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  3. Buying
  4. Payments
  5. Paying for items
4 min overview

Paying for items

How you pay for an item on eBay will depend on the payment methods that your seller accepts. In most categories, sellers have to accept either PayPal or credit cards, but they may choose to offer other options as well.

It's easy to pay on eBay, no matter how you've bought your items:

  • If you added items to your shopping cart, you'll see a Proceed to checkout button
  • If you've selected Buy It Now, you'll usually be taken directly to checkout
  • If you won an auction-style listing, use the Pay Now button in the email we sent you or in My eBay
  • If the seller has sent you an invoice – for example, because you asked them to combine shipping for multiple items – use the Pay Now button in the email or in My eBay

If you have any items that you still need to pay for, you'll find them in your Purchase history section of My eBay.

You're expected to pay within 2 days of winning an auction or buying an item, but the sooner the seller receives payment, the sooner they'll send your purchase.

Paying with PayPal

PayPal is how most eBay users pay for their purchases. It's easy to link your eBay account to your PayPal account for a streamlined checkout experience.

Paying for items with a credit or debit card

You can also pay for your eBay items with a card. Find out how you can add, update and pay with credit or debit cards.

Coupons and discounts

You can pay for all or part of a purchase using an eBay coupon. To pay with eBay coupons, you need to be a registered eBay member, and use PayPal.

Checkout

When you're done shopping, head to checkout. Find out how it works, and some tips in case you run into any difficulties.

Other terms

Checks, money orders, and bank wire transfers aren't allowed for most eBay purchases. However, you can use these payment methods to buy vehicles, capital and business equipment, real estate, and items you pick up in person. For more details, see our Accepted payments policy.

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