eBay International Shipping FAQs

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eBay International Shipping is the program that simplifies selling internationally.

Now, eBay handles international shipping, customs clearance, tracking, and post-transaction requests and returns—at no cost to you.

Plus, buyers get better shipping prices, confidence in smooth delivery, and a simplified international returns process supported by eBay.

Managing my account

There are multiple ways to manage country exclusions. To see all options, watch our how-to video guide or download the PDF guide.

To remove a single active listing from eBay International Shipping, you can exclude all countries except the US in your shipping preferences.

1. Go to the My eBay dropdown menu and select “Selling.”

2. Hover over “Listings”, then select “Active” from the dropdown.

3. Within your Active listings, click “Edit” within the listing you’d like to update.

4. Scroll down to the Shipping section.

5. If you already have exclusions set, navigate to your Preferences and to Excluded locations. Then select all the locations in the international section.

OR

6. If you don’t have any exclusions set, within the Shipping section click “See shipping options” and select the toggle to the right of Excluded locations. Navigate to your Preferences and to Excluded locations. Then select all the locations under the international section. Select “Done” in the top-right corner of ‘Excluded locations’ window. If the excluded locations box shows “Algeria (+169),” your listing will be excluded from eBay International Shipping.

7. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click “Revise it.”

Yes. To opt out of the program:

1. In the top left corner, hover over “Hi, username,” and choose “Account settings.” OR Log in and go to Account Settings

2. Choose “Shipping Preferences.” under “Selling” section

3. Select “Opt out” to the right of eBay International Shipping

4. Select a reason for opting out.

5. Review the information. If you still wish to opt out, select “Opt out.”

Note that you must wait 24 hours before opting back into the program. To opt back into the program:

1. Log in and go to Account Settings

2. Choose “Shipping Preferences”

3. Next to eBay International Shipping, select “Enroll”.

Getting started

1. Log in and go to Account Settings

2. Choose “Shipping Preferences”

3. If you see “Enrolled” on the right from eBay International Shipping, your account is currently in the program

Sellers are being enrolled in phases when they become eligible. You’ll get an email and get notified via Messages in My eBay when you’re enrolled.

Currently, we are accepting only US sellers into the program. We are working on expanding it to other countries in the future.

eBay continuously evaluates seller performance and enrolls sellers when possible. You will be enrolled into eBay International Shipping when your account is eligible. You will be notified via email and Messages in My eBay about this change to your account as soon as it happens.

Once you’re enrolled, if your current listings don’t have any international shipping service selected, you don’t have to do a thing*—your current eligible listings will automatically update to eBay International Shipping, as well as your new listings if you don’t add any international shipping service while listing them.

* If your current listings use other international shipping services, you’ll need to manually update them to eBay International Shipping. Here’s how.

Unfortunately, your items must be listed with eBay International Shipping at the time the buyer makes a purchase. If you want to use eBay International Shipping, revise your listings, and remove other international shipping services. See how.

Yes. When your account is opted into the program, your listings will always default to eBay International Shipping. You can customize your international shipping services to use a third-party shipping service by adding an additional international shipping service to your listings. You can also specify which shipping service you want to use for specific countries.

Absolutely. Simply select the international shipping service you’d like to use for certain locations.

For example, you can set your preferences to ship to Canada through a standard carrier that provides international service but still use eBay International Shipping for the remaining eligible countries.

You can find a list of supported countries here.

If you see one of the domestic shipping hubs’ addresses with “EIS c/o Buyer Name” on the label, it will be shipped internationally through eBay International Shipping.

Go to the Order Details page and view the Shipping details section. Select the link to “See buyer location.”

Listings and item eligibility

Yes, both previous and new exclusions will apply. Want to update your settings to prevent sales to a specific country or region? Please note that you’ll decrease your buyer pool and limit your selling opportunities when you apply exclusions.

There are multiple ways to manage country exclusions. To see all options, watch our how-to video guide or download the PDF guide.

To manage shipping exclusions on an individual listing:

1. Go to the My eBay dropdown menu and select “Selling.”

2. Hover over “Listings”, then select “Active” from the dropdown.

3. Within your Active listings, click “Edit” within the listing you’d like to update.

4. Scroll down to the Shipping section.

5. If you already have exclusions set, navigate to your Preferences and to Excluded locations. Then select all the locations in the international section.

OR

6. If you don’t have any exclusions set, within the Shipping section click “See shipping options” and select the toggle to the right of Excluded locations. Navigate to your Preferences and to Excluded locations. Then select the locations you don’t want to ship to under the international section. Select “Done” in the top-right corner of ‘Excluded locations’ window.

7. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click “Revise it.”

If your item is eligible for export and is not restricted in any other countries, buyers in over 200 countries will be able to see your listing. Buyers can purchase your items based on US export regulations and the import regulations of the destination country.

All applicable items meeting all eligibility requirements, up to $2,500 item value (excluding taxes, duties, and delivery fees), physically located in the US and listed on ebay.com can be sold using eBay International Shipping.

As a general rule, items included in eBay’s hazardous, restricted or regulated materials policy, and items that don’t follow our International trading policy. View a list of restricted or prohibited categories.

Note: This is not an exhaustive list and it may be updated based on transportation regulations and export laws, and on macro environment or international regulations.

Size: A package cannot exceed 48 inches in Length, 84 inches in Length + Girth.

Weight: Packages cannot exceed 44 lbs. in billable weight (not actual weight). This applies to all countries except Canada (66 lbs. in billable weight).

The limit is $2,500.

(excluding taxes, duties, and delivery fees).

The buyer will not be able to bid beyond $2,500, however domestic buyers and buyers from countries with other shipping services selected will be able to continue bidding for the item.

If you’d like to sell items not eligible for eBay International Shipping, you can use other international shipping services. Here’s how:

1. Navigate to the listing you wish to change and select “Revise listing”

2. Scroll down to the Shipping section

3. In the International shipping section, select “Add other shipping services.” You can add up to four services

4. Click “Apply”

5. Click “Revise it” at the bottom of the page

Shipments may not meet eBay International Shipping requirements for a number of reasons, including but not limited to: overweight, oversize, hazardous, dangerous, or restricted goods. If it’s determined that your shipment does not meet the program requirements, you will keep the sale and eBay will issue a refund to the buyer.

If you’ve created exclusions to states, territories, countries, or regions that you don’t ship to, they’ll still apply to eligible listings under the eBay International Shipping program. You can manage your shipping exclusions through your Shipping Preferences, Business Policies or by revising your listings. We will not change your business policies.

See how to manage your country exclusions in our how-to guide or download the PDF guide.

All current and new eligible listings will be displayed with eBay International Shipping, but you will still ship domestically. Your responsibility ends when the package reaches our domestic shipping hub.

Payments, fees, and duties and taxes

How quickly you get paid after a sale depends on what shipping method you choose to get your item to our hub. Your sale is complete when your item is received undamaged at our hub. Once eBay initiates your payout, your bank typically takes 1-3 business days to make your funds available in your account.

No. You’ll receive the item price and any specified domestic shipping and handling charges directly from the buyer. You can review the total charges on your Order Details page.

eBay International Shipping has already proven to improve business by removing international fees for sellers. You’ll save 13% on selling fees compared to other international sales.*

*This discount reflects the average eBay savings; actual discount may vary by seller standard and service metrics status.

Your final value fee is based on the final price of the item, plus shipping cost you charged the buyer to deliver the item to the US shipping hub, and any other amounts you may charge the buyer. If you offer free domestic shipping, the final value fee won’t be applied to this component.

Sales tax, international shipping cost, and import charges are not included into the final value fee calculation. Refer to our standard eBay selling fees for more information.

No, there aren’t any additional fees beyond the standard eBay selling fees. Moreover, the eBay international fee does not apply to eBay International Shipping transactions.

We use the domestic shipping info on your listing to calculate shipping costs to the domestic shipping hub. Next, we manage and calculate the international shipping costs based on weight and dimensions of the package, and destination country. Then we display a combined shipping cost (including domestic and international shipping costs) to the buyer – it is visible to you if you open your item page and choose the buyer destination country in the “Shipping, returns and payments” tab.

You can check the eBay International Shipping rates that buyers pay for the international part of delivery service depending on weight of an item and a destination country. Keep in mind, that those expenses are covered by a buyer, not a seller.

For the domestic leg, you have two options: you can offer the buyer free shipping and pay for it yourself, or the buyer can pay for it. And the buyer always pays for the international leg.

If applicable. When international buyers view your listings, they’ll see shipping charges and estimated import charges.

At checkout, the buyer will see final charges based on the destination country, including the item price, shipping charges, and import charges (if applicable).

Shipping charges include any US shipping charges you specify, as well as applicable international shipping, handling, and any other fees from the carrier.

The buyer is responsible for settling all charges or fees in order for customs to release the shipment and have it delivered to the buyer.

The customs clearance service is an important part of international shipping and is meant to facilitate the import of goods to your buyer’s country. With a Duties Delivered Paid (DDP) shipment, the buyer pays import charges at checkout. With a Duties Delivered Unpaid (DDU) shipment, the buyer pays any applicable import charges prior to delivery. DDU shipments may also result in the buyer being assessed additional delivery fees by the carrier.

eBay International Shipping offers both Duties Delivered Unpaid (DDU) and Duties Delivered Paid (DDP) options to buyers. Currently, the option to be used is predefined for every transaction based on the item price, item weight, and buyer shipping country. Later this year, eBay International Shipping will enable buyers to choose how they prefer to have their shipment cleared through customs — using DDP or DDU.

Shipping and packaging

No, eBay does it for you. Simply ship your item to our domestic shipping hub and we’ll take it from there. Please note, there are multiple eBay International Shipping, hub locations, thus, you may see different shipping addresses on different orders.

When packing your item, it is best to use nondescript boxes and packaging. Please note that some items, particularly items that include lithium-ion batteries, have specific packaging requirements that you can see here. You should also carefully pack your item so it’ll arrive to your buyer undamaged.

Sellers are encouraged to accurate dimensions and weight for their packages. This will help ensure we are able to show the right shipping price for your items to buyers. In the event dimensions and weight are not provided on a listing, we will estimate them. However, these estimations come with an inherent margin of error and can result in lower accuracy and higher costs for your buyers.

When shipping an order that is multi-quantity but doesn’t fit into one box, you can pack those items separately/individually into a few boxes and purchase multiple labels – one per package. The most important thing is to keep the same reference number associated with the order on every package (you can find it on the Order Details page along with the buyer’s name and the address of the shipping hub).

If you create a shipping label on eBay, you can purchase multiple labels within one order flow. Once you've printed the label for your first package, simply select Print another label for this order from the label confirmation page. You can then enter the weight and dimensions for the next package.

Each additional label you print will have its own tracking number and will be charged separately, based on the package weight and dimensions you entered.

Please, note that multiple orders or multiple items from different orders can’t be packed and shipped in one package together.

Ship to our domestic shipping hub, paying attention to proper labels and packaging.

If you create a shipping label on eBay, it will automatically include the address of a shipping hub and the reference number. Tracking information will automatically be uploaded to My eBay.

If you create your own shipping label, remember to include the reference number and add the tracking number. You can find the reference number on the Order Details page along with the buyer’s name and the address of the shipping hub.

When your items are received undamaged at the hub, we’ll take it from there. We’ll prepare customs and tax forms, and your package will be labeled for its final destination. Sellers are protected from common claims, including negative feedback, and we also manage any returns.

Yes, you can purchase shipping insurance for the domestic leg. The international leg is insured by eBay.

If you purchase USPS insurance or signature confirmation for your item, it protects you against any loss or damage to the package until it reaches the domestic shipping hub. You’re responsible for getting the package safely to the shipping hub. If the item is lost or damaged during international shipping after being received at the hub, we’ve got your back.

eBay handles the import declaration through the carrier. There is no export declaration in US since the value of items currently eligible for eBay International Shipping is under $2,500. 

We’ll track your package to the shipping hub and then to your buyer. You can find tracking details on the Order Details page.

There will be two tracking numbers for your shipment. The first tracking number will be the domestic tracking number for the shipment to the shipping hub. The second tracking number is the international shipment to your buyer.

When you upload tracking information, we notify the buyer by email that the item has shipped. Tracking is also visible to the buyer on the Order Details page in My eBay.

eBay evaluates all packages that are received at our hub. Anything that does not comply with international shipping standards will be assessed, and where possible, repackaged for international travel at no additional cost to you.

Even though it takes about two additional days to ship to our domestic shipping hub and have the item processed, our carrier contracts provide rapid delivery times. Your estimated delivery dates (EDDs) are automatically updated with eBay International Shipping delivery timeframes, so there’s no need to add additional handling time — that will just extend the delivery date.

If you schedule Time Away, your EDD will be updated to reflect the extended handling time.

Combined shipping is currently not available through eBay International Shipping. Please ensure all items in a single order are packaged together for shipping and properly identified for export and import. Do not combine items from several orders even if both are for the same buyer.

As part of eBay international Shipping, eBay will manage the export process on your behalf. Please see the eBay EIS Seller’s T&C for more information.

eBay takes the work out of selling internationally! We handle EU and other regulatory requirements for you at our domestic shipping hub.

What happens at the domestic shipping hub?

At present, in most cases, no. All packages are checked by running through x-ray machinery and/or hand inspected by US domestic hub employees. The primary focus of this checkpoint is to identify and prevent shipment of any goods that may be deemed dangerous and/or prohibited for export/import.

Additionally, if the scan indicates items not described in the listing, or there are concerns around safety of an item for shipping, the box may be opened. If after that inspection there are no issues, the package is resealed and sent as normal.

Not usually. Sellers should package their items ready to go to the final destination.

The package is typically only at the hub for one day. The estimated delivery date shown to your buyer at the time of purchase includes this day at the hub. Because we have negotiated with carriers to ensure competitive and efficient services, your eBay International Shipping packages are still likely to arrive faster than with other international shipping services.

If the package arrives in a damaged condition, we’ll take a picture for further examination. If the damage is deemed to have been caused by the carrier that the seller used to ship the item to the hub, we’ll have the seller reach out to that carrier for a claim.

The seller is not responsible for items damaged in transit after it arrives at our domestic shipping hub.

Returns and seller protections

No, eBay handles them for you. We take on all the risk of international shipping and even manage return communications with your buyer. All at no cost to you. And you keep the sale.

Once your item is received undamaged at the domestic shipping hub, your sale is considered complete. If the buyer opens a return, eBay will issue a refund at no cost to you.

Let your buyer know to choose the return option in their order history. eBay will handle all international returns. Learn more about how your buyer can request a refund here.

eBay International Shipping includes protections in addition to  eBay Money Back Guarantee  cases, in scenarios such as:

  • If an item is lost or damaged during international shipping, you will not be found at fault if your buyer opens an eBay Money Back Guarantee case.
  • Your seller performance standards and Service Metrics won’t be affected by late deliveries or eBay Money Back Guarantee cases attributed to international shipping.
  • Any negative or neutral feedback from item handling during international transit will be removed from your account.
  • We’ll handle international returns on your behalf, including Not as Described claims.

By participating in eBay International Shipping, you are agreeing to allow eBay to handle the export process and to the Program Terms and Conditions.

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