to proactively answer every question you could get from a potential buyer (the picture below is a real message I received), but you want to try and cover your bases the best you can.

The goal here is empowering the buyer to self-service as much as possible. You put the time into the listing upfront so that the buyer has all of the info they need to make an informed purchase, creating a quick and seamless transaction for both of you. Again, put yourself in the shoes of the buyer and ask yourself what questions you might have beyond the core item and condition details.

Always state that only the items shown in the pictures are included (unless that isn’t the case for some reason) and consider additional opportunities to answer questions like the scenarios below:

• You’re selling a Lego set that’s described as complete (it has all pieces and the instructions), but it doesn’t have the box. Call that out explicitly
• You’re selling a shirt that’s a Men’s medium but fits like a Men’s small. Call that out explicitly
• You’re selling a video game that supports online play only, so it can’t be used offline. Call that out explicitly

You’re free to add any additional details as you see fit (like compatibility or installation info), just be aware that you might be leaned on for extra post-sale support down the line (at least that’s been my experience).

The cool thing here is that you’re also able to weed out buyers. If you explicitly state something in your item description and receive a message asking a question that you already took the time to answer, you know that the user has not read your item description. Think about if that’s someone you’d like to sell an item to — someone who doesn’t actually fully know what they’re buying. (more advice on when to answer eBay messages right here).

Reiterate Your eBay Selling and Shipping Policies

This is one of the most important parts of a solid eBay item description. While the buyer can head into the item specifics to view your policies and conditions, it never hurts to lay them out at the end of your description. Here are the core areas you should cover:

Shipping

• What is your handling time/how long does it take for you to ship the item after receiving payment?
• Is shipping free for the buyer?
• What goes into your shipping cost (it’s okay to keep this high-level, I just like to include it if I ever have someone whine about the cost of calculated shipping)
• Do you carefully package your items (I would love to see someone say they don’t here. This is more just reassurance for a cautious buyer)
• Do you offer international shipping options?
• Are there any areas or address types you don’t ship to?
• Do you only ship on certain days of the week?

Payment

• How soon after purchasing your item or winning an auction is the buyer expected to pay?
• If payment isn’t received, what happens (i.e,. do you open an unpaid item case or straight up cancel the purchase)?
• What payment methods do you accept (you can accept pretty much any payment method through eBay Managed Payments, but it can be reassuring to call it out for the buyer)

Returns

• What is your return policy?
• How long is your return window?
• Who pays return shipping?

Side note: no seller is truly safe from eBay returns. Even if you opt not to accept returns, all eBay buyers are covered by the eBay Money Back Guarantee. And honestly, explicitly stating that you don’t accept returns is kinda sus anyway.

So all of those sections look like a ton, but they’re pretty easy to condense into a few quick paragraphs. If you use a listing template (or you just have the full copy saved on your computer or phone), it’s super easy to automatically carry over that info into your new listings.

Add Your Own Color within Reason

While the tone on eBay is generally neutral and professional, you can inject your personality into your eBay listings. Some sellers are able to stand out and catch attention by the way they describe their items, but I would proceed with caution here.

If it seems like you’re not taking the listing seriously, potential buyers probably won’t take you as seriously. No one wants to spend a ton of money on something if they feel like you won’t care enough to get it to them safely.

People also don’t want to be sold to. Your eBay item description shouldn’t be a giant hardball sales pitch. It’s totally cool to drive home the awesome qualities about your item (or share that it’s the only one on eBay or something like that, if it’s true), but don’t go overboard. It’s in your best interests to not oversell anything on eBay.

If it’s in your nature to go into extreme detail, that will be appreciated on eBay — but it can also be exploited. I’ve touched on this a couple times already, but you’re bound to get some post-sale questions as your buyer is trying to figure out how to use the item they just bought from you. Even if you have a big heart and the best intentions, you may not be able to provide post-sales support to every buyer (and you’re not obligated to do so). Just be aware that a super in-depth, technical item description could give a buyer the impression that you’re the person to go to if they have any questions about using their item.

eBay Description Template: Item with Free Shipping

Let’s put it all into practice! Here’s a quick eBay description template that I use when listing video games or other items with free shipping:

Item Description This is for Soul Calibur IV for Playstation 3. The game is in great working condition and comes exactly as shown, complete with the case, disc, and manual. The case and disc have been used and show signs of wear and use, but they are in overall good condition. The game has been tested and is in full working order. Payment Payment is due within three days of purchase. I accept PayPal and credit card payments. Shipping The item is guaranteed to ship within one business day of cleared payment via the selected shipping method. I take extra steps to ensure that the item is packed carefully and securely so that nothing is loose or moving around.  Shipping for this item is free! I’ll cover the cost of sending the item to you and make sure that receive the item as quickly as possible. I will happily ship internationally through eBay’s Global Shipping Program! I will also happily combine shipping on multiple items. If shipping is calculated for any of the items you purchase, I will send a combined invoice with the shipping discount as soon as I can. Returns & Guarantees If you’re not satisfied with your purchase or anything is damaged during shipping, I offer free 30-day returns and full refunds, including the amount you paid for shipping, if applicable. You are covered under eBay’s Money Back Guarantee, and I will do whatever it takes to ensure that the transaction is handled fairly for you. Buy with confidence from an experienced eBay seller with over 5000 transactions, 100% positive feedback, and satisfied customers around the world. If you have any issues whatsoever, reach out to me through eBay message. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can so we can get the issue resolved quickly and fairly. Any other questions? Feel free to reach out to me with any other questions about the item or the buying process. I’m happy to provide additional pictures of the items, model numbers if they are not already made visible, and my knowledge of the item’s history. Thanks for viewing my item!

eBay Description Template: Item with Calculated Shipping

Here’s a quick eBay description that I use for any description where shipping is paid for by the buyer using calculated shipping:

Item Description This is for a rare Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots limited edition backwards compatible Playstation 3 bundle. It comes with everything shown, including the console (model CECH-E01 MG, 80gb hard drive, firmware version 4.88), power cord, genuine black Dualshock 3 controller, controller charging cable, Metal Gear Solid 4 game, and the original box and manuals. Everything is in great working condition. The controller connects to the PS3 and holds a charge. All buttons register and are fully functional. The controller has been used and shows signs of wear and use, but it is in overall good condition. The Metal Gear Solid game is in full working order and comes complete with the case, disc, and manual. It has also been used and shows signs of wear and use, but it is in overall good condition. The console is in overall good condition as well. It is also fully functional; it boots up and runs fine, all ports function, and it reads discs. As is common with the older PS3 units, this one does heat up a bit and the fans kick on louder during extended play, but not in a threatening way. Cosmetically, this unit does have typical signs of wear and use like surface scratches and scuffs around the outer casing, but nothing major that affects functionality. Finally, the original box is included with this purchase as well. It includes both the inner white box and the outer Metal Gear Solid cover. The box also includes the inner cardboard inserts and the original manuals. The box and cover show signs of wear from use and age, but they’re still sturdy. Please note that the outer cover is taped on one side as shown in the pictures. This is a backwards compatible PS3, which means it can play PS1, PS2, and PS3 games. This particular model is becoming increasingly more difficult to find, especially in working condition. Get it while you can! Payment Payment is due within three days of purchase. I accept PayPal and credit card payments. Shipping The item is guaranteed to ship within one business day of cleared payment via the selected shipping method. I take extra steps to ensure that the item is packed carefully and securely so that nothing is loose or moving around.  Shipping for this item is calculated based on your location and the package’s weight and dimensions, so the price you see is what it will cost to send the item to you. Keep in mind that I’m located in Ohio, so packages traveling long distances are more expensive, especially if they’re large or heavy. I normally offer a couple shipping methods, so you’re welcome to pick the option that works best for you. I will happily ship internationally through eBay’s Global Shipping Program! I will also happily combine shipping on multiple items. If shipping is calculated for any of the items you purchase, I will send a combined invoice with the shipping discount as soon as I can. Returns & Guarantees If you’re not satisfied with your purchase or anything is damaged during shipping, I offer free 30-day returns and full refunds, including the amount you paid for shipping, if applicable. You are covered under eBay’s Money Back Guarantee, and I will do whatever it takes to ensure that the transaction is handled fairly for you. Buy with confidence from an experienced eBay seller with over 5000 transactions, 100% positive feedback, and satisfied customers around the world. If you have any issues whatsoever, reach out to me through eBay message. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can so we can get the issue resolved quickly and fairly. Any Other Questions? Feel free to reach out to me with any other questions about the item or the buying process. I’m happy to provide additional pictures of the items, model numbers if they are not already made visible, and my knowledge of the item’s history. Thanks for viewing my item!

What Next?

A few years back, I went through and updated the description on all of my listings to better standardize them, provide a better buying experience, and cover my tail. If your descriptions are kind of all over the place, I highly encourage you to do the same. You need all the help and assurance you can get as an eBay seller, so make sure your descriptions are up to par!

Have any tips or success stories of your own? I’d love to hear them! Just throw them down below.