Bidding is meant to be fun and enjoyable, but remember that each bid you place enters you into a binding contract. All bids are active until the auction ends. If you win a listing, you’re obligated to complete the transaction. Read the User Agreement for details.

Before you place a bid, you’ll need to register. Registration is free and simple. Register now, or learn more about registering.

Learn more about bidding on eBay by taking a guided audio tour or by reading the information below:

• How to bid

• About eBay’s bidding system

• Tips for successful bidding

• PayPal Buyer Protection

• Getting outbid

• Changing your bid

• Bids over $15,000

• Pre-approved bidders

• Blocked bidders

• Reserve Price Auctions

• Shill bidding

• Specialty bidding

• Helpful resources

How to bid

Once you find an item you're interested in, it's easy to place a bid.

eBay will bid on your behalf up to your maximum bid. You'll get an email confirming your bid. And when the auction ends, you'll receive another email indicating whether you've won the item, with an explanation of what you can do next.

Note: You may be able to place bids from more than just the item page. However, please carefully review the item listing before you place a bid.

About eBay’s automatic bidding system

When you place a bid, we suggest that you enter the maximum amount that you're willing to pay for the item. (You won't necessarily pay the amount of your maximum bid.) eBay compares your bid to those of other bidders and increases your bid on your behalf using only as much of your bid as is necessary to maintain your high bid position.

Automatic bidding system: eBay uses an automatic bidding system to make bidding more convenient. There’s nothing you need to set up, the system is already in place.

Bid increments: eBay’s bidding system is based on increments. A bid increment is the amount by which a bid will be raised each time the current bid is outdone.

Bid safely: eBay limits how your bid history information is displayed by using anonymous names. Your complete user ID is shown to the seller of this item only. Bidders are assigned anonymous names, such as x***y. These anonymous names are used consistently across all auctions that exceed a certain level.

Note: Anonymous names may appear more than once in the bid history and may represent different bidders from different auctions.

Tips for successful bidding

• Don't bid on identical items in different listings if you just want one item. If you win both, you'll be obligated to buy both.

• If you’re outbid on an item, wait until the auction has ended before placing a bid on an equivalent item. If the bidder who outbid you retracts his or her bid, your bid may become the winning bid. Consider placing the identical item on your list of items you're watching in My eBay.

• To change your bid amount, enter a new bid amount and click the Place Bid button.

• Learn about Buyer Protection Programs.

Getting outbid

When another bidder has placed a higher maximum bid than yours, you’ve been outbid. Learn more about getting outbid.

Changing your bid

There may be times when you’d like to raise or lower your bid. Learn more about changing your bid.

Bids over $15,000

To place a bid of $15,000 or more, you must provide a valid credit card (your card won't be charged) or go through our ID Verify process (no credit card required). This helps ensure that eBay members involved in large sales are of legal age and serious about completing the transaction.

You only need to provide this information once. To find out if you already have a credit card on file, please check your Account Status. eBay encourages you to file your credit card or get verified in advance.

Pre-approved bidders

Occasionally, for certain high-profile listings, eBay will allow a seller to create a pre-approved bidders list to restrict their listings to a specified group of buyers. Here’s what you can expect if you bid on a listing that has a pre-approved bidders list:

• If you are a pre-approved bidder: The bidding process will proceed as usual.

• If you are not one of the pre-approved bidders: You’ll get a notice that the item is restricted, and you will not be allowed to bid on the item. If you are interested in the item, contact the seller to request being added to the pre-approved bidders list.

Blocked bidders

Sellers can make their listings unavailable to a specified list of bidders. Blocked bidders will receive an error message that states they are not allowed to bid on that seller's listings.

If you are blocked from a listing and want to discuss the situation with the seller, click the seller's user ID or the Ask the seller a question link on the listing page.

Note: Blocked bidders may not bid on that seller's listings with another user ID. This could result in indefinite suspension from eBay.

Learn about the blocked bidder list from a seller's point of view.

Reserve Price Auctions

Reserve Price Auctions – Some auction-style listings have a reserve price (that is, a hidden minimum price) on their item.

Shill bidding

Shill Bidding is bidding that artificially increases an item’s price or apparent desirability, or bidding by individuals with a level of access to the seller’s item information not available to the general Community. Shill bidding is prohibited on eBay.

Learn about rules and policies regarding shill bidding.

Specialty bidding

In addition to eBay’s standard bidding system, you can:

• Bid on vehicles at eBay Motors.

• Place live bids at eBay Live Auctions.

Helpful resources

• Take a guided audio tour on bidding.

• Place a practice bid.

• Take an introductory bidding tutorial.

• Review the buyer's checklist.

Ask Other eBay Members – the Community Answer Center

You can get help from other eBay members by using the eBay Answer Center. Designed for fast questions and answers rather than discussion, the Answer Center is a member-to-member forum where eBay members can ask questions, give answers, and share information about eBay. You can also search for your answers from previous postings.

Learn more about the Answer Center or visit the Answer Center Board for Bidding.