How to add an HTML description to your eBay listing

A designed description makes your listing look professional and helps buyers find what they need quickly. Getting it into eBay is easy once you know where to look. This guide walks you through it, then covers the problems sellers hit most often.

Before you start

You'll need two things:

• Your listing's HTML. In Lystro, click Copy HTML. The whole description is now on your clipboard.
• A computer. The eBay app is great for buying and quick edits, but it can't edit the HTML of a description. Use a desktop or laptop browser.

Step 1: Open the listing form

Start a new listing as usual, or open an existing listing and choose to revise it. Scroll down to the Description section.

Step 2: Switch the description to HTML

eBay's description box has two modes: a normal text editor and an HTML (code) view. Look for a tab labelled HTML or a <> button near the top of the description box. If you only see a plain text box, choose the option to show all editing options first, then switch to HTML.

The exact labels change from time to time, but there's always a way to edit the description as HTML on desktop.

Step 3: Paste your listing

1. Click inside the HTML box.
2. Select everything that's already there (Ctrl+A, or ⌘A on a Mac) so you don't end up with old and new code mixed together.
3. Paste (Ctrl+V or ⌘V).

Step 4: Check it and save

Switch back to the normal view or use eBay's preview to see the result. Check that your photos appear and your text reads well, then list the item or save your changes.

That's it. Your design is now part of your listing.

Fixing common problems

My images don't show

eBay only shows images from secure links, which start with https://. If an image is missing:

• Make sure the link starts with https://, not http://.
• The simplest option is to use the photos already in your eBay listing: open the live listing, right-click a photo and choose Copy image address. Those links start with https://i.ebayimg.com and work in descriptions.
• Or use any image host that gives you a direct link to the picture (ending in .jpg, .png or .webp).
• Avoid links to private cloud folders, which usually block other sites from showing them.

The layout looks plain or the tabs don't switch

Some views and tools strip out styling. Lystro writes every important style inline, so your listing still reads well, but if you want maximum safety, turn on Maximum compatibility in the Copy HTML menu. It swaps interactive extras like tabs for simple versions that work everywhere.

eBay warns about active content

eBay doesn't allow scripts, forms or embedded players in descriptions. Lystro never adds any of these, so the warning usually means old code was left in the box. Select everything in the HTML view before pasting, so only your new listing is there.

It looks different on a phone

That's expected: phones show descriptions in a narrower column. Use the Phone preview in the editor to check how it stacks. Every Lystro template is designed for small screens first.

Updating a listing later

Change your design in Lystro, click Copy HTML again, then revise your listing on eBay and replace the HTML in the same way. Your designs and earlier versions stay saved in your account, so you can always go back.