The fastest route is selling outright to a dealer; the most money usually comes from selling to the end buyer yourself (a mall booth or online) or through consignment and auction, at the cost of time and fees. Match the route to how much you have to sell and how quickly.
Find your route in a few clicks
Answer the questions; every path is also listed below.
See every path
How much are you selling?
- One or a few pieces
Do you need the money quickly?
- Yes, this week → Sell to a dealer who buys Shops that buy
- No, I can wait for a better price
Is it rare or valuable (or might be)?
- Yes or not sure → Get an appraisal, then try auction Appraisals
- No, it's a good everyday piece → Consignment shop or online Consignment shops
- A whole collection
Do you want to keep selling regularly?
- Yes, I enjoy it → Rent a booth in an antique mall Booth guide
- No, one and done → Specialist dealer or auction house Shops that buy
- A whole household → Estate sale company or estate buyer Find estate sale companies
The options side by side
| Route | Speed | Your share | Effort | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sell to a dealer | Days | Lowest (dealer resells) | Low | Quick sale, mid-value pieces |
| Consignment shop | Weeks to months | Sale price minus commission (38–50%) | Low | Furniture and decor that sells locally |
| Antique mall booth | Ongoing | Sale price minus rent ($87–$205/month) and commission (10%) | High | Collections, people who enjoy picking |
| Auction house | Weeks | Hammer price minus seller's fee | Low–medium | Rare, collectible or high-value items |
| Estate sale company | One sale | Proceeds minus the company's percentage | Low | Whole households |
| Online marketplaces | Varies | Sale price minus platform fees and shipping | High | Small, shippable collectibles |
Booth and commission figures: middle range of what antique malls in our directory publish on their own websites (95 malls).
Selling to a dealer
It's quick, you're paid on the spot, and you don't handle buyers. The trade-off is price: the dealer has to make a margin. Get more than one offer for anything good, and choose dealers who specialize in what you're selling. Our list of shops that buy shows what each one mentions on its website.
Consignment
The shop displays and sells your piece and pays you after it sells, keeping a commission. Read the agreement: how long the item stays, whether prices drop over time, who pays for damage, and what happens if it doesn't sell.
Renting a booth
A booth turns you into a small dealer. You set prices and keep the full sale minus the mall's commission, but you pay rent whether things sell or not, and you'll need to restock and keep the booth looking fresh. Use the booth rent calculator to see what you'd need to sell each month to break even.
Auctions and estate sales
Auction houses bring competitive bidding, which helps with rare pieces, but fees apply and results can disappoint for ordinary items. Estate sale companies run the whole sale in the home and take a percentage; they're the usual choice when clearing a house.
Questions
What is the best way to sell antiques?
For one or two everyday pieces, a dealer or consignment shop; for rare items, an appraisal and an auction; for a whole house, an estate sale company.
How much commission do consignment shops take?
Among shops in our directory that publish it, 38–50% is the typical range.
Is renting an antique booth worth it?
If you can keep it stocked and sell more than the rent and commission each month. Our calculator shows the break-even point.