Marketplaces

How to write a Depop description when the first words do the work

6 October 2026 · SnapList AI team

Depop does not publish a title limit, and no separate title field is documented in its seller API. That means the opening line of your description carries a lot of weight. Treat the first words as your title, because they are the part a buyer is most likely to read before deciding whether to keep scrolling.

This is good practice rather than a marketplace rule, so check how your own listings display in the app. The habits below work whichever way the first line is shown.

What to put in the first line

Think about what a buyer would type into a search bar, then say that, plainly. A reliable pattern is:

Brand + item type + the one detail that sets it apart + size.

Say you are listing a denim jacket. A first line might read: “Levi’s denim trucker jacket, light wash, size M.” It is short, it names the brand as printed on the label, and it says what the item is without a single adjective that needs proving.

A few habits help:

• Lead with facts you can read off the label or see in the photos: brand, item type, colour, size.
• Put the size early. Buyers of clothing filter in their heads by size first.
• Skip filler such as “amazing”, “must have” or a row of emoji before the useful words.
• Do not guess. If you cannot tell the fabric or era from the tag or the item, leave it out.

If you are not sure how to read a faded label, label and size-tag reading covers what to look for.

The second and third lines: the details

Once the first line has done its job, use the rest of the description to answer the questions a buyer would otherwise message you about. Depop’s description limit is 1,000 characters, per Depop’s seller API documentation, so you have room, but short lines are easier to scan on a phone.

A simple order:

1. Condition, in plain words.
2. Flaws, if there are any.
3. Measurements.
4. Fabric, only if it is printed on the care label.
5. Anything included or not included (for example, “belt not included”).

Condition and flaws

Depop’s condition options run from brand new to used-fair, and sellers must disclose defects. Pick the option that honestly matches the item, and when you are torn between two, the lower one is the safer choice for you and the buyer.

Then say what is wrong, specifically. “Small bleach mark on the left cuff, about the size of a coin” is far more useful than “some wear”. Mention it in the description and show it in a photo. Buyers who knew about a flaw before purchase rarely feel misled afterwards, and that protects you.

If you tick flaws in a tool as you photograph, make sure each one ends up written out in the final text. Condition and flaw handling goes into how we think about that.

Measurements

Sizes on labels vary between brands and decades, so numbers help. Include a few measurements that you took yourself with a tape, flat on a table: for a top, pit-to-pit and length; for trousers, waist, inseam and rise. State the unit every time, and give both centimetres and inches if you can. Our guide to measuring clothes for resale walks through each one.

Never type a measurement you did not take. A rounded guess that turns out wrong costs you a return or a bad review.

Hashtags

Depop allows up to 5 hashtags, according to its seller API documentation. A good habit is to use them for terms that are really true of the item: the brand, the item type, the style it belongs to. Unrelated brand names or trending tags that do not describe your item are a bad idea. They mislead buyers, and marketplaces generally discourage that. Check Depop’s help centre for its current wording on tags.

Put hashtags at the end so they do not interrupt the useful text.

What to leave out

• Email addresses. Depop’s seller API documentation says email addresses are not allowed in the description. More generally, keep contact details and off-platform deals out of any listing.
• Claims you cannot support. If the tag does not say “100% cotton”, do not write it.
• Long life stories. One friendly sentence is fine. A paragraph pushes the facts below the fold.

A worked example

Here is a hypothetical description for a pair of trainers, using the order above:

Nike Air Max 90 trainers, white and grey, UK 8 (EU 42.5 as printed on the tag). Used good. Light creasing on the toe box and some dirt on the midsole. Sole has plenty of tread left. Photos show the heel and the sole. Insole length 27 cm / 10.6 in. Box not included. #nike #airmax90 #trainers

Everything in it can be checked against the item or the label.

Quick checklist

• First line: brand, item type, key detail, size.
• Condition option matches the item; choose the lower grade when unsure.
• Every flaw is written out and shown in a photo.
• Measurements taken by you, with units stated.
• No more than 5 hashtags, all of them true of the item.
• No email addresses or contact details.
• Nothing claimed that the label or photos do not show.

If you use a tool such as SnapList AI to draft the text, treat the draft as a starting point: check the chips and the wording before you paste it into Depop yourself.

Marketplace rules change. Check the current rules in the app or help centre before you rely on a limit. Last reviewed 29 October 2026.