How to Block a Buyer on eBay

Last updated: 14 June 2026. Update note: eBay has shifted the buyer-management tools to Seller Hub and removed the old "Don't have a PayPal account" filter since switching to managed payments, so that requirement is gone. This guide now matches the current Seller Hub layout.

To block a buyer on eBay, visit the Block bidders or buyers page. Enter the member's username into the box (one per line, up to 5,000 names), and click Submit. The block is instant. Blocked users can't bid on your auctions, use Buy It Now, or send offers. They're still allowed to message you unless you open Buyer requirements in Seller Hub and activate the option to prevent blocked buyers from contacting you.

That takes care of one problematic account. This guide also shows how to find a username, set automatic buyer requirements to block less often, understand what blocking does not do, and how to unblock someone later.

How to block a buyer, step by step#

1. Log into your eBay account using a desktop browser. The blocked-buyer tools aren't available in the eBay mobile app, so a computer is necessary.
2. Head over to the Block bidders or buyers from your listings page. Alternatively, access it via Account settings, then Site preferences, followed by Buyer requirements.
3. Type the buyer's username you wish to block into the text box. To block multiple users, list one username per line.
4. Click Submit. The list updates immediately and applies to all active and future listings.

You can store up to 5,000 usernames on your block list. To remove someone, return to the same page, delete their name from the box, and submit again.

How to find a buyer's username#

To block someone, you need their exact username, but eBay often hides parts of it for privacy. Here are the places to check:

• An order: Open the order in Seller Hub under Orders. The username appears on the order detail and in the shipping address block.
• A message: The sender’s username is shown at the top of the message thread in your eBay inbox.
• A bid or offer: On an active listing, the bidder list and offer history show usernames (anonymized for high-value items, but you can see the order once it sells).
• Feedback: If the buyer left feedback, you’ll find their username linked from your feedback profile.

Usernames on eBay are case-insensitive, so don't worry about capitalization when entering them into the block list.

Stop contact from blocked buyers#

Blocking a buyer prevents purchases, but by default, eBay still lets them message you. If you're dealing with a harasser, go to Buyer requirements and check the box to stop members on your blocked list from contacting you. Save the change. This stops blocked usernames from starting new message threads.

If a buyer is making threats, using hate speech, or breaking eBay rules, blocking isn't enough. Report the member through eBay's reporting process so there’s a record if things escalate.

Set buyer requirements so you block less often#

Blocking is a reactive measure, used after a buyer causes trouble. Buyer requirements, on the other hand, allow you to automatically stop certain accounts from buying, reducing the need to manage a block list manually.

On the Buyer requirements page, you can block buyers who:

• are registered in countries you don’t ship to
• have unpaid item strikes on their account (you choose the threshold, like 2 strikes within 12 months)
• have a primary shipping address in a location you've excluded
• have a negative Feedback score (for example, minus 1 or lower)
• have bid on or bought a number of your items in the past 10 days, helping limit one account from buying everything
• have requested multiple listings be sent to a country you don’t ship to

Set these once, and they apply to every listing. Use country and feedback filters carefully, though, as new buyers often have 0 feedback, and strict rules may turn away genuine sales.

A threshold framework for buyer requirements#

Filters that are set too high can hurt sales while keeping impressions steady. A tiered approach is often better than a one-size-fits-all rule, as it balances risk with a larger buyer pool:

• Always on: Block buyers in countries you don’t ship to, and block buyers with 2 or more unpaid item strikes in 12 months. These catch accounts that wouldn’t pay or couldn’t receive the parcel anyway.
• On only after seeing a pattern: The negative feedback filter and the "bought several items in 10 days" cap. Activate these after witnessing the behavior. Set the feedback floor at minus 2 instead of minus 1, since a single retaliatory negative is common and doesn’t mean the buyer is bad.
• Leave off for most apparel sellers: Any rule that blocks 0-feedback accounts. New buyers make up a large portion of clothing demand, and most are fine.

Switching from a "block all 0-feedback buyers" rule to this tiered setup generally reduces the number of cancelled and rebought orders and the routine of adding names to the block list. Once you've chosen rules, click Submit. Accounts that meet your criteria can't buy without contacting you first.

What blocking does and does not do#

Two limits to know: Blocking applies to your seller account, so a determined buyer can register a new account to get around it. It also doesn’t cancel existing sales. If a buyer you’d block has already bought something, deal with the order first, then add them to the list.

Fewer disputes start with a clearer listing#

Many buyer issues in apparel aren't due to bad buyers but poor fit. If a "large" runs small, buyers might open a return or a "not as described" case, leave a negative review, and you'll be tempted to block them. According to the National Retail Federation, retail returns hit roughly 16.9% of total sales in 2024, and apparel leads because buyers can't try on clothing before it ships (NRF, 2024 Consumer Returns report). The best way to prevent fit-related returns isn't stricter buyer filters but providing flat-lay garment measurements in inches and centimeters directly on the listing.

Sizely is a web tool that lets online sellers create a size chart to embed directly into your eBay, Poshmark, Mercari, or Etsy listings. Choose from over 300 garment templates, enter your real measurements in inches and centimeters, and paste the chart into your listing. Used by over 85,000 sellers, Sizely aims to reduce size-related returns and disputes that create problematic buyers. Start at www.size.ly.

How to unblock a buyer#

If you need to unblock a buyer, either due to a mistake or a resolved situation, it takes just a moment. Return to the Block bidders or buyers page, delete the username from the list, and hit Submit. The user can then buy from you again right away.

Frequently asked questions#

Will the buyer know they have been blocked on eBay?#

eBay doesn't notify buyers when they're blocked. They’ll only find out when they try to bid or buy, and get a message saying they can't purchase from this seller. The message won't reveal you as the one who blocked them.

Can I block a buyer after they have already purchased?#

Blocking doesn’t cancel a completed sale. The purchase still stands. If you don’t want to fulfill it, cancel the order through Seller Hub first, then add the username to your block list so they can't buy again.

How many buyers can I block on eBay?#

Your block list can hold up to 5,000 usernames at a time. If you’re nearing that limit, it's usually a cue to use buyer requirements, which block entire account categories automatically instead of one name at a time.

Can I block a buyer from the eBay mobile app?#

No, the block list and buyer requirements are available on the desktop site under Account settings and Seller Hub. Use a computer browser or the mobile browser in desktop mode to access them.

Does blocking a buyer remove their negative feedback?#

No, blocking only stops future purchases and bids. Feedback from past transactions remains. To handle unfair feedback, use eBay's feedback revision or reporting process, not the block list.

Related guides for eBay sellers#

• How to cancel your eBay order as a seller
• How to send an invoice on eBay
• Avoiding eBay fees: tips for higher profit
• SEO for your eBay store
• 10 tips for selling clothes online

Selling clothes on eBay?#

Buyers skip listings when they cannot tell if it fits. Make a size chart image for your listings in about a minute with the free Size Chart maker, and check your margins with the eBay fee calculator.

Run your own store too? Sizely Fit Finder tells shoppers their size right on your product pages.