You can find the limited exception to the policy in the What are the guidelines? section below. The guidelines explain what you can list and what you can't. Additionally, you need to follow any applicable laws or postal restrictions for adult material and adhere to the laws of the countries you are posting to.
When listing vintage films, magazines, books, or photos that contain images with nudity that are allowed under this policy, you must ensure that all nude persons were above the age of 18 at the time the images were produced.
Policy overview
Sexual Wellness category
Only permitted business sellers can list certain bondage items, sex toys, and sex accessories in the following categories:
- Health & Beauty > Health Care > Sexual Wellness > Fantasy, Fetish & Accesories
- Health & Beauty > Health Care > Sexual Wellness > Sex Toys
Permitted business sellers listing items in these categories must meet the following listing requirements:
- Listings must not contain images of nudity (nudity is defined as male/female genitalia, anus or female breasts where the areola or nipple is visible).
- Listings can't use language in violation of our profanity policy.
- Items must be new, in their original packaging.
If you've registered as a business seller on eBay and want to become a permitted seller, please, submit your request. We will reply to you within 2 weeks.
For non-permitted sellers please see the listing restrictions below.
What are the guidelines?
Amateur items
Allowed
- Unrated films that originally had a BBFC rating, or unrated versions of a BBFC rated film (like director's cuts) are permitted if the content of the film isn't sexually explicit or isn't certificate R18 or above.
Not allowed
- Photographs of wives/girlfriends/husbands/boyfriends, even if there's no nudity in the image
- Hidden camera videos and amateur videos containing adult sexual activity
Bondage items
Restricted
- Bondage items are allowed only if they are not modelled on a real person or mannequin and don't contain inappropriate descriptions or obscene images.
Images of nudity and nude art
eBay defines nudity as male/female genitalia, anus, or female breasts where the areola or nipple is visible. Butts (male or female), bare male chests, or female breast where the areola is not visible aren't considered nudity. We won't determine if an item constitutes art, but we'll review the content of the listing description, images and categories to determine if an item should be removed.
Restricted
- Nude images are only permitted when properly categorized as nude art.
- Frontal nudity is allowed in Art categories when the item is considered fine art, such as Michelangelo's David, vintage pin-up art, Renaissance-style paintings and nude cherubs.
- Descriptions of items containing nudity can't contain explicit or overtly sexual content.
- Nude art listed in the Art categories must include the item specifics attribute Subject: Nudes. This includes listings in:
- Photographs > Contemporary (1991-Now)
- Photographs > Modern (1940-1990)
Not allowed
'Adult' or 'sexually-orientated' material that is not permitted includes, but is not limited to:
- Any visual representation of human genitals presented in such a manner as to suggest sexual activity
- Any visual representation of any form of sexual intercourse
- Any materials clearly designed to sexually arouse the viewer/reader
- Any items which depict human sexual characteristics in a degrading fashion
- Any item that portrays frontal nudity will normally be treated as 'adult' material, with limited exceptions as set out in the Restricted section
- Any photo-montage nude image of a celebrity
- Any items depicting bestiality, rape sex, incest, sadism, masochism or sex with graphic violence and degradation
- Images included when leaving feedback may not contain nudity, even if the actual item or original listing included nudity
- AI Generated or Photoshopped nude or sexually suggestive images of anyone, including public figures
Magazines and books
Restricted
- Playboy, Playgirl, Mayfair and Penthouse magazines may be listed if the listing doesn't contain any images of nudity or sexually explicit content.
- Romance novels are permitted but the description may not contain explicit content.
- Books on sex, relationships, sexual education and self-help are generally permitted, but the listing can't contain nude images or explicit content.
Not allowed
- All other adult magazines, nudist publications or adult anime/manga that include sexually explicit content, nudity or sexual stories may not be listed.
Media
Allowed
- Unrated films that originally had a BBFC rating, or unrated versions of a BBFC rated film (like director's cuts) are permitted if the content of the film isn't sexually explicit.
- Any media item that has product details available from the eBay catalogue when listing is generally permitted.
- Profanity that's part of the original title and description of a DVD or CD is permitted in the listing.
Restricted
- Films related to sex education, self-help, relationships and sexuality are generally permitted, but the listing can't contain nude images or explicit content.
- Some movies that may be legal to sell to adults outside of eBay are restricted on the site. Examples include celebrity sex tapes or films (rated up to 18) with violent sexual scenes.
Not allowed
- Films and video games with a rating above X, XXX, R18 or created for an adult audience may not be listed.
- Films described as 'strictly for 18+' or 'over 18s only' are generally not permitted, unless it is a mainstream film such as 'Striptease'.
- Unrated films containing explicit sexual content
- Adult only video games
Minors
Not allowed
Child pornography is illegal and not allowed on eBay. eBay may use broad discretion when removing items that depict minors, even if the content is not sexual in nature.
- Images of minors that are not fully clothed or the item is described based on their clothing.
- Underage modelling photos are generally not permitted even if the subject is fully clothed.
- Items using the words 'child', 'children', 'young girls' or 'young boys' to describe an item containing nudity or sexual situations is not allowed. Items with those words or phrases can't be listed even if the performers are 18 years or older or the words are part of the product title.
- Items described as 'teen', 'teens', 'teenager' or 'Lolita' if they are used in a sexual context and there's no indication that the performer is 18 years or older.
Other adult items
Restricted
- Vibrators and massagers intended for sexual pleasure may not be listed outside of the Sexual Wellness categories. Other massagers can be listed outside of the Sexual Wellness categories, but if a listing indicates the item is for sexual use it may be removed.
Not allowed
Anything designed for use in sexual or adult activities may not be listed on eBay. At our discretion, we prohibit items which depict or describe adult content that we believe is not suitable for eBay. The following adult items are not allowed on eBay:
- Adult-orientated domain names
- Any item which, because of their nature or because of the item description, appear to be designed for use in sexual/adult activity
- Nude playing cards or trading cards
Items that can't be listed at all
Not allowed
- Obscene materials aren't allowed on eBay and will be removed at eBay’s discretion. In addition to the above, we prohibit items depicting or describing bestiality, necrophilia, rape, scat and incest (real or fictionalised).
- Services that include any sexual/adult activity. This includes the suggestion of any form of prostitution, escort service, sexual relationship or other adult-only activity, including 'virtual' boyfriends or girlfriends.
- Sex dolls
- Lifelike masturbators, dildos, and other sex toys that are flesh-toned reproductions of genitalia or human body parts
- Links to sites that contain adult items are prohibited on eBay.
Activity on eBay is required to follow this policy, the eBay User Agreement and all applicable laws, as well as respect the rights of third parties. If it doesn’t, eBay may take action consistent with applicable laws and the eBay User Agreement, and may even be legally required to do so. Such actions may include, as an example only: Removing the listing or other content, issuing a warning, restricting activity or account suspension.
Additional information
Is profanity allowed on eBay?
Most profanity is prohibited. But we do allow media titles and descriptions (film titles, CD names or track lists, for example) containing profanity as long as the original production company title or description also contains the profanity. For more information, see our Threats and offensive language policy.
Why does eBay have this policy?
We don’t allow certain items that we believe are not appropriate for eBay, which helps us to maintain a marketplace that all of our members can enjoy.