Variations

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Variations let one eBay listing sell the same product in several forms — sizes, colours,
or any combination of the two — each with its own price, quantity and SKU. The buyer sees a single item
page with dropdowns, and you get one listing to manage instead of a dozen.

Where to find it

Open a listing in the editor and scroll to Variations, or click it in the editor’s
left-hand section list.

The Variations section of the listing editor

The Variations section. Until a variation-capable category and a fixed price format are set, it explains why it is empty.

Two conditions have to be met, and the section says which one is not.

  • “Please select an eBay category first.” — no category is set.
  • “Selected category does not support variations.” — eBay does not allow variations in this
    category. Nothing you can do here will change that.
  • “Auction style listings do not support variations.” — variations are a fixed price
    feature. Change the format in Format & Pricing.

What is on this section

Control What it does
Variation names and values The attributes the product varies by — Size and Colour, for example — and the values each one can
take. Choose from what eBay offers for the category, or use Or Enter your own name
for an attribute eBay does not list.
Move up / Move down Reorder the variation attributes. The order is the order the buyer sees the dropdowns in.
Use … as Picture Variation Nominates one attribute — usually Colour — as the one that changes the picture. eBay allows exactly
one, and its values are what pictures can be attached to.
Generate Variations Builds the grid of every combination of the values you have entered. Three sizes and two colours
gives six combinations, each its own row.
Number of Variations A running count of the combinations generated. eBay caps how many one listing may have.
The combination grid One row per combination, taking its own price, quantity and SKU.
Delete combination Removes a combination you do not stock. Deleting is how you handle a product that does not exist in every combination.
Add Local Pictures / Add Picture Urls Attach pictures to a value of the picture variation attribute — the images that change when the buyer picks a colour.
Save / Accept Keeps the variations you have built and closes the editing step.

How to use it

  1. Set a fixed price format in Format & Pricing
    and a category that allows variations.
  2. Name the attributes the product varies by, and list each one’s values.
  3. Nominate the picture variation if pictures differ — usually Colour.
  4. Press Generate Variations.
  5. Delete the combinations you do not stock.
  6. Fill in price, quantity and SKU on each remaining row.
  7. Attach pictures to the picture variation’s values.
  8. Save, then save the listing.

FAQ

Q: The section says the category does not support variations.
A: That is eBay’s rule for that category and it cannot be overridden. List the
products separately, or find a category that allows them.
Q: It says auctions do not support variations.
A: Correct — variations are fixed price only. Change the listing type in
Format & Pricing.
Q: The section is not in my editor at all.
A: Hide variations is on in your editor Preferences.
Q: I generated too many combinations.
A: Delete the ones you do not stock with Delete combination. The
count above the grid tells you where you stand.
Q: Why can only one attribute have pictures?
A: That is eBay’s rule — one attribute is the picture variation, and it is usually
colour.
Q: Can I add a variation to a listing that is already live?
A: eBay restricts what may be changed on a live multi-variation listing — you
generally cannot remove a variation that has sales. Adding is usually allowed.

Support

For further assistance you can:

← Back to the User Guide index

Or go to Support, the FAQs, or contact us.

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