Nothing stops an order above the threshold from shipping without it. eBay's policy is what changes underneath it.
The rule, in eBay's own words
If the order has a total cost (including shipping costs and any taxes) of $750 or more, you're required to purchase signature confirmation to be protected if a buyer reports an item not received or opens a payment dispute.eBay, Signature confirmation policy, ebay.com, read 2026-08-25
| Question | What the policy says |
|---|---|
| Threshold | Order total of $750 or more, on the U.S. site |
| What counts toward it | The full amount the buyer paid: item price, shipping charged to the buyer, and tax |
| What it protects | Seller protection on an item-not-received report or a payment dispute |
| International orders shipped via eBay International Shipping | Not required, even above the threshold |
| International orders shipped directly by the seller | May still require it, if the destination eBay site sets its own threshold for higher-value orders |
The threshold reads on the order total, not the item's value alone. Shipping charged to the buyer and any tax collected both count toward it, so an item priced just under the line can still land above it once those are added.
What the rule does not do
It is not a shipping requirement
USPS, UPS and FedEx will print a label for an order well above the threshold with no signature service on it at all. The carrier has no way to know an eBay order sits above the threshold, and nothing in checkout blocks the label.
It is not automatic on high-value labels
Declared value and signature confirmation are two separate add-ons at checkout. Raising declared value to cover a high-value item does not add a signature requirement on its own; the two have to be selected together.
It is conditional, not guaranteed either way
Buying signature confirmation on a $750-plus order keeps the seller protection eBay describes on paper. It does not by itself guarantee a dispute is decided in the seller's favor; it removes one specific ground eBay could otherwise use to deny it.
Pricing signature confirmation once you need it
A signature charge sits on top of a base label, so the first number to know is what the shipment costs without one. A used DSLR body and lens is the sort of eBay lot that lands near the threshold, so we quoted one packed at 14 × 11 × 8 in and 6 lb on 2026-08-25.
| Carrier | Service | Base label | Quoted transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx | Ground Economy | $20.50 | 7-8 business days |
| UPS | Ground Saver | $21.01 | About 6 business days |
| UPS | Ground | $21.10 | 6-7 business days |
| USPS | Ground Advantage | $21.11 | 5-6 business days |
| USPS | Priority Mail | $29.32 | 3-4 business days |
Four of the five ground services landed within 61 cents of each other on this lane, which is the useful part: at that spread the signature charge and the transit window decide the pick, not the base rate. USPS, UPS and FedEx each sell their own version of a delivery signature, at their own prices and with their own rules about who may sign, and our carrier-specific guides carry the current price on each: USPS Signature Confirmation, UPS's three tiers, and FedEx's indirect, direct and adult options. All three are available at checkout alongside declared value on a SMKlog label.
Where this rule comes from
- eBay, Signature confirmation policy — the $750 threshold, what counts toward it, and the eBay International Shipping exception. Read 2026-08-25.
- SMKlog production quote engine — the base label prices and transit windows for the DSLR kit box and lane described above. Captured 2026-08-25.
eBay revises its own policies without notice, and international sites on eBay set different thresholds in their own currency. Check the current page before relying on this for a specific sale.
Common questions
Does eBay require signature confirmation?
Only above a dollar threshold. eBay requires a seller to have purchased signature confirmation to keep seller protection once an order's total, including shipping and tax, reaches $750, per eBay's signature confirmation policy read 2026-08-25. Below that line, protection applies without it.
What counts toward the $750?
The full amount the buyer paid: the item price, the shipping the buyer was charged, and any tax collected. It is the order total on the sale, not the item's declared or resale value on its own.
What happens if I skip signature confirmation above the threshold?
eBay's own policy describes the threshold as a condition of seller protection, not a shipping requirement enforced at label purchase. A buyer can still open an item-not-received report or a payment dispute on that order, and eBay's policy is what decides whether the seller is protected on it.
Does eBay International Shipping change the rule?
Yes. eBay's policy states that signature confirmation is not required, even above the threshold, when the order ships through eBay International Shipping. Domestic orders and orders shipped by the seller directly still carry the $750 rule.
Where do I add signature confirmation to a label?
At checkout, alongside the carrier and service you pick. USPS, UPS and FedEx each sell their own version at their own price, compared on our signature guides for each carrier.