eBay listings still allow HTML descriptions, but the platform’s security rules have become far stricter over the years. As a result, many sellers discover that embedded HTML images simply don’t appear, or worse, the HTML gets stripped out entirely.
This guide explains why embedded images disappear, how eBay’s template editors and filters handle HTML, which tags and attributes are blocked, and the safe, compliant ways to embed images today.
Inside this article
1. Why eBay Removes Embedded HTML Images
When you add images using HTML (<img src="...">) inside the description, eBay often strips, rewrites, or blocks them. That’s because:
▶️ Inline images are considered a security risk
Embedded HTML can trigger:
- Cross-site scripting (XSS)
- Cookie/session hijacking attempts
- Browser redirects
- Slow or malicious remote content
To protect buyers, eBay sanitizes every description with automated security filters.
▶️ Remote calls to external servers are heavily restricted
An <img> tag loads content from another domain. If the domain:
- uses redirects
- is served over http
- responds slowly
- is unknown or flagged
- returns non-image MIME headers
…then eBay may silently strip the tag.
▶️ Legacy HTML is no longer allowed
Old templates often contain:
<iframe><script><embed><object><style>in certain contextsjavascript:links- Event handlers like
onclick
If these appear anywhere in the description, eBay may remove nearby <img> tags because the entire block is sanitized.
2. Template Editors Often Break Embedded HTML
Most sellers copy/paste HTML from:
- A purchased template
- A third-party editor
- A Word document converted to HTML
- A design tool like Canva or Stripo
But eBay’s listing form and business policies editor use an HTML parser that auto-cleans:
What gets removed automatically:
- Inline CSS that is not in the safe list
<img>tags that include forbidden attributes (ex.onload=,position:absolute)- DOM elements nested improperly
- Code copied from WYSIWYG editors that includes
<span>or<div>wrappers eBay flags
Worst-case scenario
The editor “cleans” your code twice:
- Once in the WYSIWYG panel
- Again when saving to eBay’s servers
This is why an image may appear in the editor, then vanish after pressing Publish.
3. Blocked or Rewritten HTML Tags
Here are the most common reasons an image tag gets blocked:
1. Unsafe attributes
eBay strips:
style="position: absolute; top: …"onload=onclick=background-image:data:URLs
If your template generator uses these, images nearby may be removed.
2. Tags inside a forbidden parent
If your image is inside:
<iframe><script><noscript><object><marquee>
…it won’t survive the sanitization.
3. Poorly formed HTML
Missing:
- closing tags
- correct nesting
- valid HTML5 structure
eBay’s parser simply discards invalid sections instead of fixing them.
4. Why Inline Images Get Stripped Even When They Look Safe
Even a simple <img src=""> tag can disappear because eBay performs:
A. HTTP security checks
eBay may block images that:
- load via
http://instead ofhttps:// - redirect through multiple URLs
- require cookies or authentication
- return incorrect MIME headers (e.g.,
text/htmlinstead ofimage/jpeg)
B. Content Safety Scanners
eBay uses automated tools to detect:
- hidden tracking pixels
- invisible 1×1 images
- embedded affiliate trackers
- scripts loaded via
src=
Any image suspiciously small or from a questionable domain may be filtered.
C. Domain Reputation
New domains, personal servers, hosting providers with spam histories, or dynamic URLs often fail the trust checks.
5. Remote Image Calls: How eBay Handles External Sources
Remote image URLs must:
- Be direct image files ending with
.jpg,.jpeg,.png, or.gif - Respond with fast CDN speeds
- Serve content through HTTPS
- Use a stable, unchanging URL
- Return a clean
Content-Type: image/*header - Avoid redirects and tracking parameters
- Come from a well-known, safe hosting provider
CDNs that heavily rewrite URLs or generate temporary URLs can break embedded images.
6. How to Embed HTML Images Safely on eBay
You can still embed images in descriptions… you just need to do it the way eBay expects.
✅ Use only safe HTML
Allowed tags:
<img src="https://yourcdn.com/image.jpg" alt="" border="0">Safe attributes:
srcaltwidth/height(optional)border
Avoid all inline CSS except simple sizing.
✅ Use a compliant, stable hosting provider
Your image URLs should be:
- Direct file links
- Permanent (unchanged over time)
- CDN-accelerated
- Redirect-free
- HTTPS only
- Returning proper MIME types
- Lightweight and fast
(Img.vision is designed exactly for this use case, ensuring URLs always load safely inside eBay descriptions.)
✅ Avoid template generators that inject risky code
Use editors that produce clean HTML5.
Avoid:
- Word → HTML conversions
- “Free eBay templates” containing invalid or outdated code
- Builders that embed scripts, animations, or CSS blocks
✅ Validate your HTML before publishing
Use a validator like W3C HTML Validator to ensure your code is clean and properly nested.
✅ Keep your description simple
The more complex the template, the more likely eBay will strip sections. Minimal HTML = maximum reliability.
7. When You Should NOT Embed HTML Images
Avoid embedding if your use case is:
- Primary product photos
- Gallery or thumbnail images
- Variations (color, size)
- Mobile-first listings
For these, always use eBay’s photo uploader.
HTML images are only appropriate for:
- Size charts
- Shipping diagrams
- Warranty badges
- Instructional images
- Infographics
…as long as they follow safe HTML rules.
Conclusion
If your embedded HTML images aren’t showing on eBay, it’s almost always because of one of the following:
- Template editor strips unsupported tags
- eBay’s security filters remove risky HTML
- Inline images contain blocked attributes
- Remote image calls fail safety checks
- The hosting domain is redirecting, insecure, or not compliant
Follow the safe-HTML guidelines above, keep templates simple, use a clean and trusted CDN, and your embedded images will display reliably every time.
