59 historical figures, sources dated individually
Estate sales, by the numbers.
Dated figures and selling examples with their sources and limits. Asking prices, recorded sales and client proceeds are different.
Illustrative research scene
Estate sale industry statistics for 2026: what a sale grosses, what companies charge, and how they run
Key takeaways
- The average estate sale grosses more than $18,000, but 42% gross under $10,000 (EstateSales.net 2024 survey of 774 companies).
- The national average commission is 40%; a seller keeps just under $11,000 on the average sale (EstateSales.net, SmartAsset 2026).
- An estimated 14,000 estate sale companies operate in the U.S. with no regulatory body; 68% of owners are over 55 and 32% have been in business 5 years or less.
- 55% of companies set a minimum gross of $5,000 or less before they will take a sale; below that line families are usually told no.
- Only 36% of companies can set a sale up inside 14 days; 35% need more than three weeks.
- 75% donate what is left, 69% offer a clear-out, and 67% pay the client within 7 days.
- Facebook is where buyers come from: 91% of companies advertise there; 82% take cards and 51% take Venmo.
- Health is why the oldest sellers sell: 43% of sellers 79 to 99 and 38% of sellers 70 to 78 cite a household member's health (NAR 2025).
How much does an estate sale gross, and what does the company keep?
- $more than 18,000Average gross of an estate sale, nationwide (EstateSales.net industry survey). EstateSales.net Help Center, How much does an estate sale cost?, 2026.
- $just under 11,000What the seller keeps on average after a 40% commission. SmartAsset, How Much Does the Average Estate Sale Make? (2026), 2026.
- 42%Estate sales grossing under $10,000. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 37%Estate sales grossing $10,001 to $20,000 (citing the EstateSales.net 2024 survey). SmartAsset, How Much Does the Average Estate Sale Make? (2026), 2024.
- 22%Estate sales grossing over $20,000. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 40%Average estate sale commission, nationwide. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 25 to 50%Typical commission range quoted by estate law counsel. ElderLawAnswers, The Ins and Outs of Estate Sales (March 30, 2026), 2026.
- 50%A common sliding scale: commission on a sale grossing $5,000 to $10,000. EstateSales.net Help Center, How much does an estate sale cost?, 2026.
- 40%The same sliding scale: commission on a sale grossing $10,000 to $20,000. EstateSales.net Help Center, How much does an estate sale cost?, 2026.
- 55%Companies that set a minimum gross-sale threshold of $5,000 or less. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- trash hauling and advertising The two most common extra fees beyond commission. EstateSales.net Help Center, How much does an estate sale cost?, 2026.
- 3 to 4 daysHow long a sale usually runs. SmartAsset, How Much Does the Average Estate Sale Make? (2026), 2026.
Who runs estate sales, and how big are the companies?
- 14,000 companiesEstimated estate sale companies in the United States (no regulatory body oversees them). ElderLawAnswers, The Ins and Outs of Estate Sales (March 30, 2026), 2026.
- 774 businessesCompanies surveyed by EstateSales.net in 2024. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 55%Companies for which estate sales are the primary income source. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 71%Companies that focus almost exclusively on estate sales. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 22%Companies that also run auctions. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 68%Owners over the age of 55. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 32%Companies in business 0 to 5 years. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 25%Companies in business 11 to 20 years. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 25%Companies in business more than 20 years. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 25%Sole proprietors. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 22%Companies with 3 to 4 employees. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 70%Share of the workforce that is contractors, not employees. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 16.3 $ per hourAverage hourly wage paid to sale staff. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 86%Companies holding a business license. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 32%Companies running 10 to 20 sales a year. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
What is in a sale, how fast is it set up, and how is it run?
- 25%Sales with 1,000 to 1,999 items. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 20%Sales with 500 to 999 items. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 36%Companies that set up a sale within 14 days. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 35%Companies that need more than three weeks to set up. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 69%Companies that offer clear-outs after the sale. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 58%Companies that manage donations of what is left. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 75%Companies that donate leftovers after the sale. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 27%Companies that consign leftovers to auctions. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 61%Companies open to the client attending the sale. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 67%Companies that pay the client within 7 days. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 51%Companies that have adopted an online sales platform. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 50%Sales-volume increase reported by companies running hybrid online and in-person sales. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 15%Revenue-per-sale increase reported by hybrid sellers. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
How do estate sale companies find buyers and take payment?
- 91%Companies that advertise on Facebook. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 68%Companies that run email campaigns. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 69%Companies with their own website. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 50%Companies on Instagram. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- $1,000 to 5,000Typical annual marketing spend. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 82%Companies that take card payments. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 51%Companies that take Venmo. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 44%Companies that take PayPal. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 37%Companies that take Zelle. EstateSales.net, 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report (774 businesses surveyed), 2024.
- 25,000 shopsResale, consignment and nonprofit resale shops in the United States. NARTS, The Association of Resale Professionals, as cited by the U.S. Census Bureau, 2025.
- 7 % per yearAnnual growth of the resale industry. NARTS, The Association of Resale Professionals, as cited by the U.S. Census Bureau, 2025.
Why estates come up for sale, and where
- 43%Home sellers aged 79 to 99 whose reason for selling was a household member's health. National Association of REALTORS, 2025 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report, 2025.
- 38%Home sellers aged 70 to 78 selling for a household member's health. National Association of REALTORS, 2025 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report, 2025.
- 44%Sellers 79 to 99 who lived in the home 21 years or more. National Association of REALTORS, 2025 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report, 2025.
- 53%Baby Boomers' share of all home sellers. National Association of REALTORS, 2025 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report, 2025.
- 17.3%Chester County residents 65 and older. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2019-2023, 2023.
- 17%Delaware County residents 65 and older. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2019-2023, 2023.
- 19.2%Lancaster County residents 65 and older. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2019-2023, 2023.
- 50%Revived's rate on estimated contents under $5,000 (40% from $5,000 to $19,999, 35% at $20,000 and up; nothing up front). Revived, Kennett Square PA, own records and published rate card, 2026.
Questions people ask
- How much does an estate sale company charge?
- The national average commission is 40% of gross sales (EstateSales.net 2024 survey). Ranges run 25 to 50%, and many companies use a sliding scale, for example 50% on a $5,000 to $10,000 sale and 40% on $10,000 to $20,000.
- How much does the average estate sale make?
- More than $18,000 gross on average, though 42% of sales bring in under $10,000 and only 22% bring in over $20,000.
- Is there a minimum for an estate sale?
- 55% of companies set a minimum gross of $5,000 or less; a growing share set higher minimums. Houses below the line are usually declined, which is the gap in-home consignment fills.
- How long does it take to set up an estate sale?
- 36% of companies set up within 14 days; 35% need more than three weeks. The sale itself usually runs 3 to 4 days.
- What happens to what does not sell?
- 75% of companies donate leftovers, 69% offer a clear-out and 27% consign leftovers to auction.
Cite this page
Revived, 'Estate sale industry statistics for 2026' (2026), https://sellrevived.com/stats/estate-sale-statistics
Industry figures are quoted from the publisher named beside each number, principally EstateSales.net's 2024 Industry Insights Report (774 companies surveyed) and its help center, SmartAsset's 2026 summary of that survey, ElderLawAnswers, NARTS as cited by the U.S. Census Bureau, and NAR's 2025 Generational Trends report. County figures are ACS 2019-2023 5-year estimates. Revived's own figures are its published rate card and completed jobs. Errors: hello@sellrevived.com.
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