Fix eBay Line Spacing Not Working in Listings

You’re crafting your perfect eBay listing—images, check. Description, check. Spacing… wait, what?! Your neat little paragraphs look like a jumbled wall of text once you hit “preview.” Ugh! Yep, you’re not alone. Thousands of sellers are dealing with eBay line spacing not working right. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you fix it fast and make your listings look clean, clear, and easy to read.

TL;DR – Fixing eBay line spacing

eBay listings often mess up your line spacing when you copy and paste from Word processors like Microsoft Word or Google Docs. The platform strips out certain formatting by default. The trick is to use HTML or the right editor input to maintain clean spacing. We’ll show you how to fix your spacing today—easy and fast!

Why eBay Line Spacing Gets Wonky

Here’s the deal: eBay’s listing editor doesn’t always play nice with formatting. What looks perfect in your word processor ends up in eBay as a giant blob of text. Why is that?

eBay strips out formatting like double line breaks or paragraph tags.
Different editors use different code behind the scenes. Stuff doesn’t always translate well.
WYSIWYG editors misbehave—they keep switching between Visual and HTML modes.

If you’ve ever pasted a listing only to notice all your line breaks vanished—or somehow became triple spaced—you’ve met this monster. So let’s tame it!

Method 1: Use the Text Editor Carefully

When eBay gives you the choice between the “Standard” and “HTML” tab in the listing editor, always double-check which one you’re using.

Most formatting issues happen in the Standard editor if you paste from Microsoft Word or Google Docs. These programs add secret stuff behind your text. It’s a mess when eBay tries to read it.

How to do it right:

Write your content in a plain text editor like Notepad or TextEdit.
Use   if you’re adding line breaks. Each   equals one line break.
Use  tags for full paragraphs with spacing.

This gives you laser control over how it looks when listed.

Example!

Imagine this is your item description:

This is the greatest coffee mug ever.
It keeps your drink warm for hours.
Just don't microwave it!

Here’s the HTML version you should use in eBay’s HTML editor:

<p>This is the greatest coffee mug ever.</p>
<p>It keeps your drink warm for hours.</p>
<p>Just don't microwave it!</p>

Perfect spacing every time!

Method 2: Fixing Spacing with HTML Tags

Let’s break it down with a little HTML magic. These simple tags create nice, reliable spacing:

 = Paragraph. Adds spacing above and below blocks of text.
  = Line break. Pops text to the next line without paragraph spacing.

Here’s a cheat sheet:

<p>Paragraph One</p>
<p>Paragraph Two</p>

or

Line one<br>
Line two<br>
Line three

Tip: Don’t use too many   tags in a row. It can make your listing look awkward or too spaced out.

Method 3: Use an HTML Formatter Tool

If typing HTML isn’t your thing, don’t worry! You can use a free tool online to convert your text to clean HTML.

Try tools like:

Here’s how:

Paste your description into the formatter tool.
Click the convert button (varies by tool).
Copy the HTML code it gives you.
Paste that code into eBay’s HTML tab.

Voila! Clean, perfect spacing—no weird surprise formatting.

Method 4: Clean the Formatting with Notepad

Here’s a quick hack if you’re on a Windows or Mac computer.

Paste your listing into Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac).
Copy it from there—it strips out all sneaky formatting.
Then paste the plain text into eBay’s Standard or HTML editor and add your own line breaks.

That removes the hidden junk that often causes strange line spacing.

Bonus: Check Your Spacing on Mobile

More than 50% of people scroll eBay on their phone. So check how your listing looks on a mobile screen!

If your spacing looks good on desktop but turns into a nightmare on mobile, use shorter paragraphs and bullet points to keep it readable.

Look at the difference:

Bad spacing:

This item is very useful. It has many features. You can use it every day. It is durable and long-lasting.

Good spacing:

This item is very useful.

It has many features.

You can use it every day.

It is durable and long-lasting.

Still Not Working?

If you’ve tried all the steps and your listing still looks bad:

Switch browsers. Sometimes Chrome or Safari acts up.
Clear cache and cookies. An old session can cause weird glitches.
Try the eBay app. Sometimes mobile works better!

Final Words: Make It Spacing-tastic!

Spending a few minutes fixing your line spacing can make your listing way easier to read. And that means more sales!

Here’s your quick checklist before publishing:

Did you write in plain text first?
Are you using paragraphs () and breaks ( )?
Did you double-check the HTML tab?
Is it mobile-friendly?

Now your eBay listing will be cleaner, clearer, and far more clickable. Happy selling!