Stamp auction fee calculator
At auction you receive the hammer price minus the seller’s commission, lotting, photography and insurance charges. The buyer’s premium is paid by the buyer on top, so it does not come out of your share — but bidders allow for it, which lowers the hammer. Enter your figures to see what reaches you and how it compares with a dealer offer or selling online.
Compare offers on what you will actually receive, not on the estimate. A higher estimate with higher fees can net you less than a lower one with lower fees.
Auction fee calculator
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Example fee ranges
The figures below are typical examples to start the calculator with, not the terms of any particular house or marketplace. Fees vary by house, by the size of the consignment and by negotiation — check the house’s own terms of sale before you sign.
| Charge | Who pays | Typical example |
|---|---|---|
| Seller’s commission | Seller | About 10–20% of the hammer price; often lower for a large or valuable consignment |
| Buyer’s premium | Buyer | About 15–25% on top of the hammer price |
| Lotting, photography, insurance | Seller | Small flat or percentage charges; sometimes included in the commission |
| Unsold-lot fee | Seller | Sometimes charged if a lot fails to reach its reserve |
| Online marketplace and payment fees | Seller | About 10–15% of the sale price in total, plus postage |
How the calculator works
- Hammer. If your estimate is what the buyer pays in total, the hammer is that figure divided by (1 + buyer’s premium). Otherwise the estimate is the hammer.
- Net to you = hammer − commission − insurance − lotting and photography fees.
- Dealer = the offer as given: a dealer pays wholesale, with no further deductions.
- Online = sale price − percentage fees − postage, packing and listing costs.
The route with the highest net is marked. A dealer offer that looks low can still win once fees, time and the chance of a lot going unsold are counted — and on ordinary material a dealer buying in bulk pays a small fraction of catalogue whichever way you sell. For more, read stamp auction consignment fees explained, auction vs online selling, how to choose an auction house and how to negotiate with a dealer, or go back to selling stamps.
Common questions
Does the buyer’s premium come out of the seller’s money?
No. The buyer pays it on top of the hammer price, so your commission and fees are worked out on the hammer alone. It still matters to you: bidders know they will pay the premium, so they bid less, and the hammer is lower than the total they are willing to spend.
What fees does a stamp auction charge the seller?
A seller’s commission as a percentage of the hammer price, plus charges such as lotting, photography and insurance while the stamps are in the house’s care, and sometimes a fee for lots that do not sell. Read the consignment terms line by line before you sign.
Is auction or a dealer better for selling stamps?
Auction suits scarce, high-grade or expertised material, where competing bidders set the price. For common stamps and bulk lots, a dealer’s immediate offer or an online sale often leaves you more once auction fees and minimum lot values are counted. Enter both figures above to compare them.
Are the example fee ranges the real fees of a house?
No. They are typical examples to start the calculator with. Every house sets its own terms, and commission is often negotiable on a large consignment, so use the figures from the terms you are offered.
Know what you have before you sell
StampWorth identifies the stamp from a photo, grades its condition, suggests its catalogue numbers and gives an AI estimate of its market-value range — a starting point, not a sale price. Free to download on iPhone and Android: 3 identifications a day, and your first valuation shows its full value; Pro shows every value.