How much does it cost to sell a house at auction?
Selling at auction typically involves an entry fee of £300 to £500 plus VAT, commission of 2 to 2.5% plus VAT with a minimum often around £1,500 to £2,000, and a legal pack of £300 to £600. On a £200,000 sale, that is roughly £5,400 to £7,100 in total, illustrative only. Always check the specific auction house's published fee schedule before entering.
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What are the main cost lines when selling at auction?
Auction seller costs are usually made up of four elements: an entry or catalogue fee paid upfront to list the property, a commission percentage charged on completion of a sale, a legal pack fee for preparing title and search documents, and, in some cases, an unsold or buy-in fee if the reserve is not met. Figures below are typical ranges seen across the market. Every auction house sets its own fee schedule, so check the specific terms and current VAT treatment before relying on any number.
| Cost line | Typical range | When it's payable |
|---|---|---|
| Entry or catalogue fee | £300 to £500 plus VAT | Upfront, when the property is listed |
| Commission | 2 to 2.5% plus VAT, minimum often £1,500 to £2,000 | On completion of a sale |
| Legal pack | £300 to £600 | Upfront, before the auction date |
| Unsold or buy-in fee | Sometimes quoted as a percentage of reserve, varies significantly | If the reserve is not met, some houses have dropped this fee |
What does that look like on a £200,000 sale?
Taking the ranges above, an illustrative total on a £200,000 property sold successfully at auction might run from around £5,400 up to roughly £7,100, covering the entry fee, legal pack and commission. This is illustrative only and depends entirely on the fee schedule of the specific auction house, whether VAT is added on top, and whether any additional charges apply. Always check the auction's own published terms and get the full cost list in writing before committing.
Why do minimum commission charges matter so much?
Commission is usually quoted as a percentage, but almost always with a minimum charge attached, often in the region of £1,500 to £2,000. On a higher-value property that minimum rarely comes into play, because the percentage figure is already above it. On a lower-value property, the minimum can end up being the actual amount charged, which pushes the effective percentage far higher than the headline rate advertised.
What if the property doesn't sell?
Entry and legal pack fees are typically still payable even if the property does not sell, because that work has already been carried out. Commission is normally only charged when a sale completes. Some auction houses add a separate unsold or buy-in fee if reserve is not met, and this figure and whether it applies at all varies significantly between auction houses, with some having dropped it altogether. See what happens if a house doesn't sell at auction for the full picture.
How does that compare with selling to us?
We charge no fees at all: no entry fee, no commission, and no legal pack cost, because we pay your legal fees directly. There is no reserve and no possibility of an unsold lot once we've agreed a price after survey. Our offers are typically 75 to 80% of independently assessed market value, which is lower than a hoped-for auction hammer price, but it is a fixed figure agreed before you commit to anything, with completion in as little as 7 days. See the full breakdown in cash buyer vs auction and how we set offers in what we pay.
Common questions
- How much does it cost to sell a house at auction?
- Costs typically include an entry or catalogue fee of around £300 to £500 plus VAT, commission of around 2 to 2.5% plus VAT with a minimum charge often set around £1,500 to £2,000, and a legal pack of £300 to £600. On a £200,000 sale, an illustrative total is roughly £5,400 to £7,100, but this depends entirely on the specific auction house's terms.
- Do auction fees apply even if the house doesn't sell?
- Entry and legal pack fees are usually payable regardless of outcome, because that work has already been done. Some auction houses also charge an unsold or buy-in fee if the reserve is not met, though this varies and some have dropped it. Commission is normally only charged on a completed sale.
- Why does the minimum commission hit low-value properties hardest?
- A minimum commission charge, often around £1,500 to £2,000, represents a much larger percentage of the sale price on a lower-value property than on an expensive one. A £100,000 house paying a £1,800 minimum is effectively paying 1.8%, but that fixed cost feels far heavier once entry and legal fees are added on top.
- Are auction fees the same as selling through an estate agent?
- No. Estate agent fees are usually a single commission percentage payable only on completion, with no separate entry or legal pack charge. Auction combines several fee types, some payable upfront and some regardless of whether the property sells, so the overall cost structure works differently.
Want a guaranteed price instead of a guide price?
No reserve, no lot fees, no risk of the lot going unsold. You know the figure before you commit to anything.
Related guides
Auction alternative hubHow selling at auction works for a seller, the costs and unsold risk involved, and how a fixed-price cash sale compares as an alternative.
Selling at auction: pros and consA balanced look at the pros and cons of selling a house at auction, who it genuinely suits, and who is usually better off with another route.
What if my house doesn't sell at auction?What happens when a lot is passed or withdrawn at auction, the fees already spent, and the options after an unsold auction property.
Modern method of auction explainedHow modern method of auction works for buyers and sellers: reservation fees, the 56-day timeline, SDLT treatment, and how it compares to a cash offer.
Cash buyer vs auctionTraditional auction, modern method of auction and a direct cash sale compared on timescale, fees, reserve risk and suitability.