Etsy Listing Requirements: Mandatory Fields & Rules
Summary
Every Etsy listing must meet specific technical and content requirements. Missing required fields or providing inaccurate information about who made an item, when it was made, or what it is made from can result in listing suppression or removal.
Etsy's Core Listing Requirements
Every Etsy listing must include accurate information across several mandatory categories. Incomplete or inaccurate listings may be suppressed in search, removed, or result in account warnings.
The "Who Made It, What Is It, When Was It Made" Framework
Etsy's marketplace is categorised into three types:
- Handmade — Made by you or your production partners
- Vintage — At least 20 years old
- Craft Supplies — Tools and materials for making things
You must accurately select one of these categories for every listing. Misrepresentation is a policy violation.
Required Listing Fields
Title
Must accurately describe the item. Cannot consist of keyword strings without descriptive context. Maximum 140 characters. Must not contain trademarked terms without authorisation.
Description
Must accurately describe the item's materials, dimensions, condition (for vintage), and relevant characteristics. Cannot make prohibited claims (medical, fraudulent, etc.).
Photos
At least one photo required. Photos must accurately represent the actual item for sale. Stock photos are permitted only for digital downloads and craft supplies where the delivered item matches what's shown.
Price
Must reflect the actual price charged to the buyer. Cannot show false "original" prices that were never genuinely in effect.
Primary Material
Must be selected from Etsy's taxonomy. Must accurately reflect the main material used.
Shipping Information
Processing time, shipping method, and origin must be accurate. Stating "ships in 1 business day" when you have a 3-week backlog is a violation.
Tags
You may use up to 13 tags. Each tag must:
- Be relevant to the item
- Not repeat keywords used in other tags
- Not consist solely of trademarked terms
- Not be used for keyword stuffing
Digital Downloads
Digital listings must accurately describe what the buyer will receive — file format, number of files, dimensions, and any requirements for software or skill to use the files.
Do
- Fill in all required fields completely and accurately
- Use all 13 tag slots with relevant, varied keyword phrases
- Include accurate processing times that you can consistently meet
- Specify the primary material from the official taxonomy list
- Include dimensions, weight, and care instructions where relevant
Don't
- Keyword-stuff your title with unrelated search terms
- Use generic stock photos for handmade items
- Understate processing times to appear more competitive
- List items as 'vintage' if they are less than 20 years old
- Skip the primary material field or enter 'other' when a specific option applies
Common Mistakes
- Using more than 13 tags (Etsy ignores extras, but it's a violation)
- Repeating the same keyword in multiple tags
- Setting an artificially low processing time and then regularly shipping late
- Not updating listings to reflect out-of-stock materials or changed specifications
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