eBay title character limit: what counts towards the 80 characters and what to leave out

What is the eBay title character limit?

The eBay title character limit is 80 characters. eBay's developer documentation on the listing title says a title is required for all listings, is shown on every page including search results and the item page, and has a maximum length of 80 characters. The same page says an optional subtitle, which costs an additional fee, can be up to 55 characters.

Eighty characters is not much. A typical product name with brand, model and two or three details fills it quickly, which is why the choice of what goes in, and what stays out, matters more than any formula.

What counts towards the 80 characters?

Everything you type counts:

• letters and numbers;
• spaces between words;
• punctuation such as commas, hyphens, slashes and brackets;
• symbols such as the ampersand or the inch mark.

So 'Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones, Black' is 42 characters, including its five spaces and the comma.

Why special characters can cost more than one

Some characters take more room than they appear to. Emoji, and the decorative 'bold' or 'italic' letters that are sometimes copied from websites, are not ordinary letters. When a listing is sent through eBay's systems by software, characters like these can be counted as two each. A title that looks like 78 characters on your screen can then be refused as too long.

The simple fix is to avoid them. Ordinary letters, numbers and common punctuation are clearer for buyers and search, and they count exactly as you expect. If you copy a product name from elsewhere, check it for unusual characters before you paste it in.

What should go in an 80-character title?

A title has one job: to match what buyers type and tell them at a glance that this is the item they want. eBay's Best Match ranking looks at how closely a listing matches the search terms, among other factors. Put the words buyers search for first.

1. Brand, if the item has one and buyers search for it.
2. Product type in plain words, such as 'electric kettle' or 'running shoes'.
3. Model name or number, exactly as the manufacturer writes it.
4. Key details buyers filter or search by: size, colour, capacity, quantity, compatibility.
5. Condition, only where it is a selling point or a real difference, such as 'Refurbished'.

Our guide on how to write eBay titles that buyers search for covers keyword research for titles in more depth.

A worked example

Example: suppose the manufacturer's product name is 'BrandX UltraBoil Pro 1.7 Litre Rapid Boil Cordless Electric Kettle with LED Illumination, Auto Shut-Off and Boil-Dry Protection, Brushed Stainless Steel'. That is about 150 characters.

• Remove marketing phrases buyers do not search for: 'Rapid Boil', 'with LED Illumination'.
• Move safety features to the description and item specifics: 'Auto Shut-Off and Boil-Dry Protection'.
• Keep brand, model, capacity, type and finish.

Result: 'BrandX UltraBoil Pro Cordless Electric Kettle 1.7L Brushed Stainless Steel', 74 characters, with every word one a buyer might type.

What does eBay not allow in titles?

eBay's search and browse manipulation policy sets limits on what titles can contain. In summary, eBay says:

• No keyword spamming. Adding popular keywords that have no relation to your item is not allowed. All the words need to be accurate and refer only to the item for sale.
• No comparisons with other products. A title that says your item is like another brand's product is not allowed.
• No question marks on keywords, such as a brand followed by a question mark to suggest it might apply.
• No promoting other listings in a listing.
• No choice of different products in one listing, such as two different models or new and used items together.
• No compatible vehicles in the title. Use eBay's parts compatibility tool instead.

For accessories, compatibility wording such as 'fits', 'for' or 'compatible with' should come before the name of the compatible item, so it is clear your item is an accessory and not the branded product. eBay also says that if any item details are unclear or unknown, they should be left out of the listing.

What should you leave out to save space?

Even words that are allowed can waste characters. These rarely help a buyer find or choose your item:

Item specifics carry a lot of information that would otherwise crowd the title. eBay uses them in filters and advises filling in details such as make, model, size, colour and style. Our guide to eBay item specifics explains how to fill them in fully.

How should titles work on variation listings?

A variation listing sells several versions of one product, such as sizes or colours, in one fixed-price listing. eBay's search and browse manipulation policy says items with variations such as size and colour should be listed this way, rather than as separate near-identical listings.

The title has to describe the whole listing, not one variation. A few rules of thumb:

• Name the product, not one option. 'Women's Merino Wool Jumper' rather than 'Women's Merino Wool Jumper Navy Size 12', if the listing has several colours and sizes.
• Mention the range if space allows. 'Sizes 8 to 18' or 'Various Colours' tells buyers there is a choice.
• Keep shared details in the title. Brand, material and product type apply to every variation and are worth the characters.
• Leave option values to the variation details. Buyers who filter by size or colour reach the right variation through item specifics and the variation menu.

How do you check a title's length before you list?

eBay's listing form counts characters as you type, so a title written there will stop at the limit. The risk is with titles prepared elsewhere: in a spreadsheet, a supplier file or a listing tool.

• In a spreadsheet, a length formula such as LEN on the title column shows the count for every row at once. Sort by it and fix anything over 80.
• Look for characters that are not plain letters, numbers or punctuation, because they may count double when uploaded.
• After a bulk upload, read the results report for title errors before assuming everything went live.

Is a subtitle worth paying for?

A subtitle gives you up to 55 more characters under the title in search results and on the item page, for an additional fee. It is useful for information that persuades rather than matches searches, such as 'Original box, all accessories included'.

Before paying, check two things: whether the extra text is already shown elsewhere on the listing, and whether the fee is worth it on that item's margin. For low-priced items it rarely is. The fee is set out on eBay's fee pages for your site and seller type.

How do titles behave when software creates listings?

If you list through a tool that copies product names from a supplier or manufacturer, the titles it creates need checking. Source names are often far longer than 80 characters, so a tool must shorten them, and a blunt cut can drop the model number or leave half a word at the end. Source text can also contain web addresses or store names, which do not belong in an eBay title.

Check a sample of titles from any tool before publishing in bulk. Look for cut-off words, missing model numbers, special characters and anything that is not about the item. If you source products from a retailer such as Amazon, also know eBay's drop shipping policy: dropshipping from a wholesale supplier is allowed, but listing an item and then buying it from another retailer or marketplace that ships directly to your buyer is not, and you remain responsible for delivery and buyer satisfaction.

A quick checklist for an 80-character title

• Count every character, including spaces and punctuation, and stay at 80 or fewer.
• Avoid emoji and decorative letters, which can count as more than one character.
• Lead with brand, product type and model, then the key details buyers search for.
• Use each word once, in normal capitalisation.
• Leave out unrelated brands, comparisons, question marks and compatible vehicles.
• Put 'fits' or 'for' before the compatible item's name on accessories.
• Move other details to item specifics and the description.