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Basic how-to for free postings JOB POSTERS please click here
- How do I post a free posting?
- How can I edit my posting?
- How soon does my posting expire?
- How can I delete my posting?
- How do I repost my posting?
- How often can I post?
- How can I post anonymously and still receive responses?
- I have not received the email to self-publish my free posting, what should I do?
- I self-published my posting but I don't see it on the list?
- Can I add a picture to my posting?
- Can I add HTML tags or URLs in my posting?
- terms of use
- privacy policy
More guidelines
- What kind of postings are prohibited?
- What should I do if someone harasses me by posting a prank posting?
- What recourse is there for a transaction gone wrong or a person/post that is not being honest?
- Do you know of any sites like yours in any other cities?
- Can I post to all of craigslist's sites?
- I saw a posting that really stunk, and I want to respond - can I?
- Do you charge for postings advertising focus group opportunities?
- I saw this great posting 6 months ago and would like to see it again. Can I?
- Where can I advertise my services/business on craigslist?
- Can I repost ads on craigslist as part of a for-profit Web operation?
- Can I put a link in my for sale or tickets available posting to an auction site like ebay?
- Can I scalp my tickets and other hot items (e.g. PS3) on craigslist?
- Do you have any special requirements for movers/haulers?
The best way to post a free posting is to visit our home page and click on "post to classifieds". It's located on the left-hand side of the page in the shaded area. Fill out our online form and proceed from there.
All free postings are now in self-service mode, which works like this:
- fill out the posting form and submit your posting.
- you'll receive an email containing a link to an online form.
- this form will allow you make last-minute changes and then self-publish your posting.
- once self-published, your posting will appear on the site within 15 minutes.
- keep your email, because you can use the link later to edit or delete the posting at any time.
- if you lose or delete this email, and need it later, you can have it resent.
Posting from a craigslist account will allow you to post, edit, delete, and repost without requiring the self-publishing email.
PLEASE NOTE: any posting that offers employment is considered to be a job posting, and should therefore be submitted by selecting "jobs" during the posting process.
Edits for postings are now self-service (except for jobs).
If you posted while logged in to your account, you can edit your posting from your account homepage.
Otherwise, use the link provided in the same self-posting email you used originally to self-post. If you can't find this, try having it re-sent.
Note: Editing your post will not bring it to the top of the list. You'll need to post a new listing for that (please, no more often than every 48 hours).
Posting Type Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Portland,
Sacramento, San Diego, Seattle, SF Bay Area, Wash, DCAll other cities Classifieds 7 days 45 days Resumes 30 days 45 days Jobs 30 days 45 days Gigs 30 days 45 days Events Until posted event date range expires NOTE: Brokered housing posts in New York City expire in 30 days.
If you posted while logged in to your account, you can delete your posting from your account homepage.
Otherwise, use the same link provided in the self-posting email that you used to post the ad originally. If you can't find this, try having it re-sent.
Please note, all postings are automatically deleted upon expiration.
You'll need to submit a new posting. We CAN NOT repost a free listing for you.
You may post to one category and in one city, no more often than about every 48 hours.
If you are submitting a post that is similar to another currently active post of yours on the site, you will get a blocked message. Removing the active post will allow you to post the new ad, unless the active post is less than 48 hours old.
If you've lost the email that allows you to manage/remove your post, you can have it resent here: http://www.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/resend.
When submitting a posting, you are asked to provide your email address.
We've provided three options for you under this field:
- Your email address appears in your posting just as you have typed it.
- We anonymize your email address. We relay responses to your actual email address.
- No email address is shown at all - you'll need to provide contact information in the "Other ways people should contact you" box.
Selecting the last two options will guarantee anonymity, but only the second option allows you to receive emails.
If you are posting in the personal categories, option #1 is not available.
If you have successfully submitted your posting, but have not received the email to self-publish your post:
- If you are using an online email account, please check your bulk mail folder.
- You may have entered your email address incorrectly on the posting form -- it only takes one typo!
- Your email provider may be experiencing delays, or be having trouble connecting to craigslist for mail. This is especially prevalent these days for some of the free email providers.
Don't despair, you can always have your self-posting email re-sent.
Posting from a craigslist account will allow you to post without requiring the self-publishing email.
For free postings it takes approximately 15 minutes from the time you self-publish the posting until it appears on the site.
If your posting does not appear in the category where you posted it, try to REFRESH or RELOAD your browser. The refresh/reload option is usually located along the top of your browser. If you do not see it there, try clicking the right button on your mouse. If you do not refresh/reload, you might not be seeing the most current version of the page and you will not see your posting.
In some categories, you will be offered the option to Add Images to your posting during the posting process.
Additionally, you can do that using the HTML <img> tag, but the picture must already be on a site someplace. There are many free web hosting sites on the internet where you can upload your picture, just type in "free web hosting" into your search engine. Make sure that the site allows you to link to their site from another. If it's on a site, say on www.craigslist.org, in a directory called /about/teamPix, and named homer.gif, you'd code:
<img src="http://www.craigslist.org/about/teamPix/homer.gif" alt="craig!">
It'd look like an actual photo of Craig you see on the right. (The align and alt attributes are useful, but not necessary.)
If you do this, you're using HTML, so see the next question.
Traditional processing, no HTML:
If you include a URL in the text, make sure you also include the http:// in front of the URL or our system will not recognize it, and will not make it an active link.
You can use HTML in the posting body
If you want, you can use HTML sparingly. We don't try to wrap HTML around your URLs if we see HTML tags including <a>, <li>, <p>. We just pass through your HTML unchanged.
Please use only the HTML you'd use in the <body> of a document, no <title> or anything like that. We can't support JavaScript, applets, Flash, or other embedded non-HTML content.
* Note: Some categories limit the types of allowed HTML entities, for more information see our HTML Guidelines.
* Note: If you use HTML in any part of your posting you must use it throughout the entire body of your posting.
Please consult the "Conduct" section of our Terms of Use.
Category-specific guidelines posted in specific sections of the site must also be observed
Soliciting illegal activity either implicitly or explicitly on craigslist is prohibited.
We also provide a partial list of items prohibited for sale or trade on craigslist.
If you suspect that you are the target of a posting prank/harrassment, please contact abuse@craigslist.org immediately, and ask to have the posting removed. Please have ready the posting title, category, and email address (if available).
We take cases of abuse and harrassment seriously and cooperate fully with law enforcement in their pursuit of perpatrators.
If you feel you've been cheated in a transaction or that there is false advertising on the site, please let us know so we can look into it on the site, and so we can be prepared to provide whatever help we can to police and other investigators.
We just can't find anything genuine that's like what we do. Because of this and the demand from our growing community, we are expanding into new places. You can request a new craigslist location in our cities & sites forum.
Please choose just ONE craigslist site for which your ad is most relevant - this should generally be the site closest to where you are located. If your ad is equally relevant to all locations, your ad does not belong on local craigslist sites at all, please find another service.
Posting the same ad to multiple locations is considered spamming, and is prohibited.
If you feel the need to give your opinion, please respond to the poster directly via email, rather than posting a reply (Re:).
Discussion postings belong ONLY in our discussion forums.
Focus group opportunities should be submitted under our et cetera jobs category, or under "gigs".
Generally not. If there is a legal reason you need to see a past posting, we will gladly cooperate with a valid subpoena for that information.
Only in the "services offered" categories please.
Absolutely not - acting as a Posting Agent is forbidden by our terms of use.
No - craigslist is not an auction site. If you have something to offer, please post a set price. Please do not scalp or solicit bidding contests on craigslist, and do not link to offsite auctions on eBay or elsewhere.
Many craigslist users dislike, and will remove by flagging ads which appear to be scalping tickets or hot gift items for way over face value.
The State of California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) requires firms moving household goods to show a T-number in their ad. For information or to check a T-number, call the CPUC at (800) 366-4782, or go to http://www.CPUC.ca.gov
Other states may have similar licensing and disclosure requirements, which any mover/hauler in that state likewise must abide
Still have questions? try our help desk discussion forum or send us a note.