Etsy Prohibited Items & Banned Words Scanner

What This Tool Does

The Etsy Prohibited Items Scanner audits your listing text against Etsy Prohibited Items Policy, restricted substances, unauthorized medical claims, and dangerous trademark traps. It helps you catch accidental policy triggers before automated bots suspend your shop.

How to Use It

1. Paste your listing title, tags, and body description into the scanner.
2. Click Scan to run our curated database of high-risk terms and trademark traps.
3. Inspect highlighted words with associated policy risk categories (e.g. Medical Claim, Weapon, Trademark).
4. Remove or replace flagged terms with policy-compliant alternatives before publishing.

Worked Example: Auditing an Herbal Tea & Candle Listing

You are listing an herbal chamomile tea blend alongside a scented candle and write enthusiastic health claims.

Removing medicinal claims and rewording to sensory lifestyle language ("relaxing aroma", "cozy evening ritual") fully protects the shop from automated deactivation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using brand trademark words like "Velcro", "Onesie", or "Cricut" without licensing.
• Making medical or health claims (e.g. "cures acne", "relieves arthritis", "antiviral").
• Listing amber teething necklaces or infant items that violate safety regulations.
• Selling modern items as "vintage" when they are less than 20 years old.
• Using copyrighted character names (Disney, Marvel, anime, pop stars) in titles or tags.

Last Reviewed: October 2024. Note: For marketplace fee schedules and policies, always verify on Etsy Prohibited Items Policy.

Frequently Asked Questions