1 min article

Selling through auctions

When you list an item for sale in an auction-style listing on eBay, you choose a starting price, and interested buyers place bids. When the auction ends, you sell to the highest bidder.

You can list your auctions for 1, 3, 5, 7 or 10 days. A 1-day auction is designed for items that need to be sold quickly because they're time-sensitive, such as event tickets.

Unsold auctions may be automatically relisted.

Set a starting price in the Choose a format and price section of the quick listing form - opens in new window or tab. If you use the advanced listing tool, you can set a starting price in the Pricing section.

Pricing tips

  • A low starting price can help attract bidders
  • You can add a Buy It Now price to an auction listing, and it will be shown until the first bid is placed. The Buy It Now price has to be at least 30% higher than the auction starting price
  • If you're selling a vehicle, you can add a reserve price to make sure you get the price you want for your item
  • To help make sure your item sells, you can select the Easy pricing option in the quick listing form. We'll automatically lower your price each time your item is auto-relisted, and notify any interested buyers

Fees for auction-style listings

  • It's generally free to list items. (Some limits and exclusions apply)
  • You'll be charged a final value fee after the sale
  • There are also fees for optional listing features and supplemental services

For full details of eBay fees, see:

Listing in auction-style format works well if you want to let buyers decide what your item is worth.

Was this article helpful for you?

Related Help topics