How to Add a Category Template
A category template assigns the eBay category your products list under, along with the item details that go with that category. Choosing the right category is what helps your items reach the correct audience and surface in the right eBay searches, so this template directly affects listing quality and how findable your products are. Like the other templates, you build it once and apply it through Product Settings or a profile.
Step 1: Start a new category template
On the Templates page, open the Add New Template dropdown and choose Category. This begins the category template flow.
Step 2: Select the account
A short Category Templates dialog appears asking you to Select Account. Because eBay's category structure is specific to each marketplace, you pick which connected eBay account this template is for, then choose Proceed to open the form.
Step 3: Fill in the Create Category Template form
Template Name is where you give the template a clear name so you can identify it across the app later.
Primary Category Mapping is where you choose the main eBay category for products using this template. You have two ways to find a category quickly: the App Suggestion tab offers categories the app recommends based on your products, and the eBay Suggestion tab offers eBay's own recommendations. You can also use the Search category box to look one up directly. Once you're in the right area, you select Category Level 1, and as you choose a level, deeper levels appear so you can drill down eBay's category tree to the exact category that fits your item. Picking the most specific, accurate category is what ensures your listing is placed correctly.
Best Offer Enabled: The toggle controls whether buyers can make offers on items in this category. When it's on, eBay's Best Offer option is active, letting buyers propose a price rather than only buying at the listed price. Turn it off if you don't want to accept offers for these products.
Required Attributes (Item Specifics): These are the item specifics eBay treats as mandatory for your chosen category, so filling them in is what makes a listing complete and accurate. The eBay attribute names are fixed by the category and shown as read-only labels. For each one, you decide where its value comes from using the Select value source dropdown, and the field beside it changes based on your choice. There are three value sources, and they apply across all three item specifics sections:
- Set Shopify Attribute maps the eBay attribute to one of your Shopify product fields, so the value pulls from your store automatically.
- Set eBay Recommendation lets you pick from eBay's predefined values for that attribute, choosing from a recommendation dropdown.
- Set Custom lets you type a fixed value that applies to all products using the template.
Completing each required attribute with the right source is what ensures eBay accepts the listing.
Optional Attributes (Item Specifics): These aren't required, but adding them enriches your listings and can improve visibility and buyer interest. Select Add attribute to add a row, choose the eBay attribute you want from the dropdown, then set its value source using the same three options described above. Each row has a delete icon to remove it.
Custom Attributes (Item Specifics): This field lets you define your own item specifics beyond eBay's standard ones, which is helpful when you want to give buyers extra clarity that the predefined attributes don't cover. Select Add attribute, enter your own Custom Attribute name, and set its value source. As with optional attributes, you can add several and remove any with the delete icon.
Product condition: This is where you state the exact condition of items in this category to meet eBay's listing requirements and keep your listings transparent. You choose a Condition Type from the dropdown, and you can add an Additional condition description to give buyers more detail about the item's state.
Variation Image Settings, when toggled on, lets you choose which product attribute controls the images for variation products. Use this for products where different variations need different images.
VAT Details is where you provide VAT information, and it applies only if you're registered as a Business Seller on eBay. You set the Business Seller option and enter the VAT Percentage according to the country-specific regulations that apply to you. If you're not a registered business seller, this section doesn't apply.
Secondary Category Mapping, when toggled on, lets you optionally add a second eBay category to give your listing more visibility. It works the same way as the primary mapping, with App Suggestion and eBay Suggestion tabs, a search box, and category levels.
Step 4: Save the template
When your category and details are set, select Save to create the template.
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