Definition
The bid increment is the minimum amount that a bid is allowed to increase by, and can be found by subtracting the current highest bid for this item from the lowest maximum bid that you are allowed to place for this item. In this example, the current highest bid is $41, and I am being asked to bid $42 or more. Therefore, the bid increment for this item is $1. Also note that the bid increment may change throughout the course of the auction.
If everything looks okay to you, then click Place Bid.
4. A window will pop up with different options on how to bid. If you want to quickly place a maximum bid that is a set amount above the current highest bid, then click one of the buttons across the top. If you want to make a custom maximum bid instead, click inside the box beside Place Max Bid, type in the amount of money that you are willing to bid for this item (as a maximum), and then click Place Max Bid.
As we explained in our previous article, “How does Bidding on eBay Work”, eBay will take care of the rest for you. It will place bids on your behalf that are only enough to beat anyone else’s maximum bids by one bid increment, up to your own maximum bid.
5. If someone else outbids you on this item, you will receive a notification from eBay. Click the notifications icon () in the top-right corner, and click on the notification that says that you’ve been outbid.
This will take you back to the item that you bid on previously, and you will have the chance to make a new maximum bid. To do so, just repeat steps 2 and 3.
That’s a brief explanation of how to place bids for items on eBay! I’ve you’ve won an auction but no longer want the item, check out our tutorial on how to cancel an eBay order. Or, if you’d like to retract a bid you’ve made during a live auction, click the “Next Tutorial” button to learn how!