eBay item condition policy: how to choose between new, opened, refurbished and used

What is the eBay item condition policy?

The eBay item condition policy asks you to describe an item's condition accurately, using the condition options eBay sets for its category. eBay UK's item conditions by category page says that being clear and accurate about your item's condition lets the buyer know whether it is new, used or in between, and that choosing the right condition also helps ensure you are following eBay's selling practices policy.

Condition options vary by category. A phone, a book and a jacket do not use exactly the same list, and the same word can have a slightly different meaning in each. The rule that does not change is that the condition you pick must match the item the buyer receives.

What do the main eBay conditions mean?

For electronics, eBay UK defines the conditions as follows. Other categories use similar names with category-specific wording.

In Home and Garden, eBay lists 'New other (see details)' alongside the others, with slightly different wording. Always read the definitions for the category you are listing in.

When is an item not New?

The New definition is narrow: unused, unopened, undamaged and in its original packaging. Many items that feel new to the seller do not meet it.

• A returned item that the buyer opened, even if never used, is not New. In electronics it fits Opened - never used if it is in excellent condition with no wear.
• An item without its original box, or with a damaged box, is not New where packaging applies.
• A display or demonstration model has usually been handled or switched on, so it is not New.
• A factory second with a small flaw belongs under Opened - never used or New other, depending on the category, with the flaw described.
• An item missing an accessory that should be in the box is not New, and if the missing part is essential, it may be For parts or not working.

When in doubt, choose the lower condition and describe the item exactly. A buyer who receives something better than described is pleased. One who receives less has grounds for a return.

How does condition link to other eBay rules?

Condition is not a standalone choice. Several other policies depend on it.

Photos

eBay's picture policy does not allow stock photos for used, damaged or defective items, and requires every photo to represent the item accurately. A Used listing needs photos of the actual item, showing its wear. Our guide to eBay listing photos covers what to shoot.

One condition per listing

eBay's search and browse manipulation policy says offering a choice of different products in one listing is not allowed, and gives new and used items as an example. Sell new and used versions in separate listings.

Returns and Money Back Guarantee

eBay Money Back Guarantee covers items that do not match the listing. A buyer can request a return for an item not as described within 30 calendar days of delivery, or within your longer return window, and you must respond within 3 business days. A wrong condition is one of the clearest cases of 'not as described'. Our guide to eBay item not as described claims shows how sellers prevent them.

Category rules tied to condition

Some rules apply only to certain conditions. For example, eBay UK's free returns requirement for some vehicle parts and accessories, from 8 June 2026, applies to fixed-price listings with a UK item location and buyer, priced over £10 excluding postage and listed as New or New - other.

How do you describe condition well?

The condition field gives a buyer the category. The details tell them what to expect.

1. Pick the most accurate condition from the category's list, reading its definition.
2. Use the condition description for used, opened and refurbished items. Say exactly what is wrong or missing: 'Light scratch on the back, about 1 cm. Charger not included.'
3. Match the photos to the words. If you mention a scratch, show it.
4. Say what is included, especially when anything is missing from the original contents.
5. For refurbished items, say who refurbished it and what warranty applies, within what the condition definition allows.

What if your supplier's condition differs from what you listed?

If you sell items you do not hold yourself, the condition you list must be the condition your supplier will actually send. That is easy to get wrong when the source offers several conditions for the same product. For example, a product page may show a used or renewed offer at a lower price than the new one, and a repricing setup that reads the cheapest price could end up pricing a New listing from a used offer. Our guide to Amazon used vs new offers explains the conditions you will see on Amazon and what each means for an eBay listing.

Know eBay's sourcing rule as well: eBay's drop shipping policy allows dropshipping from a wholesale supplier, but listing an item and then buying it from another retailer or marketplace that ships directly to your buyer is not allowed, and you are responsible for delivery within the stated time and for the buyer's satisfaction.

How does condition work in variation listings?

A variation listing groups versions of one product, such as sizes or colours, under one title. The condition belongs to the listing as a whole, so every variation in it must be in the same condition. Because eBay does not allow new and used items to be offered as a choice in one listing, a used size 10 cannot sit as a variation beside new sizes 8 and 12.

If you have mixed stock, build one variation listing for the new items and a separate listing for each used or opened item. That keeps each listing's condition, photos and description accurate, and stops a buyer choosing a size and then receiving something in a different condition from the one shown at the top of the page.

The same applies to listings created by a tool. If a tool groups products into variations automatically, check that it never mixes conditions in one group.

A worked example

Example: suppose you have three of the same Bluetooth speaker to sell.

• Speaker 1 is sealed in its original box. Condition: New.
• Speaker 2 was returned by a buyer who opened the box and never used it. It has no wear. Condition: Opened - never used, with the description 'Box opened, unused, all accessories included.'
• Speaker 3 has been used for a few months, works perfectly and has a small mark on the grille. Condition: Used, with your own photos showing the mark, and the description 'Fully working. Small mark on the front grille, shown in photo 3. Original box and cable included.'

That means three separate listings, each with photos and wording that match the item exactly. Listing all three as New, or as one listing with a choice of conditions, would break eBay's rules and invite returns.

A quick checklist

• Read the condition definitions for the category you are listing in.
• Use New only for unused, unopened, undamaged items in original packaging.
• Use Opened - never used or New other for unused items that are unsealed, unboxed or have a minor flaw.
• Use your own photos for used, damaged or defective items.
• Describe every flaw and missing part in the condition description.
• Keep new and used items in separate listings.
• Check that your supplier will send the condition you listed.