Estate Sale Commission Calculator: Net Payout Estimate
Enter what you expect the estate to sell for, the company's commission and any extra fees to see what the family keeps. Then compare it with what you might net running the sale yourself.
Estimate your payout
Estate sale company
Doing it yourself
Your estimate
Hiring a company leaves you $500 less than a DIY sale.
This is an estimate, not a quote. Ask each company for its commission and fees in writing.
How estate sale commissions work
Most estate sale companies charge a commission, often around 25-40% of gross sales, taken from what actually sells rather than what items were hoped to be worth. In return they usually handle sorting, pricing, advertising, staffing, security and checkout. Some add a minimum fee, a cleanout fee or other charges on top, so the percentage alone does not tell you what the family keeps.
Read how much estate sale companies charge for what the commission covers and the extra fees to ask about. If the numbers point to doing it yourself, follow our guide on how to hold an estate sale, or see all our free garage sale tools.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Are you insured and bonded, and can you provide proof?
- Will I get a written contract with dates, commission, fees and cancellation terms?
- Who prices items, and how are markdowns handled on day two and three?
- What happens to unsold items: donation, buyout, cleanout fee or left for the family?
- When do I receive payment, and will I see an itemized record of sales?
- Are credit-card fees, sales tax or discounts taken out before or after your commission?
- Is there a minimum fee if sales are lower than expected?
Common questions about estate sale commissions
How much do estate sale companies charge?
Most charge a commission, often around 25-40% of gross sales. The exact rate depends on the size of the estate, the value and type of items, your location and what the company includes in its fee.
How is my net payout worked out?
The calculator takes the company's commission from your expected gross sales, then subtracts any flat fees you enter, such as a cleanout, minimum or advertising fee. If card fees come off before the commission, it takes those out first. For example, $10,000 in gross sales at 35% with no other fees leaves $6,500.
Why does the DIY side use a sell-through percentage?
A company brings staff, pricing work and its own advertising, so a family running the sale alone may sell a different share of the contents. The 70% starting point is only a placeholder: set it to your own honest guess for your house, helpers and timeline.
What extra fees should I ask about?
Ask whether there is a minimum fee if sales fall below a threshold, a cleanout or haul-away fee for unsold goods, donation or dump-run charges, travel or mileage, and advertising surcharges, and whether each one is inside the percentage or billed separately.