Etsy :: Help Guide: Listing

Listing an Item

Listing an item for sale on Etsy is fun and easy! Here we'll explain the process to you.

Before listing an item, you will want to set up your shop. This is explained in the Help Guide Setting Up Your Shop.

The fee for listing an item on Etsy is $.20 for four months. Once the item is sold there is a 3.5% fee. That's all! Etsy is for selling items handmade by you. You may also sell commercial supplies and vintage items (which are over 20 years old). These are the only kinds of items that may be sold on Etsy.

Your Etsy is where you go to manage your listings, shop, and account. So head over there, and let's get started!

Title and Description

Click Add New Item under Your Etsy

Tag your item

Tags are keywords buyers search for

Enter price, quantity, and shipping

You can re-use shipping profiles

Upload Images

Quality images help products sell

Review & Post

Edit any mistakes and click Finish

Step 1: Add new item, then describe it

Title: A short title that is interesting, descriptive, or both works best.

Description: Include information about the size, how it was made or any unique features.

Materials: Separate the materials in this item with a comma. Shoppers can search by materials.

Once you have filled out these three parts, click Next.

Step 2: Tag your item

Choose the category that best fits your item from the drop-down menu. If your item fits in two categories, you may list in either one. Please check the Categories page for a list. The category will appear as the first tag in the listing.

Now, tag your item. Tags are keywords that help buyers find your item.

Related tags are subcategories and sub-subcategories. You may only choose those that accurately describe your item.

Tag your item with words describing what it is, its shape, size, who it is for, how it was made, its color, style ,materials, content, motifs, etc. Think like a buyer- what words would they search to find an item like yours? Check your description and title for good keywords. This article can help: Guidelines & Tips: Tagging on Etsy

TAGGING RULES:

The tag "handmade" is for items handmade by you.
Supplies not handmade by you: Supplies Category only. Tag with commercial.
Vintage (not handmade by you, 20 years or older): Vintage Category only. Tag with commercial.
Do not tag with potential uses - ex. don't use the tag stocking stuffer, don't tag yarn with sweater.
If it�s not a crafting supply, don�t use the tag supplies.
Only one word or phrase per box.

Step 3: Enter price, quantity, and shipping

Price: Enter the price of your item (not including shipping).

Quantity: If you have more than one of the same item, enter the quantity. As the items sell, the quantity will go down. Multiply the quantity by $.20 to determine the listing fee.

Forms of Payment: Check that your accepted forms of payment are correct. You can change them in Your Etsy > Shop set-up > payment methods.

Shipping Info: If you have a saved shipping profile you wish to use, select it from the drop-down and click Load. To learn about shipping profiles, see the Help Guide Setting Up Your Shop.

To enter shipping info for one item: Enter the cost to ship the item alone, and the additional amount to ship it with another item (usually less than the ship alone cost). If two items are shipped together, the higher base cost of the two is used. Set which countries you wish to ship to, and the prices for each.

Step 4: Upload Images

You may add up to five images for each listing. The first image will be the main thumbnail for that item- the one buyers will see in searches, so make sure it is appealing! Your photos must be at least 430 pixels wide, and no more than 1000 pixels wide or high. Images will be automatically resized and cropped from the center for square thumbnail and rectangular gallery view images.

To upload an image: click Browse, find the image on your computer, then click Upload.

If you need to rearrange your images, you will have to remove them and upload them again in the new order.

Step 5: Review & Post

A preview of what your listing will look like. Revise your listing before it is posted by click on a pencil icon for that section. This takes you back to that page in the listing process. When you are done, click the Finish button.

Congratulations! You now have an item for sale on Etsy.

FAQ

What happens to my listing now?

Now your listing is live on the site, and is in your shop. It will debut on the homepage under Recently Listed Items, the Buy page under Fresh Items, and in the Time Machine and Time Machine 2 (Just Listed). It will appear at the top of its Category and subcategories, and in searches for the tags you used. If you don't see it right away, don't panic, as sometimes there is a slight delay.

To see how all your newly-listed item looks to the public, click the yellow storefront icon at the top right of the page while you are logged in. Here you can see your shop exactly as it appears to customers.

Can I edit my listing once it is live on the site?

Yes. Go to Your Etsy > Currently for Sale. Click edit next to the item you would like to edit. Click Finish on page 5 when you are done.

I can't find my item in my shop? Where is it?

Check the following places from Your Etsy (under Items on the left side):

Sold (orders): maybe you made a sale! If so, congrats!

Inactive listings: If you have started editing an item, but not clicked Finish, it will appear here. Click activate then Click Finish on page 5.

Expired listings: Listings expire after 4 months. You may renew it if you like by checking "renew" next to the item(s), and clicking the renew button at the bottom (see the next question).

What is renewing an item, and why would I want to do that?

If your item has not sold after four months, the listing expires. Renewing a listing costs $0.20, and gives the listing the same exposure benefits as a new item. To renew an expired item, go to Your Etsy > Expired Listings. Check the box next to the item(s) you wish to renew, and then click the renew button at the bottom.

You may renew an item before expiration to give it the exposure benefits of listing a new item. Renewing puts the listing at the top of your shop and the category pages. To renew an active item, go to Your Etsy > Renew items. Check the box next to the item(s) you wish to renew, and then click the renew button at the bottom. Your item will get new listing and expiration dates, but will keep its previous views and hearts. The new expiration date will be four months from the renewal date.

What is relisting an item?

If your item sold and you have more of the same thing that you want to sell, you can relist. Relisting costs $.20 and has the same exposure benefits as making a new listing, but without the work. To relist, go to Your Etsy > Sold (orders), and click the description of the item. Click the blue "relist" at the top of the sold item page.