Free Consignor Tool

Consignment Payout Calculator

Auction houses typically charge consignors a 15–35% seller's commission on the hammer price, sometimes plus per-lot fees. A $1,000 sale at 25% commission nets you $750 — the buyer's premium is paid by the bidder and, at most houses, doesn't touch your payout. Enter your numbers to see both sides of the deal.

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Typical range: 15–35%. High-value consignments often negotiate lower.

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Shown so you can see the house's full economics — it doesn't reduce your payout at most houses.

Hammer price
$1,000.00
Commission (25%)
$250.00
Lot fees
$0.00
You net
$750.00
Effective cost to you
25.0%
House gross (incl. buyer's premium)
$430.00

Is 25% commission fair?

It's the middle of the typical 15–35% range. What matters is the all-in effective rate this calculator shows — commission plus fees — and what the house does for it: marketing reach, cataloging quality, and realized prices.

Why show the house's side?

Honest math builds trust in both directions. The house earns commission plus the buyer's premium — knowing the full economics helps you negotiate and helps good auctioneers explain their value.

More tools: Buyer's Premium Calculator · Cataloging ROI Calculator

Auctioneers: win consignors with better catalogs

Consignors choose houses that present their items well. Gavelist writes catalog-ready descriptions from photos — 1,000+ lots in about 10 minutes at $0.15/lot.