Auction Seller Commission Calculator: The Auction House's Cut
Work out the seller's commission an auction house takes from the hammer price — and the net proceeds you actually receive — so you know what selling at auction really nets before you consign.
Adjust the inputs and select Calculate for a full breakdown.
Compare Common Scenarios
How the numbers shift across typical situations for this calculator:
| Scenario | Seller's commission | Your net proceeds |
|---|---|---|
| 15% of $8,000 ($1,200) | 1,200 | 6,800 |
| 10% of $50,000 (high-value) | 5,000 | 45,000 |
| 20% of $2,000 | 400 | 1,600 |
| 25% of $500 (small lot) | 125 | 375 |
How This Calculator Works
Enter the seller's commission rate and the hammer price (the winning bid). The calculator returns the commission the auction house keeps and your net proceeds. Note this is the seller's side only — buyers separately pay a buyer's premium on top of the hammer price.
The Formula
Percentage of an Amount
Amount is the base value, Percentage is the rate applied to it
Worked Example
A 15% seller's commission on an $8,000 hammer price is $1,200, leaving $6,800 before any other deductions. Auction houses make money from both sides: the seller pays a vendor's commission (often 10%–25%) and the buyer pays a buyer's premium on top of the hammer price. So on that same $8,000 lot, the buyer might pay $9,600 total while you receive $6,800 — the house captures the spread. Commission rates are often negotiable, especially for valuable or desirable lots the house wants to win.
Key Insight
Selling at auction means the house earns from both ends, so the spread between what the buyer pays and what you receive can be large. Beyond the headline seller's commission, watch for extra fees that quietly reduce your net: photography and cataloguing charges, insurance while the lot is in their care, a minimum or unsold-lot fee if it doesn't sell, and sometimes a charge for reserve protection. Two levers work in your favor: commission rates are negotiable, particularly for high-value or sought-after items (houses compete to win good consignments), and you can compare houses, since rates and fee structures vary widely. Also weigh the reserve — too high and the lot goes unsold (often still incurring a fee), too low and it may sell below value. Run the net proceeds after commission and all fees against what you'd get selling privately or through a dealer before deciding auction is the best route.
Major auction house fee structures
SOTHEBY'S (2024).
Seller's commission. Sliding scale by lot value.
Substantial — high-value consignors negotiate substantially lower (sometimes 0%).
Mid-tier. 10-15%.
Lower-value. 15-26%.
Buyer's premium (charged to winning bidder). 27% under $1M, 21% $1M-$8M, 14.9% above $8M (2024).
Additional. Insurance 1-2%, photography fees, marketing fees, illustration fees.
CHRISTIE'S (2024).
Similar structure to Sotheby's.
Seller commission negotiable, often 10-15%.
Buyer's premium 26% under $1M, 21% $1M-$6M, 15% above (2024).
Marketing co-investment for major lots.
REGIONAL HOUSES (Bonhams, Skinner, Doyle, Heritage).
Seller commission 10-20% typical.
Buyer's premium 25-28% typical.
More flexibility for mid-tier lots.
EBAY (online).
Final value fee. 13.25% under $7,500 most categories (2024). Lower above.
Insertion fees first 250/month free.
Promoted listings additional 2-15%.
Substantial — seller manages photography, shipping.
ONLINE AUCTION PLATFORMS.
LiveAuctioneers. Substantial connecting houses + buyers. ~3% to platform from buyer.
Invaluable.
Catawiki.
ESTATE SALES.
Substantial 25-40% commission to estate sale company.
Substantial — full-service liquidation.
STORAGE AUCTIONS.
Substantial 10-25% to facility.
CHARITY AUCTIONS.
Substantial — house often donates services.
Consignor donates proceeds with tax deduction.
Strategic considerations for sellers
VALUATION first.
Substantial — auction house provides estimates.
Substantial — get multiple house estimates.
Substantial — competitive consignment substantial leverage.
RESERVE PRICE.
Substantial — minimum hammer for sale.
Lower reserve increases sale probability.
Above reserve auction may exceed substantially.
Below reserve — bought-in (unsold). Fee structure varies.
TIMING of sale.
Substantial — category-specific seasons.
Modern + Contemporary art. Spring/Fall NYC.
Old Masters. January NYC.
Jewelry. Magnolias auctions.
Wine. Fall.
MARKETING.
Substantial — major lots get catalog cover, exhibition.
Press releases substantial.
Substantial — estimate inclusion cost.
EXPENSES typical.
Insurance during consignment. 1-2% lot value.
Photography. $50-$5,000+ per lot (varies).
Catalog illustration. $200-$2,000.
Storage / handling. $50-$300.
Shipping to house. Variable.
BOUGHT-IN (unsold).
Substantial — sometimes flat fee 5-10% of estimate.
Substantial — relist or sell privately.
PRIVATE SALE alternative.
Substantial — auction house arranges direct sale to buyer.
Substantial — discretion, no auction risk.
Often 10-15% commission to house.
ONLINE-ONLY SALES.
Substantial — lower commission rates typical.
Substantial — broader buyer reach.
ESTIMATES.
Low estimate. Conservative.
High estimate. Optimistic.
Substantial — set reserve at 80-100% of low estimate.
Substantial — communication with specialist.
Auction seller commission benchmarks (2024)
Reference seller fees by venue.
| Venue / Tier | Seller commission |
|---|---|
| Sotheby's high-value (negotiated) | 0-10% |
| Sotheby's mid-tier | 10-15% |
| Sotheby's lower-value | 15-26% |
| Christie's (similar) | 10-26% |
| Regional houses (Bonhams, Heritage) | 10-20% |
| eBay (online marketplace) | 13.25% + insertion |
| Estate sale company | 25-40% |
| Storage auction facility | 10-25% |
| LiveAuctioneers platform fee | 3% from buyer |
| Buyer's premium (paid by buyer) | 15-28% |
| Insurance during consignment | 1-2% |
| Photography per lot | $50-$5,000+ |
Sliding scale common — high-value lots substantially negotiate down. Buyer's premium charged SEPARATELY to buyer (not deducted from seller). Reserve price + estimate negotiation substantial. Private sale alternative (10-15% house commission). Online-only sales substantial lower commissions but broader reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the auction seller commission calculated?
Multiply the hammer price by the seller's commission rate. A 15% commission on an $8,000 hammer price is $1,200, leaving $6,800 before any other fees.
What's the difference between seller's commission and buyer's premium?
The seller's commission (vendor's commission) is deducted from your proceeds as the consignor. The buyer's premium is added on top of the hammer price for the winning bidder. The auction house earns both, so on one lot it collects from buyer and seller alike.
What's a typical seller's commission?
Often 10% to 25% of the hammer price, varying by house, lot value, and category. Rates are frequently negotiable — high-value or highly desirable lots can command much lower seller's commissions because houses compete to win the consignment.
Are there other fees beyond commission?
Often yes: photography and cataloguing, insurance while in the house's care, an unsold-lot or minimum fee if it doesn't sell, and sometimes reserve or marketing charges. These reduce your net beyond the headline commission, so ask for a full fee schedule before consigning.
Is selling at auction worth it?
It depends on the item and the net after all fees. Auctions reach motivated buyers and can exceed expectations for rare or in-demand lots, but the combined seller's commission and fees take a real cut. Compare your net proceeds against a private sale or dealer offer before deciding.
When is this calculator unreliable?
Less reliable when sliding scale based on lot value (high-value lots substantially lower % — sometimes 0% negotiated), when reserve unmet — different fee structure (often flat 5-10% of low estimate), when marketing/photography/insurance fees not included (substantial $50-$5,000+ per lot), when shipping/handling separate, when unsold-lot fees apply (bought-in fee), or when repurchase by consignor (some houses charge buyback). Buyer's premium charged SEPARATELY to buyer (15-28%), not deducted from seller.
References & Authoritative Sources
- Sotheby's — Selling at Auction — Commission Structure · consulted June 1, 2026 · Major auction house
- Christie's — Selling Guide · consulted June 1, 2026 · Major auction house
- eBay seller fees — Selling Fees Schedule · consulted June 1, 2026 · Online marketplace
Related Calculators
Methodology & Review
Auction seller commission = hammer price × seller commission %. Calculator returns net to seller after commission, insurance, marketing, and other fees. Industry 2024: Sotheby's/Christie's 10-26% sliding scale; regional auction houses 10-20%; eBay 13.25% + listing; estate sale 25-40%. Buyer's premium (15-28%) charged separately to buyer. RELIABILITY: Reliable for documented consignment agreement + final hammer. Less reliable when (a) sliding scale based on lot value (high-value lots lower %); (b) reserve unmet — different fee structure (often flat fee); (c) marketing/photography/insurance fees not included; (d) shipping/handling separate; (e) unsold-lot fees; (f) repurchase by consignor (some houses).
Updated