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eBay Title Character Limit: 80 Chars + All Fields (2026)

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eBay titles are limited to 80 characters. That single constraint shapes how every seller writes their listings. But titles are just one of many fields with character and count limits on eBay. Here's the complete reference for every field that matters.

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Quick Reference: All eBay Limits

Field Limit Best Practice
Title 80 characters Use 75-80 characters
Subtitle 55 characters Optional; costs $1.50+
Description 500,000 characters 200-800 words ideal
Item Specific (value) 65 characters Fill all required + recommended
Item Specific (custom name) 40 characters Be descriptive
Store Category Name 30 characters Match product types
Photos 24 per listing (free) Use 6-12 minimum
Variations Up to 250 combinations Depends on category

Title: 80 Characters

The title is your most important field for search visibility. eBay's Cassini search algorithm weighs title keywords heavily when matching buyer queries to listings.

What Counts Toward the 80-Character Limit

Every character counts — including spaces, punctuation, hyphens, and special characters. A title like "Nike Air Max 90 Men's Running Shoes Size 10 White Black Athletic Sneakers New" is 78 characters.

Common character traps:

  • Spaces count as one character each
  • Hyphens, slashes, and ampersands each consume one character
  • Quotation marks count but add no SEO value — avoid them
  • Commas and periods count — use spaces instead for Cassini keyword parsing

What Happens at 81+ Characters

If you attempt to save a title exceeding 80 characters, eBay will reject it with an error. Unlike some platforms that silently truncate, eBay enforces the hard limit at input. However, some bulk listing tools or API integrations may handle this differently and could truncate without warning.

Mobile Truncation

Even within 80 characters, mobile search results typically display only the first 50-55 characters. This is why front-loading your most important keywords matters — buyers on phones may never see characters 56-80 in the search results grid.

In the listing detail view, the full title displays. But in search results, which is where you need to earn the click, only the first portion shows.

Optimization Tips

  • Use all 80 characters. Leaving characters unused wastes keyword opportunities.
  • Front-load keywords. Put the brand, product type, and key attributes first.
  • Skip filler words. "Great," "Amazing," "WOW," "L@@K" waste characters and trigger spam filters.
  • No ALL CAPS. eBay's quality standards flag excessive capitalization.

For a complete optimization strategy, see our eBay title optimization guide.

Subtitle: 55 Characters

Subtitles are an optional paid feature that adds a second line of text below your title in search results.

Cost

  • $1.50 for standard listings
  • $3.00 for listings in certain categories
  • $6.00 for Motors vehicles listings

The fee applies per listing period. For Good 'Til Cancelled listings, you're charged each month.

Does the Subtitle Affect Cassini Ranking?

No. eBay has confirmed that subtitle text is not indexed by Cassini for search matching. Subtitles are purely a visual element in search results — they can improve click-through rate but won't help your listing appear for additional keywords.

When a Subtitle Is Worth It

Use subtitles for high-margin items where a small increase in click-through rate justifies the recurring fee. Effective subtitle content:

  • "Free Shipping + Free Returns"
  • "100% Authentic — Money Back Guarantee"
  • "Limited Edition — Only 3 Left"

Avoid repeating title keywords in the subtitle — since it's not indexed, you gain nothing from duplication.

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Description: 500,000 Characters

eBay's description field accepts up to 500,000 characters, equivalent to roughly a 100,000-word document. No one should use that much.

Ideal Length

For most categories, 200-800 words (roughly 1,000-4,500 characters) provides enough detail to build trust and answer common questions without overwhelming buyers. Used and pre-owned items benefit from longer descriptions with detailed condition notes.

The Mobile "Read More" Fold

On mobile devices, eBay shows only the first ~200 characters of your description before inserting a "Read More" button. About 60% of eBay traffic is mobile, so those first 200 characters are critical.

What should go above the fold:

  • Item condition and key features
  • Compatibility or sizing information
  • Any defects or notable details (for used items)

Our eBay description guide covers mobile formatting in detail.

HTML Restrictions

eBay allows basic HTML in descriptions but has banned active content since 2017:

  • Allowed: Basic formatting tags (<b>, <p>, <br>, <ul>, <li>, <table>, <img>)
  • Blocked: JavaScript, Flash, iframes, form elements, external CSS, meta refreshes
  • Not recommended: Heavy inline CSS, complex tables, custom fonts (render inconsistently on mobile)

Plain text or minimal HTML performs best across all devices.

Description SEO

Important: eBay description text has minimal impact on Cassini search ranking. Cassini primarily uses title keywords and item specifics for search matching. Write descriptions for buyers, not for the search algorithm. Put your SEO keywords in the title and item specifics instead.

Item Specifics: 65 Characters Per Value

Item specifics are structured fields (Brand, Size, Color, Material, etc.) that help Cassini match your listing to buyer searches and filters.

Value Limit: 65 Characters

Each item specific value is capped at 65 characters. For most fields, this is generous — "Navy Blue" is only 9 characters. But for fields like "Compatible Model" or "Features," you may need to be concise.

If a value needs to exceed 65 characters, consider:

  • Abbreviating where buyers would understand (e.g., "Compatible w/ iPhone 14/15/16 Pro Max" instead of full model names)
  • Using multiple item specific entries instead of cramming everything into one value

Custom Item Specific Names: 40 Characters

When adding custom item specifics not provided by eBay's category template, the field name is limited to 40 characters. Use descriptive names that match what buyers might filter by.

Multi-Value Specifics

Some item specifics support multiple values — up to 30 per field. For example, a phone case's "Compatible Brand" field might include "Apple, Samsung, Google." Each individual value still follows the 65-character limit.

Why Item Specifics Matter

Listings with completed item specifics rank higher in Cassini and appear in filtered searches. A listing for "blue Nike shoes" without the Color, Brand, and Shoe Type item specifics filled in won't appear when buyers filter by those attributes — even if the title contains those keywords.

See our item specifics guide for category-specific field recommendations.

Store Category Names: 30 Characters

eBay Store categories help organize your shop. Category names are limited to 30 characters. Keep them descriptive and product-focused:

  • Good: "iPhone Cases & Covers" (21 chars)
  • Good: "Vintage Vinyl Records" (21 chars)
  • Bad: "Our Best Stuff!!!" (wastes characters on non-descriptive text)

You can create up to 300 store categories with up to 3 levels of hierarchy.

Photo Limits

eBay allows up to 24 photos per listing at no extra cost. This changed in 2023 — previously only the first 12 were free.

Category Minimum Recommended
New items 3 6-8
Used items 5 8-12
Collectibles 6 12-15
Parts/Electronics 4 6-10

Image Size Limits

  • Minimum: 500px on the longest side
  • Recommended: 1600px on the longest side (enables zoom)
  • Maximum file size: 12MB per photo
  • Formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, BMP, HEIC

For a complete photo optimization guide, see eBay product photos.

Variation Limits

Variation listings (parent-child) have their own limits:

  • Maximum combinations: Varies by category; typically 250 variations per listing
  • Variation specifics: Up to 5 variation dimensions (e.g., Size, Color, Style)
  • Values per dimension: Up to 60 values
  • Each variation can have its own price, quantity, SKU, and photos

Other Limits Worth Knowing

Field Limit
SKU / Custom Label 50 characters
Condition Description 1,000 characters
Handling Time 0-30 business days
Shipping Service Options Up to 4 domestic + 5 international
Return Policy Description 500 characters
Payment Instructions 500 characters
Buyer Requirements Message 500 characters

Common Mistakes

Using Only 40-50 Title Characters

Every unused character in your 80-character title is a keyword you're not ranking for. Sellers who use only half their title limit see measurably less search visibility.

Ignoring Item Specifics Entirely

Blank item specifics don't just hurt ranking — they make your listing invisible to buyers who use filters. eBay's Seller Hub Listing Quality Report flags missing specifics.

Description Too Short for Trust

A 1-2 sentence description for a $50+ item raises buyer concerns. Include enough detail (condition, dimensions, materials, compatibility) to answer the questions a buyer would ask before purchasing.

All Caps in Titles

While technically within the 80-character limit, ALL CAPS titles violate eBay's listing policies and can result in listing removal. Capitalize normally: first letter of each word or sentence case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does eBay count spaces in the 80-character title limit?

Yes. Spaces, punctuation, hyphens, and all special characters each count as one character toward the 80-character limit.

Can I use HTML in eBay titles?

No. eBay titles are plain text only. HTML tags, special characters beyond standard punctuation, and Unicode symbols may be stripped or cause display issues.

What happens if my title is too long?

eBay's listing form will reject titles exceeding 80 characters with an error message. Some third-party listing tools may silently truncate the title instead.

Do item specifics have a character limit?

Yes. Each item specific value is limited to 65 characters. Custom item specific names are limited to 40 characters. Multi-value fields support up to 30 values per specific.

How many photos can I upload to an eBay listing for free?

eBay allows up to 24 photos per listing at no additional cost. Previously only 12 were free, but this changed in 2023.

Does the subtitle affect eBay search ranking?

No. eBay has confirmed that subtitle text is not indexed by the Cassini search algorithm. Subtitles are visible in search results and can improve click-through rate, but they don't help your listing rank for additional keywords.

Next Steps

Generate optimized eBay titles

Create keyword-packed 80-character titles that rank in Cassini search.

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