Need a full list of restricted items? See our policies for more information: Prohibited and restricted items
Proof of age
Only people who are 18 or older can buy certain items on eBay, such as knives or other bladed items.
As part of our commitment to the safety of our community, most bladed products and knives can’t be sold on eBay. For bladed items which are allowed, your age will need to be verified.
Other age restricted products requiring verification include alcohol and e-cigarettes.
Bladed products
- Crafting tools like rotary blades
- Dining cutlery sets that include knives used for eating, such as butter, cheese, fish, or steak knives
- Food processors, meat saws, and pizza cutters
- Letter openers
- Pickaxes and mattocks
- Personal care products like manicure kits, dermaplaning tools, and straight razors
- Tools such as axes, billhooks, chisels, hatchets, hoof trimming tools, chainsaws, and saws
- Scissors
- Spears and javelins
- Waiter's friend or sommelier knife
Credit card verification
When you want to purchase a bladed product, you’ll be asked to verify your age by providing credit card details at checkout. The card will only be used for verification and will not be charged or saved. Debit cards may not be used to verify age.
Once your details are verified, you can complete your purchase, and you can use an alternative method of payment at checkout.
Alcohol and e-cigarettes
- Wine
- Beer
- Spirits
- e-cigarettes (including parts and accessories)
- e-liquids
3rd party verification
For certain items, such as alcohol, you’ll be asked to verify your age by a third party partner called VerifyMyAge.
You’ll be given the option to create an account, which means that you can be verified easily for similar purchases on eBay without having to go through the process repeatedly. If you don’t create an account, you’ll need to be reverified for each purchase in the relevant categories.
Upon delivery
Some items may also require age verification upon delivery, such as alcohol, tobacco, and knives and bladed items. You should accept the package in person and provide proof of age to the carrier. For these items, buyers can’t use local pickup or a PO Box.
Information for sellers
We support age verification for many items, confirming the buyer’s age through credit card information, which is used for age verification purposes only, and won’t be charged or saved, or through our third party partner VerifyMyAge.
However, sellers are still responsible for confirming the buyer’s age where they sell age restricted items, and using age verified delivery. For more information, read our Seller Centre article - opens in new window or tab.