How to write eBay titles that buyers search for, within 80 characters

How to write eBay titles: the short answer

When you work out how to write eBay titles, think like a buyer typing into the search box, not like a shop window. Buyers type nouns: the brand, the thing, the model and a detail or two. A strong title puts those words first, adds the details that split one version from another, and stops when there is nothing useful left to say. An eBay listing title can be at most 80 characters, so every word has to earn its place.

The title is the main text eBay compares against a search. It is also the line a buyer reads before deciding whether to tap. A good title has to do both jobs at once: match the search and tell the buyer this is the exact item they want.

What word order works best in an eBay title?

There is no single official formula, but a reliable order for most products is:

1. Brand (if the item has one buyers search for)
2. Product type in the words buyers use ("cordless drill", not "power solution")
3. Model or series name or number
4. Key specification: size, capacity, wattage, compatibility
5. Variant details: colour, material, pack size
6. Condition or extra if it matters: "new", "boxed", "with charger"

Leading with brand and product type helps because those are the words most buyers type first, and because the start of the title is what shows in full on small screens. Details that only some buyers search for go towards the end.

For unbranded items, start with the product type and the most searched feature instead: "Waterproof Dog Coat Fleece Lined Reflective Medium Navy" works better than "Unbranded Dog Coat".

Examples: weak and strong eBay titles side by side

Example (hypothetical listings): the table shows how the same products read with filler and with buyer search terms. The strong versions are illustrations of the method, not titles taken from real listings.

Each stronger title answers the questions a buyer would ask: what is it, which model, which version and what comes with it.

What should you leave out of an eBay title?

Words that nobody searches for waste characters and can make a listing look less trustworthy. Cut:

• Hype words such as "wow", "amazing", "look", "L@@K", "must see" and "bargain".
• Symbols and decoration such as stars, exclamation marks and long runs of capitals.
• Brands you are not selling. Writing "not Nike" or "like Apple" to catch searches is keyword spamming under eBay's rules and can also draw a rights owner's complaint.
• Repeated words. Saying "case cover case" does not count twice; use the spare space for a different term buyers use.
• Information that belongs elsewhere. Postage offers, returns and your shop name go in the right fields of the listing, not in the title.

Words like "new" are worth including only when they help a buyer choose, for example where the category has many used listings of the same item.

How do you find the words buyers actually search for?

You do not need a paid keyword tool to start. eBay itself shows you the language buyers use.

Use the search box suggestions

Type the product type into eBay's search box slowly and note the suggestions that appear. They reflect common searches, so they show the order and wording buyers prefer.

Read sold listings

Search for the product, then filter to sold items. Read the titles of items that sold at a good price and note which words repeat. Do not copy a title outright; use it to learn the vocabulary.

Check Product Research in Seller Hub

The research tool in Seller Hub lets you look at sold listings data for a search term over a period. Comparing two phrasings of the same product, such as "hoodie" and "hooded sweatshirt", shows which one buyers use more.

Look at the filter names in your category

The filter panel on the left of eBay's search results (or under the filter button on the app) lists the attributes buyers narrow by in that category, such as screen size, connectivity or fit. Those names tell you which details matter enough to belong in the title as well as in the item specifics.

Watch for words that mean different products

Some words pull in the wrong buyers. "Charger" on its own can mean a phone charger, a car battery charger or a power tool charger. Pair a broad word with the detail that defines your product, such as "USB C Charger 20W", so the views you get come from people who might buy.

Use both UK and US terms where they differ

If you sell on eBay.co.uk, write "trousers", "trainers" and "colour"; on eBay.com, buyers type "pants", "sneakers" and "color". When you have room, a few sellers add both common forms of a product word, but never at the cost of the core terms.

Does the 80 character limit mean you should always fill it?

Usually, yes, but with real words. Using most of the 80 characters gives eBay more relevant terms to match, as long as every term is accurate. A title padded with irrelevant words can match searches where your item is not what the buyer wanted, which brings views without sales and can lower how well the listing performs.

A practical test: read the title aloud. If a buyer could not tell what the item is, which version it is and why it differs from the next listing, add detail. If a word does not change any of those three things, cut it.

Keep the title in line with the rest of the listing. eBay's Best Match factors include how closely the listing matches the search terms and how complete and good the listing is, and eBay advises filling in item specifics such as make, model, size, colour and style. A title that says "Medium" with a Size specific of "Large" sends mixed signals and invites returns. You can read eBay's own list of factors on its Best Match guidance page.

Should you change titles on live listings?

Revising a title is allowed on live fixed price listings, and it is often the fastest fix for a listing that gets few views. Change one thing at a time and give it time to settle before you judge the result.

1. Pick listings with few views compared with similar items in your shop.
2. Check the title against the word order above and against sold listings for the product.
3. Rewrite it once, keeping the brand, product type and model at the start.
4. Note the date and compare views and sales over the next few weeks in your traffic report.

If you import products into drafts from a supplier's product page, the imported title is a starting point, not a finished eBay title. Supplier and marketplace titles are often written for a different search engine and audience. Dropizon offers optional AI title optimisation on drafts, but any title, written by hand or by software, should be read by a person before it goes live. For more on how imported drafts work, see the documentation.

If the products you list come from another retailer, be clear about eBay's rules first. eBay 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 stay responsible for delivery and the buyer's satisfaction. The details are on eBay's drop shipping policy page.

An eBay title checklist

• Brand (if searched) and product type come first.
• The model, size or compatibility that defines the version is included.
• Colour, material or pack size follow if they help a buyer choose.
• No hype words, no symbols, no other brands.
• Spelling matches the eBay site you sell on.
• Title, item specifics and photos all describe the same item.
• The title uses most of the 80 characters with words buyers really type.

Rewrite the titles of your five lowest viewed listings today using this list, then read our guide to eBay item specifics to bring the rest of each listing up to the same standard.