---
title: Offer API
description: "The **Offer API** provides the ability to place and retract a proxy bid for a buyer and to retrieve all the auctions where the buyer is bidding. **Note:** This is a [![](https://developer.ebay.com/cms/img/docs/partners-api.svg \"Limited Release\")(Limited Release)](https://developer.ebay.com/api-docs/static/versioning.html#limited) API available only to select developers approved by business units. For information on how to obtain access to this API in production, see the [Buy APIs Requirements](https://developer.ebay.com/api-docs/buy/static/buy-requirements.html)."
api_version: 1.0
api_name: offer_api
api_type: REST
api_group: buy/offer_api
source_url:
  html: https://developer.ebay.com/develop/api/buy/offer_api
  md: https://developer.ebay.com/develop/api/buy/offer_api.md
---

# Offer API API

The **Offer API** provides the ability to place and retract a proxy bid for a buyer and to retrieve all the auctions where the buyer is bidding.

**Note:** This is a [![](https://developer.ebay.com/cms/img/docs/partners-api.svg "Limited Release")(Limited Release)](https://developer.ebay.com/api-docs/static/versioning.html#limited) API available only to select developers approved by business units. For information on how to obtain access to this API in production, see the [Buy APIs Requirements](https://developer.ebay.com/api-docs/buy/static/buy-requirements.html).

## API Methods

The following API methods are available:

### getBidding

#### GET /bidding/{item_id}
**Description:** This method retrieves the bidding details that are specific to the buyer of the specified auction. This must be an auction where the buyer has already placed a bid.  
  
To retrieve the bidding information you use a [user access token](/api-docs/static/oauth-tokens.html) and pass in the item ID of the auction. You can also retrieve general bidding details about the auction, such as minimum bid price and the count of unique bidders, using the **Browse API** [getItems](/api-docs/buy/browse/resources/item/methods/getItems) method.

### **Restrictions**

For a list of supported sites and other restrictions, see [Buy API Requirements](/api-docs/buy/static/buy-requirements.html).
**Parameters:**
- **X-EBAY-C-MARKETPLACE-ID** (string) *required*
  - The ID of the eBay marketplace where the buyer is based. This value is case sensitive.  
  
For example:  
  `X-EBAY-C-MARKETPLACE-ID = EBAY_US`  
  
For a list of supported sites see, [Buy API Support by Marketplace](/api-docs/buy/static/ref-marketplace-supported.html).
- **item_id** (string) *required*
  - This path parameter specifies the unique eBay RESTful identifier of an item for which you want the buyer's bidding information.  
  
This ID is returned by the **Browse** and **Feed** API methods.  
  
**RESTful Item ID example:** `v1|2**********2|0`  
  
For more information about item ID for RESTful APIs, see the [Legacy API compatibility](/api-docs/buy/static/api-browse.html#Legacy) section of the _Buy APIs Overview_.  
  
**Restriction:** The buyer must have placed a bid for this item.

### placeProxyBid

#### POST /bidding/{item_id}/place_proxy_bid
**Description:** This method uses a [user access token](/api-docs/static/oauth-authorization-code-grant.html) to place a proxy bid for the buyer on a specific auction item. The item must offer `AUCTION` as one of the **buyingOptions**.  
  
To place a bid, you pass in the item ID of the auction as a URI parameter and the buyer's maximum bid amount (**maxAmount** ) in the payload. By placing a proxy bid, the buyer is agreeing to purchase the item if they win the auction.

After this bid is placed, if someone else outbids the buyer a bid, eBay automatically bids again for the buyer up to the amount of their maximum bid. When the bid exceeds the buyer's maximum bid, eBay will notify them that they have been outbid.  
  
To find auctions, you can use the [Browse API to search](/api-docs/buy/browse/resources/item_summary/methods/search) for items and use a filter to return only auction items. For example:  
  
`/buy/browse/v1/item_summary/search?q=iphone&filter=buyingOptions:{AUCTION}`

### **Restrictions**

For a list of supported sites and other restrictions, see [Buy API Requirements](/api-docs/buy/static/buy-requirements.html).
**Parameters:**
- **X-EBAY-C-MARKETPLACE-ID** (string) *required*
  - The ID of the eBay marketplace where the buyer is based. This value is case sensitive.  
  
For example:  
  `X-EBAY-C-MARKETPLACE-ID = EBAY_US`  
  
For a list of supported sites see, [Buy API Support by Marketplace](/api-docs/buy/static/ref-marketplace-supported.html).
- **item_id** (string) *required*
  - This path parameter specifies the unique eBay RESTful identifier of an item you want to bid on.  
  
This ID is returned by the [Browse](/api-docs/buy/browse/overview.html) and [Feed Beta](/api-docs/buy/feed/overview.html) API methods.  
  
**RESTful Item ID Example:** `v1|2**********2|0`  
  
For more information about item ID for RESTful APIs, see the [Legacy API compatibility](/api-docs/buy/static/api-browse.html#Legacy) section of the _Buy APIs Overview_.
- **Content-Type** (string) *required*
  - This header indicates the format of the request body provided by the client. Its value should be set to **application/json**.  
  
For more information, refer to [HTTP request headers](/api-docs/static/rest-request-components.html#HTTP).

## Error Codes

The following error codes may be returned by this API:

### REQUEST Errors

#### 120015 - API_OFFER
**Description:** The X-EBAY-C-MARKETPLACE-ID header is missing. This is a required header.

#### 120017 - API_OFFER
**Description:** The Marketplace {marketplaceId} is not supported. Supported values are {allowedMarketplaces}.

#### 120001 - API_OFFER
**Description:** The item ID {item\_id} was not found. Check that this is an active auction item ID.

#### 120033 - API_OFFER
**Description:** There is no bidding activity for this auction (item ID {item\_id}).

#### 120011 - API_OFFER
**Description:** The bid amount exceeds the limit.

#### 120013 - API_OFFER
**Description:** The bid amount is missing or invalid.

#### 120014 - API_OFFER
**Description:** The bid currency is invalid. Refer to the documentation for a list of currency codes.

#### 120016 - API_OFFER
**Description:** The maximum bid amount is missing.

#### 120007 - API_OFFER
**Description:** The bid amount is too high.

#### 120018 - API_OFFER
**Description:** For this auction, the bid amount cannot have decimals.

#### 120032 - API_OFFER
**Description:** This requires the user's consent for adult items.

### APPLICATION Errors

#### 120000 - API_OFFER
**Description:** There was a problem with an eBay internal system or process. Contact eBay developer support for assistance.

### BUSINESS Errors

#### 120002 - API_OFFER
**Description:** The auction was ended because the item was purchased with Buy It Now (fixed\_price).

#### 120003 - API_OFFER
**Description:** A seller cannot place a bid.

#### 120004 - API_OFFER
**Description:** You are not eligible to bid on this item.

#### 120005 - API_OFFER
**Description:** The bid price cannot be greater than the Buy It Now price.

#### 120006 - API_OFFER
**Description:** You are not eligible to bid on this item due to seller restrictions.

#### 120008 - API_OFFER
**Description:** The bid amount is too low.

#### 120009 - API_OFFER
**Description:** The bid currency needs to match the item price currency.

#### 120010 - API_OFFER
**Description:** You cannot lower your proxy bid.

#### 120012 - API_OFFER
**Description:** The auction has ended.

#### 120019 - API_OFFER
**Description:** You must be pre-approval to bid on this auction.

#### 120020 - API_OFFER
**Description:** A user agreement acceptance is required for this auction.

#### 120021 - API_OFFER
**Description:** You are not authorized to bid on adult items. See the eBay help on adult items.

#### 120022 - API_OFFER
**Description:** A privacy user agreement is required for this auction.

#### 120023 - API_OFFER
**Description:** This is a business to business only auction.

#### 120024 - API_OFFER
**Description:** The item is currently unavailable.

#### 120025 - API_OFFER
**Description:** The bid was blocked because you have exceeded the item purchased limit.

#### 120026 - API_OFFER
**Description:** The bid was blocked due to a seller restriction based on your feedback score.

#### 120027 - API_OFFER
**Description:** The bid was blocked due to a seller restriction on the shipping location.

#### 120028 - API_OFFER
**Description:** The auction is restricted to users with a linked PayPal accounts.

#### 120029 - API_OFFER
**Description:** There has been a buyer policy violation.

#### 120030 - API_OFFER
**Description:** The bid was blocked due to unpaid items.

#### 120031 - API_OFFER
**Description:** This requires credit card verification.

## Rate Limits

See [API Call Limits](https://developer.ebay.com/develop/get-started/api-call-limits) on the eBay Developer Program.

## Resources

### Documentation

- [eBay Developer Program](https://developer.ebay.com/)
- [API Documentation](https://developer.ebay.com/develop/api/)
- [SDKs and Widgets](https://developer.ebay.com/develop/sdks-and-widgets)
- [Developer Community Forum](https://community.ebay.com/t5/Developer-Groups/ct-p/developergroup)

### Tools

- [API Explorer](https://developer.ebay.com/my/api_test_tool)
- [GraphQL Explorer](https://developer.ebay.com/my/graphql_explorer)

### Support

- [Developer Support](https://developer.ebay.com/support/)
- [API Status](https://developer.ebay.com/support/api-status)
- [Release Notes](https://developer.ebay.com/develop/api/release_notes/)

---
*Generated on 2026-07-09T00:45:05.267Z*