Use completed sales
Asking prices show what sellers want. Completed sales are a better starting point for realistic estimates.
Auction tools · Free tool
Auction Maximum Bid Calculator
Set a maximum bid before the auction starts. This calculator works backward from your expected resale price so excitement does not erase your margin.
Estimated result
Your estimate
Net result$0.00
Total costs$0.00
Return or rate0%
Useful benchmark$0.00
This is an estimate for research and planning, not a formal appraisal, tax calculation, or guarantee of a sale price.
How the auction maximum bid works
Find the highest auction bid you can make while leaving room for buyer premiums, taxes, shipping, fees, and your target profit. Start with realistic completed-sale prices and include costs that are easy to overlook. For antiques, condition, authenticity, provenance, maker, rarity, and local demand can matter more than a simple formula.
Include the hidden costs
Shipping, packaging, restoration, platform fees, transport, storage, and your time can change the outcome.
Research before deciding
Use this result as a first pass, then verify marks, condition, comparable items, and current marketplace rules.
Questions people ask
What is a maximum bid?
It is the highest purchase price that still leaves your target profit after buyer premium, taxes, shipping, and other costs.
Does the calculator include the buyer premium?
Yes. Enter the auction buyer premium as a percentage and the calculator subtracts it from the amount available for your bid.
Should I include sales tax?
Include it when you expect to pay it. Rules vary by location and auction platform, so confirm the auction house terms.