What Does an Estate Sale Cost?
By the Empty the Home TeamUpdated November 2026
The cost of an estate sale is not a flat price — it is a share of what the sale brings in. You agree on the commission with the company before anything starts, and it comes out of the proceeds, so there is nothing to pay out of pocket to begin.
How the commission works
If the sale brings in $20,000 and the commission is 35%, the company keeps $7,000 and the family receives $13,000. Here is how different sale totals look at a 35% commission:
| Sale brings in | Commission (35%) | Family receives |
|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $1,750 | $3,250 |
| $10,000 | $3,500 | $6,500 |
| $20,000 | $7,000 | $13,000 |
| $40,000 | $14,000 | $26,000 |
Commission rates vary by company and by how much work the sale takes; 30–50% is the common range. Agree the rate in writing before the sale.
Try it with your own numbers: use our estate sale payout calculator to see what the family keeps at any sale total and commission.
Is there a minimum?
Many companies look for a minimum estimated sale total, often around $5,000 to $10,000. If the home doesn't have that much to sell, a buyout or clean-out is usually the better choice.
What about Empty the Home?
Our service is free to families. We match you with a local company that serves the area; you only agree a commission with that company, and it comes out of the sale. There is no cost to the family for the referral.
Common questions
How much does an estate sale company charge?
Most estate sale companies charge a commission on what they sell, usually between 30% and 50% of the sale total. There is typically no up-front fee — the commission comes out of the proceeds, and the family receives the rest.
Is there a minimum for an estate sale?
Many companies look for a minimum estimated sale total, often in the $5,000 to $10,000 range. Below that, a buyout or clean-out is usually the better option.
Does Empty the Home charge families?
No. Empty the Home is free to families. You only agree a commission with the estate sale company, and it comes out of the sale.
More guides
- How to clear out a deceased parent's house — A calm, step-by-step guide for families and executors — from securing the home to the final clean-out.
- Estate sale vs. buyout vs. clean-out — The three ways to empty a home, what each pays, how long it takes, and how to choose — with a side-by-side table.
- Executor's guide to selling a home's contents — What an executor or personal representative needs to know before selling estate property — authority, probate and the court in DC, Virginia and Michigan.
- Senior downsizing: what to do with the house — Helping a parent move to assisted living or a smaller home — what to keep, what to sell, and how to clear the rest without the stress.
- 15 questions to ask before hiring an estate sale company — The exact questions that tell a good company from a bad one — commission, insurance, payout, and more. Printable checklist included.
- Estate sale taxes, donations & appraisals (Form 8283) — How estate sale income, charitable donations and appraisals work at tax time — including the $5,000 appraisal threshold and IRS Form 8283.
- What sells best at an estate sale — The items that reliably sell — and the surprises that add up — plus what sells well in DC, Richmond and Metro Detroit, and how value is set.