How to Delete Your eBay Account (Step by Step)

To delete your eBay account, sign in on the eBay website, go to My eBay, then Account, and select Close account. Before you do, make sure you have no money owed to eBay, no open orders, and no active listings or bids. After you submit your request, eBay emails you, and the account is closed after a waiting period, often around 30 days.

Once an account is closed, you usually cannot get it back. So it is worth taking a few minutes to get ready first. This guide walks you through everything.

Before you close your account

eBay will not close your account until everything is settled. Check these first.

Save anything you need

Once your account is closed, you lose access to it. Before closing:

• Download or screenshot your order history if you need it for taxes, warranties, or records.
• Save seller payment reports if you sold items, especially for tax time.
• Write down contact info for any sellers you may need to reach later.
• Leave feedback on recent orders if you want to.

How to delete your eBay account

The steps are easiest on the eBay website. On a phone, open ebay.com in your web browser.

1. Go to ebay.com and sign in.
2. Select My eBay at the top of the page.
3. Select the Account tab.
4. Under Account preferences or Account settings, select Close account.
5. Read the information on the page and select Close account again if asked.
6. Pick a reason from the Tell us why you're leaving menu.
7. Read the details about what happens when you close your account.
8. Check the box next to I want to close my eBay account.
9. Select Submit.

eBay changes its menus from time to time. If you cannot find the option, search for "close account" in the eBay Help center.

What happens next

• You get an email. eBay usually emails you within about 24 hours. It may ask for more information, so check your inbox and spam folder.
• There is a waiting period. eBay keeps the account open for a while, often around 30 days, to make sure all transactions are finished. It can be longer if you had recent sales or purchases.
• The account is closed. After that, you can no longer sign in, buy, or sell with that account.

If you change your mind during the waiting period, contact eBay customer service as soon as possible.

Why eBay will not let you close your account

If eBay shows an error or will not let you continue, one of these is usually the reason:

• You still owe seller fees.
• You have an open return, case, or dispute.
• An item you bought or sold has not been delivered.
• You have an active listing or an open bid.
• You have an eBay Store subscription.
• Your account has a hold or restriction.

Fix the item eBay points out, wait a day, and try again.

Other options instead of deleting

Closing your account is permanent. If you are not sure, you could:

• Turn off emails in your communication preferences to stop marketing messages.
• Remove saved payment methods if you are worried about security.
• Change your password and turn on two-step verification if you think someone else used your account.
• Just stop using it. An inactive account does not cost anything.

Keep your other accounts clean too

If you are cleaning up your online life, you might also want to clear your YouTube search history or review what you have saved on Facebook. And if you are closing eBay because of a bad delivery experience, our guide on missing packages that say delivered has tips that work for most online stores.

TimeToNote is not connected to eBay. For account-specific help, contact eBay directly.

The bottom line

To delete your eBay account, first pay any fees, finish all orders and returns, end listings, and cancel subscriptions. Then sign in on ebay.com, go to My eBay, Account, and Close account, and follow the steps. eBay will email you, and your account will close after a waiting period. Save your order history before you close it, because you usually cannot reopen it later.