Auction Consignor Net Proceeds Calculator

See exactly what you keep after every auction house fee — seller's commission, photography, insurance, Artist's Resale Right, online surcharge, and more. Per lot and grand total.

Default Fee Settings

These apply to all lots unless overridden per lot below.

Flat % of hammer price deducted from seller's payout. Typical: 0–25%.
Flat fee per lot. Common: $0–$300 (some houses include this).
Typically 1–2% of hammer or reserve price while in custody.
Flat per lot. Varies widely; get a quote from the house.
Some houses deduct 3–5% for online bidding platform costs.
Charged only if lot fails to sell. Typically 0–5% of reserve. Toggle per lot.

Results

Add at least one lot and enter a hammer price to see your net proceeds.

Your Lots

How to Use This Calculator

1. Set your default fees. Fill in the left panel with the fee schedule your auction house has quoted or published. If you don't know a fee, leave it at 0 — you can always update it.

2. Add your lots. Click "+ Add Lot" for each item you plan to consign. Enter the estimated hammer price (the price you expect the gavel to fall at, before any buyer's premium) and a short description. You can override any fee for a specific lot.

3. Toggle Artist's Resale Right at the top if you're selling qualifying original artwork via a UK or EU auction house — the sliding-scale royalty (4% down to 0.25%, capped at £12,500) is deducted from your net automatically.

4. Model unsold risk. Enable the buy-in toggle on any lot where you've set a reserve and want to see the cost if it fails to sell. This is calculated as a percentage of the reserve price you enter per lot.

5. Read your results. The right panel shows a fee breakdown per lot and a grand total across all lots — your true settlement cheque figure.

The Formula

Net Proceeds (per lot, if sold) = Hammer Price − (Hammer × Seller Commission %) − Photography/Cataloguing Fee − (Hammer × Insurance %) − (Hammer × Platform Surcharge %) − Shipping Fee − Artist's Resale Right (if enabled; sliding scale on Hammer) Net Proceeds (per lot, if unsold) = 0 − (Reserve × Buy-in Fee %) − Photography/Cataloguing Fee − Shipping Fee Grand Total = Sum of all lot net proceeds

All deductions are applied to the hammer price (the final bid, before any buyer's premium). The buyer's premium is paid by the buyer and does NOT reduce your net — but it does affect how the total sale price appears in public results.

Understanding Each Fee

Seller's commission (vendor's commission): This is the percentage of the hammer price that the seller pays to the auctioneer for their services. The seller's commission can range from 0% to 25% or more, depending on the auction house, the value of the item, and the level of service provided. High-value or prestigious lots often receive lower or waived fees to attract them, while lower-value or riskier works carry higher commissions to cover costs.

Buyer's premium (not your fee, but good to know): The buyer's premium is the percentage added to the hammer price of an auction lot; it's paid by the winning bidder. Auction houses have different tiering structures that depend on the value of work sold. This does NOT come out of your pocket.

Ancillary fees: Illustration and cataloging fees cover photography, research, and inclusion in printed or online catalogues produced by the auction house. Insurance fees cover the work while in the auction house's custody, often around one to two percent of the reserve price. Shipping and handling costs cover transport, packing, and storage; restoration or conservation fees may also apply if cleaning or framing is required.

Online platform surcharge: Tools like AuctionFlex360, HiBid, and LiveAuctioneers bake platform fees (often 3–5% of hammer) into the buyer's premium or deduct them from proceeds.

Buy-in fee: If the lot fails to meet its reserve, the auction house may charge a percentage of the reserve price in what is called a "buy-in" fee. Not all houses charge this; always ask upfront.

Artist's Resale Right (ARR / droit de suite): The ARR entitles creators of original works of art to a royalty each time one of their works is resold through an auction house; the right applies for the lifetime of the artist and for 70 years following their death. The right only applies when the sale price reaches or exceeds £1,000 and is calculated on a sliding scale; royalties are capped so that the total for any single sale cannot exceed £12,500.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fees does an auction house charge the seller?
Most auction houses charge seller commissions of roughly 10–25% and buyer's premiums of roughly 18–30%. Beyond the commission, other seller's fees might include nominal charges for photography of your item, insurance, transportation, or for special services such as restoration, cleaning, or repair of an object prior to sale. Online bidding platforms may also add a surcharge of 3–5%.
Does the buyer's premium come out of my net proceeds?
No. The buyer's premium is always paid by the buyer, and it is never waived or reduced because doing so would be considered giving unfair advantage to one buyer over another. Your net proceeds are calculated solely from the hammer price minus the seller-side fees listed in this calculator.
What is the Artist's Resale Right (ARR)?
Royalties are calculated on a sliding scale — from 4% on works priced up to £50,000 to 0.25% on works over £500,000 — with the maximum ARR payment for a single work capped at £12,500. The seller is legally responsible to pay the royalties; the auction house collects the royalty on the artist's behalf and transfers the sum to collection societies. In the USA there is currently no equivalent federal law.
Can I negotiate the seller's commission?
If you possess something rare and beautiful, you're in the driver's seat — you can negotiate a lower commission than a seller with average goods, and even no commission at all if your item is exceedingly rare. If you are selling an entire collection, this can also warrant a lower commission. Always get the agreed rate in writing before consigning.
What is a buy-in fee and when does it apply?
A buy-in fee is a common practice where auction houses charge consignors a fee for listing an item at auction even if it doesn't sell. Not all houses charge this — it is typically a percentage of the reserve price. Use the buy-in toggle in this calculator to model the cost of an unsold lot when setting a reserve price.
How do estate and regional auction houses differ from major houses on fees?
Many estate auction houses offer tiered commission models — starting at around 35% for the first $10,000 in sales, then gradually reducing to 30% at $30,000 and 25% or lower beyond $50,000. Major international houses commonly charge 10–20% for higher-value consignments; amounts may be higher (up to ~30%) for smaller lots or special services.

Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for planning purposes only and is not legal or financial advice. Fee structures vary by auction house, contract, item type, and jurisdiction. Always confirm your full fee schedule with your chosen auction house before signing a consignment agreement. ARR rates are per UK Gov guidance effective 1 April 2024. Source: UK GOV Artist's Resale Right; Artists' Collecting Society.