To sell items at auction in the UK, get a free valuation from a saleroom that handles your type of item, agree the seller’s commission and any extra charges in writing, then consign the lot with an optional reserve. The auction house photographs, catalogues and markets it, sells it to the highest bidder, and pays you the hammer price less fees — usually within two to four weeks of the sale.
That is the whole process in one breath. The detail is where sellers either do well or leave money on the table, so this guide walks through valuation, consignment, commission and other charges, reserves, timelines and — the decision that matters most — choosing the right house for the item. Everything here is general UK trade practice; fee ranges vary house to house, so always confirm figures in your contract.
What sells well at auction in the UK?
Almost anything with a resale market sells, but auction suits items where value is uncertain or where competition between buyers pushes the price up. Think furniture and interiors, ceramics and porcelain, silver, jewellery and watches, pictures, books, militaria, toys and general collectables — plus specialist categories like farm machinery, tools and architectural salvage.
A good illustration of the generalist end is a mixed interiors auction.
Sales like the Autumn Interiors sale run by Dore & Rees Auctions in Frome, Somerset, are exactly where household furniture, dinner services, boxes of silver and decorative pictures find buyers — the kind of lots that turn up in most homes. The format is online and in the room together, bidding open to a national audience, as you can see in their live catalogue. For sellers, a Somerset interiors room like this is a sensible home for everyday household contents.
Specialist goods are a different world, and that matters when you sell.
Sales like the Monthly Collective Sale of Tractors, Plant, Implements, Livestock Equipment, Oak Beams and Firewood from H J Pugh & Co at Hazle Meadows, Ledbury, Herefordshire, draw a farming and trade crowd who know what a used tractor or a stack of oak beams is worth. Send a vintage tractor to a fine-art room and it will struggle; enter it in a collective farm sale like this one — browse the live catalogue — and it meets the right buyers. Match the lot to the room.
How do I get my items valued?
Start with a free pre-sale valuation. Most UK salerooms offer this in several ways:
- Online valuation: email clear photos, dimensions and any marks, signatures or history. The quickest way to learn whether something is worth selling.
- Valuation days: many houses hold regular open mornings where a specialist looks at items in person, no appointment needed.
- Home visits: for larger consignments or house clearances, a valuer will come to you.
A valuation is an estimate — a likely range on the day, not a guaranteed price. Specialist departments give sharper figures, so a house with a dedicated jewellery or silver section will read a hallmark or a stone far better than a generalist. Never clean, polish or repair before valuation — patina and original surface often carry the value, and a well-meant scrub can wipe it out.
How much does it cost to sell at auction?
The headline charge is seller’s commission — a percentage of the hammer price the house keeps. It varies by house and by category, and can often be negotiated on higher-value or multiple lots, so ask. On top of commission you may meet:
- Lotting or entry fees per lot.
- Photography and illustration charges for the online catalogue.
- Insurance or loss-and-damage levies while the house holds your goods.
- Marketing contributions for featured lots.
- Unsold fees if a lot fails to reach its reserve.
- VAT, charged on the fees themselves.
Get the full schedule in writing before you sign. Remember the buyer pays a separate buyer’s premium on top of the hammer — a rate that has been climbing across the trade, now sitting above a quarter of the hammer plus VAT at some houses — which is one reason bidders set hard limits. It does not come out of your settlement, but it does shape what people are willing to bid.
Should I set a reserve?
A reserve is the lowest price you will accept; below it, the lot goes unsold. It is your safety net against a flat day in the room.
The trick is to set it sensibly — typically at or just under the low estimate, and agreed with the auctioneer rather than imposed over their advice. Pitch it too high and the lot “burns”: it fails, picks up a reputation as unsold, and is harder to place next time. Lower-value items are often entered with no reserve at all, which maximises interest and usually finds a fair market level once bidders compete. Ask the house what they recommend for your specific lot.
How do I choose the right auction house?
This single decision moves the price more than anything else. A few questions to weigh up:
- Does it have a department for your item? A specialist catalogue reaches the right collectors.
- Who bids there? A regional interiors sale and a dedicated specialist sale attract very different buyers.
- Does it sell online as well as in the room? Online-and-in-person formats widen the audience far beyond the local area.
- What are the full fees, timelines and settlement terms? Compare like for like.
If you are weighing up where household contents should go, our guide on what a house clearance auction involves is a useful companion, and for larger furniture the furniture auctions guide shows how a specialist sale is structured from both sides of the rostrum.
How long does it take and when do I get paid?
From consignment to cash, expect a few weeks to a couple of months. The house needs time to catalogue, photograph and market your lots, so items are entered well ahead of a dated sale. After the hammer falls, buyers settle their invoices, and the house then pays sellers — commonly within two to four weeks, once cleared funds are in. You will receive a settlement statement showing the hammer price for each lot, the fees deducted and the net total. If a lot goes unsold, you can usually re-enter it in a later sale, often at a revised reserve.
Where can I find UK auctions to sell my items?
Auction Eagle is the place to see what is coming up and who to approach. Browse by what you want to sell: the furniture auctions hub, the ceramics & porcelain hub, the silver auctions hub and the collectables hub each show the live calendar, so you can see which houses are actively selling your type of item. To compare salerooms directly, browse every UK auction house in the directory, and for a sense of where values are heading before you consign, read the UK auction market report.
A first-time seller’s checklist
- Photograph and list everything, with any marks, labels or history noted.
- Get two or three valuations from houses that handle your category.
- Don’t clean or repair — ask the specialist first.
- Read the terms: commission, lotting, photography, insurance, unsold and VAT.
- Agree a sensible reserve with the auctioneer, or go without for low-value lots.
- Match the item to the right sale — generalist interiors or dedicated specialist.
- Confirm timelines and settlement so you know when you will be paid.
- Keep your paperwork — the entry form and settlement statement are your record.
What’s my next step?
Have a look at the art & paintings hub or whichever category fits your item, find a couple of houses selling the right sort of thing, and send them photos for a free valuation. Follow the salerooms you like on Auction Eagle and their upcoming sales will come to you — so when the right auction comes round, your lot is ready to go in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much commission do auction houses charge sellers in the UK?
Seller's commission is a percentage of the hammer price and varies by house and category. Expect lotting, photography, insurance and unsold fees too, with VAT on the fees. Always get the full schedule in writing, and ask about reduced rates on higher-value or multiple lots.
Do I need to set a reserve when selling at auction?
A reserve is the lowest price you will accept, below which the lot stays unsold. It protects valuable items, but set it sensibly — usually at or just below the low estimate, and agreed with the auctioneer. Lower-value lots are often entered with no reserve to maximise bidding.
How long does it take to get paid after an auction?
Items are consigned ahead of a dated sale for cataloguing and marketing. After the sale, once buyers have settled, most UK houses pay sellers within two to four weeks, issuing a statement showing each hammer price, the fees deducted and your net total.
How do I get my items valued for auction?
Most salerooms offer free pre-sale valuations by email with photos, at open valuation days, or via home visits for larger lots. A valuation is an estimate, not a guarantee. Don't clean or repair items first — original surface and patina often carry the value.
How do I choose the right auction house for my item?
Pick a house with a department for your category and the right buyers — a regional interiors sale suits household goods, while machinery, tools or salvage need a specialist sale. Favour houses selling online and in the room, and compare fees and settlement terms.
Where can I find UK auctions to sell my items?
Browse Auction Eagle's category hubs for furniture, ceramics, silver and collectables to see the live calendar, or use the auction-house directory to compare salerooms. Then contact houses handling your type of item for a free valuation.
