Mastering eBay Singapore: How to Sell & Succeed as a Beginner
One of the most trusted ecommerce platforms in Singapore, eBay, is known for connecting local sellers with buyers from all around the world. Whether you're running an online business or selling pre-owned items, its marketplace provides an easy way to reach both local and international customers. With millions of listings and a strong global presence, eBay remains one of the most versatile options for online selling in Singapore.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through becoming a seller on eBay Singapore. From product research to creating your account, posting effective listings, and important selling policies — we'll cover it all!
Related: Beginner’s Guide: Dropshipping in Singapore in 2025
What to Sell on eBay (Product Research)
Most small-scale eBay sellers start by sourcing products from their own homes — old electronics, furniture, toys, books, and so on. Not only does this mean zero up-front product investment, but eBay also has a huge demand for pre-loved, thrifted, and vintage items.
If you’re looking to become a long-term seller and are unsure where to begin, here are the best-selling product categories to consider:
Vintage/antique items. Furniture, records, plates, clocks, toys, memorabilia, china, silverware, trinkets, stuffed animals, and obsolete blank media like VHS or cassette tapes.
Used/thrifted items. Old electronics, video games, shoes, clothing, furniture, toys, books, board games, loose Legos, and sporting goods.
Collectibles. Coins, stamps, trading cards, comic books, and action figures, especially rare or limited-edition pieces.
Home goods. Kitchenware, decor items, bedding, rugs, curtains, and lighting fixtures.
Fashion. Handbags, accessories, scarves, sunglasses, hats, and belts — branded, designer, and even second-hand.
Electronics. Smartphones, tablets, cameras, headphones, gaming consoles, and computer accessories.
Sports and outdoors. Camping gear, fishing equipment, bicycles, fitness trackers, and sports jerseys.
Baby and kids. Strollers, high chairs, kids' clothing, educational toys, and books.
How to Sell on eBay Singapore — A Step-by-Step Guide
The process of registering as a seller on eBay Singapore is the same for all eBay platforms, with small differences. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how to sell on eBay Singapore.
Step 1: Set Up Your Seller Account
Start by creating an eBay account. Note that this process remains the same regardless of which global eBay platform you open.
Follow these steps:
Open ebay.com.sg. Locate “My eBay” in the top right corner, open the drop-down menu, and select Selling.
Choose whether to create a Personal or Business account. If you’re starting as an individual or a casual seller, choose a personal account. You can always upgrade to a business account later. If you have a registered business and plan to sell in bulk, a business account will give you access to more tools and a personalized storefront.
Fill out the registration form, including your name, email, password, and location. You can also sign up using your Google, Facebook, or Apple account. Next, click “Create Account”.
Before you can start selling, you’ll have to enter your contact information and click on “Continue”. You’ll now be automatically redirected to My eBay.
Step 2: Verify Your Identity
If you want to sell to other countries as a Singapore eBay seller, you are required to verify your identity with eBay and PayPal. This is necessary to list your items on a site other than where you are registered.
You can verify your identity using either your bank account or credit card. Do this either while setting up your account, or after you’re prompted when making a listing.
To verify using your bank account, follow these steps:
Enter your bank account information to create your PayPal account.
PayPal will deposit two small amounts into your bank account.
Check your bank account in 4-6 days and return to My eBay to enter the deposit amounts to complete the verification.
If you make a mistake in entering the amounts, you have three attempts before needing to contact customer support.
Note that you only need to confirm your identity the first time you list an item. If you have not confirmed your identity with eBay and PayPal, you can still list items, but cannot sell them internationally.
Your listings will be saved for 30 days once you begin, so verify your identity in the meantime, and then return to complete and post them.
Step 3: Optimize Your Profile
Before you start listing, take a minute to optimize your profile by adding a user name, profile picture, and description. This boosts your credibility and shows customers that you’re an authentic seller.
Here's how you can do it:
Go to "My eBay," then click your username, and select “Edit Profile” to add a profile picture and description.
Choose a good, memorable username. Avoid generic names and number strings, as they can make you look less professional.
Keep these guidelines in mind when picking a username: it should be at least two characters long, should exclude symbols like @, &, or spaces, and cannot contain trademarked names or offensive terms.
If you wish to change your username later, go to "My eBay," select "Account," then click "Personal Information" and “Edit” next to your username.
You can change your username once every 30 days, but doing so will make it difficult for repeat customers to find you.
Step 4: Create Effective eBay Listings
You’re now ready to make your first listing! Follow these steps:
Go to My eBay and click on “Selling”.
Describe the item you are selling in the “Start your listing” box. As you type the product, eBay will give you recommendations for a category that fits your item. Make sure to select an appropriate category. Your listing can be taken down if an item category is misleading to customers.
Enter a clear, descriptive title for your item (up to 80 characters). This should include important product identifiers, like the brand, model, color, size, specs, condition, and other item specifics. Include relevant keywords to help your product appear in buyer search results. Avoid using all caps, excessive punctuation, or misleading brand or item names.
Add photos to your listing. You can upload photos from your phone camera (if you’re using the eBay app on a mobile device) or drag and upload from your computer. Here are some guidelines to know:
Ensure you upload clear, well-lit, and high-quality photos that show your item from multiple angles.
Accepted file formats include JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, HEIC, and BMP.
Photos must be at least 500px on the longest side.
Include size charts or any additional helpful graphics if necessary.
You can upload up to 24 photos per listing.
Only use your own photos — do not use another seller's product images, even if you are selling the same product.
For used items, upload actual photos of the product instead of stock images.
Fill in the item details. These are categories that eBay uses to place your item in filtered search results, such as “Brand,” “Condition,” “Model,” “Color,” and so on. To add these details to your product, click the "Change" button in the "Details" section and fill in as many fields as possible.
Write a detailed product description. Make it easy to read, use bullets wherever possible, and add relevant keywords towards the start and end of your description. Be honest and thorough — if the item has damages or flaws, now is the time to mention them.
Step 5: Product Pricing
If you’re unsure how to price your item, browse through similar items to determine the right price you can charge. Keep your price as reasonable as possible, while considering your profit margins.
When setting your price, you’ll have to choose between two listing types:
Auction. Auction-style listings are great if you want to sell a product quickly, especially if it’s a rare or collectible item. Auctions last 1-10 days and may fetch higher prices than expected. You can set a reserve price to protect your minimum sale price, but note that you will be charged an additional fee for this.
Buy It Now/Fixed Price. Buy It Now listings are fixed-price items, so buyers can purchase immediately at your set price. This option is great if you want a quick, predictable sale and is ideal for building a brand. Fixed-price listings also give you a clearer idea of your final value fees (the price you pay to eBay for each sale), helping you better plan your profits.
Step 6: Set Your Payment & Shipping Details
Scroll down to “Payment” to set how you want to receive payments. The primary payment method for international listings is PayPal, but you can also select a merchant credit card account if you have one.
Next, decide on your shipping service and enter packaging weight, size, and dimensions to check how much it will cost the buyer. You also have the option to provide free shipping to attract more buyers.
If the item is difficult to ship, you can offer "Local Pickup” and let the buyer collect it in person.
You can also select international shipping if you’re willing to ship globally, but this is only possible if you’ve verified your identity.
Step 7: Set Your Returns Policy
Specify if you accept returns and under what conditions. You can choose from several return policy options, such as:
No returns
30-day buyer-paid returns
30-day free returns
60-day buyer-paid returns
60-day free returns
Some categories, like cameras and jewelry, may offer a 14-day return option.
With the returns policy complete, you’re now ready to post your listing. Thoroughly double-check all details, and click on “List Item”. Your listing is now live!
Understanding eBay Singapore Seller Fees
As an eBay seller, you are charged various fees depending on your seller status, the number of sales, and the type of eBay store you run. While eBay operates on a global scale, fee structures vary by the seller’s region. Here are the five main types of eBay seller fees and how they apply to sellers in Singapore:
1. Insertion Fees
On eBay US, sellers receive 250 free listings per month, after which an insertion fee of $0.35 applies for each additional listing.
The insertion listing fee is charged each time you re-list an item. It is also charged per category, meaning if you list an item in two different categories, you’ll pay $0.35 for the second category too.
However, on eBay Singapore, insertion fees are waived entirely for items listed in Auction or Fixed Price formats.
2. Final Value Fee
In the US, eBay charges a Final Value Fee when your item sells, calculated as a percentage of the total sale price plus a flat per-order fee.
The percentage is 13.25% or lower for most categories but varies by category and your seller status. The per-order fee is $0.30 (for orders worth $10.00 or less) and $0.40 (for orders over $10.00).
For Singapore-based sellers, eBay Singapore does not charge any Final Value Fees for items listed in Auction or Fixed Price formats.
3. Store Fees
As you grow your business, you have the option of opening an eBay store, which allows you to bring all your listings to a single, branded location.
Depending on the type of store you choose, you’ll have to pay a monthly or annual subscription fee to enjoy perks like discounted seller fees, promotional tools, and more.
eBay Singapore has three store subscriptions with tiered pricing:
Basic store: SG$5 per month
Featured store: SG$25 per month
Anchor store: SG$100 per month
eBay US has five store subscriptions for sellers — Starter, Basic, Premium, Anchor, and Enterprise, ranging from $4.95 to $2999.95 a month.
4. Listing Upgrade Fees
On eBay Singapore, you can enhance your listings with optional upgrades, such as subtitles, bold text, or gallery features.
Pricing for these upgrades ranges from SG$0.10 to SG$61.50, depending on the feature. Here is a breakdown:
Bold: SG$0.75
Listing designer: SG$0.10
Scheduled listings: SG$0.10
Adding a subtitle: SG$0.40
Gallery feature: SG$15.35
Home page feature: SG$61.50
These upgrades make your listings stand out, attract more buyers, and increase the chances of a successful sale.
5. International Fees
As a seller registered on eBay Singapore, you will have to pay international fees on each sale if:
The delivery address for the item (entered by the buyer during checkout) is outside of Singapore.
The buyer's registered address is outside of Singapore (regardless of the delivery address).
Singapore is counted as part of the Asia-Pacific region in eBay’s division. The international fee for this area is 1.30% of the total sale amount and will be automatically deducted from your sales proceeds. The total sale amount includes the item price, handling charges, shipping costs, sales tax, and any other applicable fees.
Important eBay Selling Policies
Before you sell on eBay Singapore, it’s important to familiarize yourself with eBay’s policies for sellers. eBay Singapore has the same selling policies as other eBay platforms.
Failing to follow these policies can result in serious penalties, including account suspension, removal of your listings and products, or restriction of seller privileges.
While we recommend reading eBay’s policies in detail yourself, we’ve summarized some key ones every seller should know:
Accurately represent the item’s location in listings to avoid misleading buyers about shipping times and costs. Including false, inaccurate, vague, or misleading item location information may result in penalties.
When selling an item that is used, refurbished, or flawed, you must specifically state the condition of the item and upload actual photos, not stock pictures.
If you need to cancel an order, do so within 30 days of the sale using My eBay and Seller Hub only — canceling orders outside of these venues is not allowed.
Do not sell outside of eBay — all communication with customers must be done within the eBay ecosystem.
Do not list any banned or restricted items or your account may be permanently suspended. You can view the restricted items list here.
eBay enforces strict policies regarding copyrighted materials — do not upload any products or listings that infringe on the intellectual property rights of other sellers.
Avoiding eBay seller fees, whether knowingly or accidentally, is against the rules and may get your account suspended. Examples of fee avoidance include offering to buy or sell outside of eBay, requiring buyers to make extra purchases, or overcharging for shipping.
Shill bidding (artificially bidding on your own items to inflate prices, desirability, or search rankings) is strictly prohibited.
Adhere to eBay’s tax policies for sellers. Pay all legally required taxes in Singapore, including income tax on eBay earnings.
Meet minimum performance standards every month, such as maintaining a transaction defect rate below 2% and resolving cases promptly. Failure to perform up to the mark can result in limitations to your seller privileges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Best Products to Sell on eBay Singapore?
Best-selling product categories on eBay Singapore include consumer electronics, fashion and beauty, loungewear, shapewear, sports fashion, baby products, pet accessories, and furniture.
Who Pays for Shipping on eBay?
The buyer pays for shipping on eBay. The shipping costs are included in the amount the buyer pays the seller for the item, and the seller purchases the shipping label/carrier on the buyer’s behalf.
How Fast Does eBay Pay Sellers?
eBay processes payments to sellers within 1-2 business days after the buyer’s payment is confirmed. However, it may take longer depending on the payment method and buyer’s payment processing time. Sellers using eBay-managed payments will receive the funds in their linked bank account within 2-4 business days after the payment is processed.
What Are Promoted Listings on eBay?
Promoted listings are a way for sellers to increase visibility and sales by paying for extra exposure on eBay. When you promote a listing, your item gets more visibility in search results and on other high-traffic eBay pages.
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