5 Best Auction Houses in Seattle (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Talise Sterling, Goods and Shopping · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 8 min read

One seller took a sculpture appraised at $4,000 to MBA Seattle Auction House and watched it sell for $10,000, a genuine record according to the reviewer. Seattle's auction scene splits sharply by category, from Bonhams' global fine-art reach to local estate liquidators clearing out a family home, and picking the wrong type for your item can cost real money.

Short answer: Kaman Auctions LLC has the deepest track record with 71 reviews at a 4.5 rating, specialising in charity car donations. MBA Seattle Auction House stands out for high-value fine art and jewellery consignment, while Bonhams, a global auction house with a Seattle office, holds a perfect 5.0. Match the auction house to your item type before you consign anything.

Jump to a business

1. Kaman Auctions LLC
2. MBA Seattle Auction Ho…
3. Bonhams
4. Stokes Auction
5. Sound Estate Sale Comp…
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How Seattle's Auction Houses Compare

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	Kaman Auctions LLC	4.5 ★	71	Vehicle donation & consignment	View ›
2	MBA Seattle Auction House LLC	4.3 ★	60	Fine art, jewellery & antiques consignment	View ›
3	Bonhams	5.0 ★	33	High-value & rare items	View ›
4	Stokes Auction	4.6 ★	45	Vehicle & estate auctions	View ›
5	Sound Estate Sale Company	4.8 ★	38	Estate sale liquidation	View ›

Our top picks, reviewed

#1 Overall🕑 Open 5 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Kaman Auctions LLC

4.571 Google reviews

Kaman Auctions LLC is a vehicle auction and dealer in Edmonds specialising in car donations for charity, alongside standard vehicle consignment. It's the most-reviewed auction business on this page, with reviewers describing both the donation process and repeat vehicle-buying relationships spanning years.

What people praise

Deepest review base of any auction house on this list
Fast, straightforward donation process, including help jumping a dead battery on pickup
Staff named repeatedly (Lynn, Marci, Rose, Marty, Dro, David) for warmth and efficiency
Raises real money for charity through its donation programme

Worth knowing

Some reviews are several years old; confirm current staffing and process before donating

Reputation scorecardrank in Seattle

Rating4.5 / 5

Review volume71 · 97th

Confidenceearly

Recency12 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown80% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The go-to here specifically for vehicle donation or sale, with a straightforward process and a genuine charity component behind it.

Website +1425-640-5111 Directions

23110-B Hwy 99, Edmonds, WA 98026

#2🕑 Open 5 days/wk

MBA Seattle Auction House LLC

4.360 Google reviews

MBA Seattle Auction House is a Renton-based auction house handling fine art, jewellery, sculpture and antiques consignment, with a stated preference for local sellers over shipping items long-distance. It offers appraisal and cataloguing services alongside the auction itself, and reviewers describe both buying and selling relationships spanning over a decade.

What people praise

Genuinely strong sale results cited directly, including one sculpture that sold for well above its appraised value
Faster payout timeline than some competitors requiring long-distance shipping
Staff, including Michael and Judi, praised for deep, honest expertise across many collecting categories
Long-term customer relationships spanning 15-plus years for some sellers

Worth knowing

Focuses more on fine art, jewellery and collectibles than everyday household liquidation

Reputation scorecardrank in Seattle

Rating4.3 / 5

Review volume60 · 90th

Confidenceearly

Recency3 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown75% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A strong choice for higher-value fine art, jewellery and antiques consignment, with a genuine local-first advantage over shipping items to a distant auction house.

Website +1425-235-6345 Directions

717 S 3rd St, Renton, WA 98057

#3🕑 Open 5 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Bonhams

5.033 Google reviews

Bonhams is a global auction house with a Pacific Northwest office based in Seattle, offering free auction estimates across 60 collecting categories including fine jewellery, Chinese art, prints, contemporary art and motor cars. It provides appraisals for insurance and probate purposes alongside standard auction consignment, with home visits available by appointment.

What people praise

Genuinely global auction reach, backed by an international brand and buyer network
Free jewellery appraisals help sellers understand if an item is auction-worthy before committing
Representative Heather named repeatedly for a smooth, reassuring process for first-time consignors
Handles probate and insurance appraisals alongside sale consignment

Worth knowing

By appointment only, with no walk-in retail presence
Smaller local review count given the office serves the broader Pacific Northwest, not just Seattle

Reputation scorecardrank in Seattle

Rating5 / 5

Review volume33 · 63rd

Confidenceearly

Recency3 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown100% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The pick for genuinely high-value or rare items where a global buyer network matters, backed by a well-known international auction house name.

Website +1206-218-5011 Directions

**Mailing Address Only**, 4616 25th Ave NE Box 113, Seattle, WA 98105

#4🕑 Open 5 days/wk

Stokes Auction

4.645 Google reviews

Stokes Auction is a third-generation family auction company in Port Orchard, established in 1974, handling vehicle auctions, estate sales, business liquidations and industrial equipment. It runs both public online auctions and appraisal services, with a customer base that includes decades-long repeat buyers.

What people praise

Over 50 years in business as a genuine multi-generation family operation
Reliable, accurate item descriptions cited by a 35-year repeat customer
Fast, simple process for both buying and selling vehicles
Handles a wide range beyond vehicles, including estate and business liquidation

Worth knowing

Located in Port Orchard, roughly an hour from Seattle proper, so factor in travel time

Reputation scorecardrank in Seattle

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume45 · 83rd

Confidenceearly

Recency8 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown87% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A trusted, long-established name for vehicle and estate auctions, with genuine multi-decade customer loyalty, though the Port Orchard location means it's more of a trip than the Seattle-based options.

Website +1360-876-0236 Directions

8397 SE Spring Creek Rd, Port Orchard, WA 98367

#5🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Sound Estate Sale Company

4.838 Google reviews

Sound Estate Sale Company is a full-service online auction business specialising in estate sales, business liquidation and fundraisers across Greater Seattle. It handles the full process of cataloguing, pricing and running a live online auction for household items, working directly with families clearing out a home, often under time pressure.

What people praise

Genuinely strong for families facing a tight timeline after a death or move
Owner Kathy and team named repeatedly for transparency and honesty throughout emotional situations
Handled cataloguing an entire home's contents in under three weeks in one case
Wide category coverage from antiques to vehicles to everyday household goods

Worth knowing

Smaller review base than the largest names on this list, though ratings are consistently strong

Reputation scorecardrank in Seattle

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume38 · 70th

Confidenceearly

Recency3 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown95% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A strong, compassionate choice specifically for estate liquidation, with reviewers repeatedly describing a difficult family situation handled with real care and speed.

Website +1206-552-9868 Directions

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How we score

Every number on this page is computed from public Google data on the date shown, not from opinion or payment. Rating is the auction house’s live Google star average. Review volume shows how many buyers and sellers have rated them, ranked against other Seattle auction houses. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.5 from 71 reviews carries more weight than a 5.0 from a handful. Recency reflects how recently people are still leaving reviews. No business can pay to change these numbers.

How much does it cost to sell through an auction house? (2026)

None of the auction houses on this page publish fixed commission rates, since fees vary by item category, estimated value and whether shipping or cataloguing services are needed. Ask each auction house directly for its current commission structure before consigning.

Serving Seattle and the surrounding area

These auction houses span Edmonds, Renton, downtown Seattle and Port Orchard, covering the greater Seattle metro area. Searching for an auction house near me? Every listing above shows a live phone number so you can ask about current consignment terms directly.

What to ask before you consign to an auction house

What’s the seller’s commission rate, and are there additional cataloguing or photography fees?
Do you specialise in my item category, or should I look at a more specific auction house?
How long from consignment to sale, and how long until payout after the item sells?
Is a free appraisal or estimate available before committing to consignment?
Do you offer home pickup, or does the item need to be dropped off?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these auction houses?

We started from every auction house in Seattle with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from the public Google data in the scorecard. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position on the underlying data.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (August 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

Which auction house is best for fine art or jewellery?

MBA Seattle Auction House and Bonhams both specialise in fine art, jewellery and higher-value collectibles, with Bonhams offering global reach through its international network.

Is there an auction house here for a full estate liquidation?

Yes. Sound Estate Sale Company specialises specifically in clearing and cataloguing a full household estate, often on a tight timeline.

The bottom line

Match the auction house to your item first: Kaman for vehicles, MBA or Bonhams for fine art and jewellery, Sound Estate Sale Company for a full household liquidation. Get a free estimate and confirm the commission structure before consigning anything.

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