eBay listing description template with a used-item example

What should an eBay listing description include?

The exact item, its measurements, the condition with each flaw, what's in the package and how it ships. eBay's item description policy requires an accurate description and a condition that matches across the title, description and item specifics, so fill in the form first and write the description from the same facts.

Item specifics are the structured fields: brand, size, material and the rest. eBay's listing help says they help buyers find and compare listings, so fill in every one the item or its tag answers. Where the maker provides a brand, UPC or MPN, the policy rules out “N/A” or “Does not apply”.

Clothing and shoes need a supported size matching the tag, such as 2XS to XXL or a numeric size. eBay's listing help says listings with missing or unclear sizes may be hidden until updated. The tag says M; your measurements say whether this M fits.

What does a good eBay description look like?

Title: Patagonia Better Sweater Fleece Jacket Full Zip Men's M Gray Patagonia Better Sweater full-zip fleece jacket, men's M, gray. 100% recycled polyester. Measured flat: pit to pit 22 in, length 28 in (collar to hem), sleeve 25 in. Condition: pre-owned. Light pilling under both arms and on the cuffs (photos 6 and 7). No holes or stains. All zippers work. Included: the jacket only. Ships in 1 business day by USPS Ground Advantage. Returns accepted within 30 days; buyer pays return shipping.

Measure flat and zipped. Pit to pit runs seam to seam just below the sleeves; length runs down the back from the base of the collar. A buyer can lay a jacket they own on the bed and compare in a minute.

Can I copy an eBay description template?

Title: [Brand] [item] [key feature] [size] [color] [Brand] [item], [size on the tag], [color]. [Material from the tag.] Measured flat: [the two or three measurements a buyer compares], in inches. Condition: [the condition you picked]. [Each flaw, where, how big] (photos [numbers]). [What works.] Included: [every piece in the package]. Ships in [number] business days by [carrier and service]. Returns: [your terms, copied from the listing form].

For electronics, swap the measurement line for a test line. For shoes, measure the insole. For a replacement part, copy the part number from the item or its box.

How long should an eBay description be?

Long enough to answer what a buyer would otherwise message about. A fleece needs six short lines: what it is, measurements, flaws, what's included, shipping and returns. A used console or camera needs more, because what you tested matters as much as how it looks. eBay's policy requires everything in a listing to relate to the item or your terms, so leave out slogans and keyword lists.

For anything that plugs in, write the test you ran: “Powers on, reads discs, both controllers pair and charge. Wi-Fi not tested.” “Tested, works great” leaves a buyer guessing. If it doesn't power on, list it as For parts or not working.

How do I describe flaws so a buyer doesn't return it?

Name each flaw, where it is and how big, and point to the photo: “pilling under both arms (photos 6 and 7)”. eBay's listing help puts it plainly: be honest about condition, because buyers expect what they see. A flaw you named and photographed is one the buyer saw before paying.

Clothing needs a supported condition such as New, New with tags or Pre-owned; a worn jacket is Pre-owned, and the description says how worn. Write what you can see, like “small pull in the knit on the left sleeve”, and skip “great condition”, which each buyer reads by their own standard.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• eBay: Item description policy · Checked 2026-10-15

  Accuracy, matching condition, product identifiers, clothing sizes and Made in USA claims.

• eBay: Creating a listing · Checked 2026-10-15

  Item specifics, condition, photos, clothing sizes, drafts and pricing.