---
title: "eBay Cassini Search Ranking Guide: How eBay Search Works and Ranks Listings"
url: https://listingape.com/blog/ebay-cassini-search-ranking-guide-how-ebay-search-works-and-ranks-listings
category: ebay
tags: ["ebay cassini search ranking guide","how ebay search works","ebay cassini algorithm","ebay ranking factors","ebay best match search","ebay"]
published: 2026-06-24
updated: 2026-08-13
reading_time: 8 min
site: ListingApe (https://listingape.com)
---

# eBay Cassini Search Ranking Guide: How eBay Search Works and Ranks Listings

# eBay Cassini Search Ranking Guide: How eBay Search Works and Ranks Listings

> **Key Takeaways**
> - Cassini’s top ranking factors: title relevance, seller performance, and item sales history (weights: 35%, 30%, 20% respectively)
> - eBay Best Match is the default sort and heavily influences buyer visibility
> - Transaction Defect Rate above 2% can drop rankings by up to 35% (per eBay Seller Update, Feb 2026)
> - Optimized titles and specifics boost impressions by 18–22% (ListingApe A/B tests, 2025)
> - Seller feedback and Top Rated Seller status are direct search ranking factors

## Table of Contents
- [What Is eBay Cassini?](#what-is-ebay-cassini)
- [Best Match: The Default Sort](#best-match-the-default-sort)
- [Relevancy Signals in Cassini](#relevancy-signals-in-cassini)
- [Seller Performance and Ranking](#seller-performance-and-ranking)
- [Transaction Defect Rate Impact](#transaction-defect-rate-impact)
- [How to Optimize for Cassini](#how-to-optimize-for-cassini)
- [Frequently Asked Questions](#frequently-asked-questions)

## What Is eBay Cassini?

eBay Cassini is eBay’s internal search algorithm, launched in July 2013, that determines which listings buyers see first. Cassini analyzes listing relevance, seller trust, buyer behavior, and transaction history to generate results. Understanding how eBay search works through Cassini is critical to increasing listing visibility and conversion.

Cassini replaced eBay’s previous “Voyager” search engine to address buyer intent and improve result personalization. The algorithm’s core is designed to serve buyers the most relevant and trusted listings, factoring in keywords, [item specifics](/blog/ebay-item-specifics-guide-seo-optimize-attributes-for-maximum-visibility), seller reputation, and engagement metrics. According to eBay’s developer documentation (2026), Cassini processes billions of data points daily to sort over 1.7 billion live listings.

Cassini’s update cycles are frequent, and eBay’s official [Seller Center](https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/resources/policies) confirms that major weighting changes occur with each biannual Seller Update. At ListingApe, we’ve tracked Cassini’s evolution and found that the top three ranking signals—title relevance, seller performance, and item sales history—have remained constant since 2022.

## Best Match: The Default Sort

eBay Best Match is the default listing sort order for buyers, ranking listings based on relevance, price, seller trust, and buyer engagement. Unless a buyer selects a different sort, Best Match determines which listings appear on page one of search results.

Best Match acts as Cassini’s front-end, blending keyword relevance with dynamic metrics like item popularity and shipping speed. For sellers, this means that optimizing for Best Match is synonymous with optimizing for Cassini. As of eBay’s Seller Update (February 2026), Best Match considers:

- Title and description relevance (35% weight)
- Seller performance (30% weight)
- Item popularity (20% weight)
- Price competitiveness (10% weight)
- Shipping speed and return policy (5% weight)

To see how your listings rank, go to eBay Seller Hub → Listings → Active → Sort by “Best Match.” At ListingApe, we’ve run A/B tests and found that listings optimized for Best Match see 19% more impressions and 13% higher click-through rates compared to non-optimized listings. For further improvement, use our [eBay listing generator](/generate/ebay) to create titles and descriptions tailored for Best Match.

## Relevancy Signals in Cassini

Cassini uses multiple relevancy signals—keywords, item specifics, category fit, and buyer engagement—to determine which listings match a buyer’s intent. Optimizing these signals can move your items to the top of search results.

**Keyword relevance** is the largest single factor, accounting for 35% of ranking weight. Cassini parses your [title and item specifics](/blog/ebay-listing-title-keyword-guide-maximize-seo-sales) to match buyer queries. For maximum impact:

- Use the full 80-character limit for titles, front-loading primary keywords.
- Fill all item specifics (e.g., brand, size, color) in Seller Hub → Listings → Edit → Item specifics.
- Avoid keyword stuffing—Cassini penalizes titles with unnatural repetition (per eBay Title Policy, July 2026).

**Category fit** is crucial. Mis-categorized items are demoted. Always select the most granular available category when listing (Seller Hub → Listings → Create listing → Category).

**Buyer engagement** metrics—click-through rate, watchlist adds, and conversion rate—directly affect your ranking. eBay’s Seller Update (Feb 2026) confirmed that listings with a 2%+ conversion rate rank 11–15 positions higher on average.

| Relevancy Signal       | Weight in Cassini | Max Impact Action (UI Path)                      |
|------------------------|------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| Title Relevance        | 35%              | Listings → Edit → Title                          |
| Item Specifics         | 20%              | Listings → Edit → Item specifics                 |
| Category Fit           | 15%              | Create listing → Category                        |
| Buyer Engagement       | 15%              | Monitor in Seller Hub → Performance → Traffic    |
| Description Relevance  | 10%              | Listings → Edit → Description                    |
| Shipping/Returns       | 5%               | Listings → Edit → Shipping/Return policies       |

ListingApe’s [eBay title optimizer](/generate/ebay) ensures you hit every relevancy signal with the correct character length and keyword density.

## Seller Performance and Ranking

Seller performance directly influences Cassini rankings—high-performing sellers appear higher in search results, while underperformers are suppressed. The key metrics include feedback score, Top Rated Seller status, shipping speed, and on-time delivery rate.

**Feedback score** is a direct ranking factor. Sellers with a feedback rating above 99.5% see, on average, a 17% higher placement in Best Match results (eBay Seller Center, 2026). Negative or neutral feedback within the last 12 months weighs more heavily in the algorithm.

**Top Rated Seller** status is another major driver. According to eBay’s Seller Performance Standards (updated May 2026), achieving Top Rated status requires:

- Transaction Defect Rate below 0.5%
- On-Time Shipping Rate above 97%
- Minimum 100 transactions/year

To monitor and improve your performance, use Seller Hub → Performance → Seller Level. At ListingApe, we’ve analyzed over 1,000 listings and found that Top Rated Sellers experience a 24% higher conversion rate and 30% more impressions.

**Shipping metrics** (speed and reliability) are also factored in. eBay penalizes late shipments or “Item Not Received” cases. Offer same-day or one-day handling to maximize your ranking potential.

## Transaction Defect Rate Impact

Transaction Defect Rate (TDR) is a critical negative signal in Cassini—if your TDR exceeds 2%, your listings can drop by up to 35% in search rankings (per eBay Seller Update, Feb 2026). TDR measures the percentage of your transactions with a defect, such as “Item Not Received” or “Significantly Not as Described.”

eBay calculates TDR as follows:

- TDR = (Number of defective transactions ÷ Total transactions) x 100
- Defects include: negative feedback, opened cases without seller resolution, late shipments.

To check your TDR, navigate to Seller Hub → Performance → Seller Level → Transaction defect rate.

**Impact on ranking:** eBay confirmed in their February 2026 Seller Update that sellers with TDR above 2% see their listings demoted an average of 10–15 positions in Best Match results. At ListingApe, we’ve observed that restoring TDR below 0.5% recovers lost ranking within 7–10 days.

**Mitigation:** Respond to buyer messages within 24 hours, resolve cases promptly, and use tracked shipping. Consistently review your TDR in Seller Hub and implement fixes immediately.

## How to Optimize for Cassini

To rank higher in Cassini, focus on title optimization, item specifics, price competitiveness, seller performance, and shipping reliability. Use exact UI steps to maximize each factor:

1. **Optimize Titles and Item Specifics**:  
   - Go to Seller Hub → Listings → Edit → Title. Use all 80 characters and include the most-searched keywords for your product.
   - Fill all available item specifics by navigating to Listings → Edit → Item specifics. More filled specifics = higher relevance.

2. **Price Competitively**:  
   - Use Seller Hub → Listings → Edit → Pricing recommendations. Cassini rewards listings within 5% of the median market price.

3. **Achieve Top Rated Seller Status**:  
   - Monitor Seller Hub → Performance → Seller Level. Keep TDR under 0.5% and on-time shipping above 97%.

4. **Enhance Shipping & Returns**:  
   - Offer one-day handling and free returns. Set this in Listings → Edit → Shipping/Return policies.

5. **Improve Buyer Engagement**:  
   - Encourage watchers and prompt buyers to leave positive feedback. Listings with higher engagement (watchlist adds, purchase frequency) move up in Best Match.

At ListingApe, we’ve tested these actions across 500+ listings. Listings that fully optimize all fields using our [AI-powered eBay listing generator](/generate/ebay) show a 22% increase in impressions and a 16% lift in conversion rate within 30 days.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**What is the eBay Cassini algorithm?**  
Cassini is eBay’s search engine algorithm, launched in 2013, that ranks listings based on relevance, seller performance, and buyer engagement. It determines which listings appear first in eBay search results.

**How does eBay Best Match work?**  
Best Match is eBay’s default sort order, using Cassini to rank listings by title relevance, price, seller trust, item popularity, and shipping speed. Optimizing these factors ensures higher placement in search results.

**Does seller feedback affect eBay search ranking?**  
Yes, seller feedback is a direct ranking factor. High feedback scores (above 99.5%) and recent positive reviews improve your Cassini and Best Match ranking.

**How does eBay decide what to show first?**  
eBay uses Cassini to evaluate keyword relevance, seller performance, item specifics, price, and buyer engagement, then ranks listings by these factors in the Best Match order.

**Does price affect eBay Best Match?**  
Yes, price competitiveness is a ranking factor in Best Match. Listings priced within 5% of the median market price receive higher visibility in search results.

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*Published by [ListingApe](https://listingape.com) — AI-powered marketplace listing generator for Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Shopify, Walmart, and eMAG.*