eBay Top Rated Seller requirements: how seller levels work
eBay gives every seller a level each month: Top Rated, Above Standard or Below Standard. Only Top Rated shows on your feedback profile — but all three change what you pay and what you can do. Here’s how eBay decides, for selling on ebay.com.
The three levels
| Level | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Top Rated | Well above eBay’s standards, with an established sales history |
| Above Standard | Meeting eBay’s minimum standards |
| Below Standard | Below the minimum — eBay may limit your selling until you improve |
The minimum for every seller on ebay.com:
- Cases closed without seller resolution: no more than 2, or 0.3% of transactions (whichever is higher).
- Transaction defect rate: no more than 2%.
Top Rated requirements (US)
Selling activity:
- account active for at least 90 days;
- at least 100 transactions and $1,000 in sales with US buyers over the past 12 months;
- complying with eBay’s Selling practices policy.
Performance:
| Metric | Top Rated limit |
|---|---|
| Cases closed without seller resolution | No more than 2 (or 0.3%) |
| Transaction defect rate | No more than 0.5%, from no more than 3 different buyers |
| Late shipment rate | No more than 5 (or 3%) |
| Tracking uploaded | At least 95% of transactions with tracking uploaded within handling time and validated by the carrier |
A “case closed without seller resolution” means the buyer reported a problem (item not received, or a return), you didn’t resolve it, eBay stepped in, and found you responsible.
When eBay evaluates you
- Evaluation runs on the 20th of each month.
- Under 400 sales in the past 3 months: eBay looks at your last 12 months.
- 400 or more sales in the past 3 months: eBay looks at the last 3 months.
- If you qualify, eBay upgrades you to Top Rated on the 1st of the next month — automatically.
Check where you stand — and what your level would be if you were evaluated today — in Seller Hub → Performance → Seller level.
Levels are per region: US sales count toward the US program, so you can be Top Rated on ebay.com and only Above Standard elsewhere.
Top Rated Plus: the 10% fee discount
Once you’re Top Rated, listings that offer same- or 1-business-day handling and 30-day or longer free returns get Top Rated Plus:
- the Top Rated Plus seal in search results and on the listing;
- a 10% discount on final value fees, calculated on the total sale including shipping and tax.
The discount doesn’t apply to the per-order part of the final value fee, or to extra fees in categories where you’re rated Very High for “item not as described” returns, and it’s only for US residents on ebay.com. In some categories, eBay gives the discount (but not the seal) even without 30-day free returns.
Use the eBay fee calculator to see what 10% off the final value fee is worth against the cost of free returns — see eBay returns for sellers.
What Below Standard costs you
eBay lists these possible limitations — some apply straight after the evaluation, others from the 1st of the next month, and some only after more than two Below Standard months in a row:
- items placed lower in Best Match search results;
- lower selling limits;
- blocked from eBay Advertising tools;
- funds on hold until tracking shows the item is on its way;
- you can’t deduct from a buyer’s refund when an item comes back used or damaged.
The fastest way back is to resolve every buyer problem yourself before it becomes a case, and avoid cancelling orders. To remove a defect, see how to appeal an eBay defect. See also eBay selling limits and eBay funds on hold.