How to value inherited art
- Every request is reviewed by a licensed appraiser
- Free, no obligation
- Answer within 72 hours
- Sellers worldwide, US-based team
There is no single ‘value’ for a work of art. What you need depends on why you are asking: to sell, to settle an estate, to divide property or to insure it. Each has a different answer and a different cost.
Research the artist yourself, for free
Search the signature in the ArtSell price database to see what comparable works have actually sold for, and compare by medium and size. Recorded sales are the best evidence of value.
Auction estimate: what could it bring if sold
A free opinion from a specialist of the range a work could reasonably bring at auction, based on comparable sales. Useful for deciding whether and where to sell.
Formal appraisal: a signed written report
Usually paid, by the item or by the hour. Often required for estate tax, probate, dividing property between heirs, insurance or a charitable gift. The purpose decides which kind of value is reported.
A practical order
- Research the artists and sort the works
- Get free estimates for works that may be valuable
- Commission formal appraisals only for the works that need them
This page is general information about selling art, not legal or tax advice. Rules differ by state and by estate, so check anything involving ownership, taxes or court approval with the estate’s attorney or accountant.
Free auction estimate
Send photos of the artwork for a free auction estimate.
Have more than one work to sell?
Have a collection to sell? Speak with a specialist about your collection within 48 hours.
Request a callHow selling at auction works
- Send photos for a free estimate. A photo of the front, plus the signature, the back and any labels if you can. Add the size and anything you know about where the work came from.
- Get an auction estimate. A specialist compares the work with recorded auction results and replies with an estimate range: what the work could reasonably bring at auction, not a guarantee or a formal appraisal.
- Agree terms and a reserve. If you decide to sell, you sign a consignment agreement that sets the commission, any fees and the reserve (the confidential minimum price below which the work will not sell).
- Ship or hand over the work. The work goes to the house for inspection, cataloguing and photography. Condition and authorship are checked before it is offered.
- The sale. The work is offered in a scheduled sale, online or in the room. Buyers pay a buyer’s premium on top of the hammer price; that is the buyer’s cost, not yours.
- Get paid. After the buyer pays, the house settles with you: the hammer price minus the seller’s commission and any agreed fees.
Typical timeline
- Estimate: usually a few days after you send photos.
- Consignment to sale: commonly 6–12 weeks, because houses build sales around themes and seasons and need time to catalogue and market each lot.
- Payment: usually about 30–35 days after the sale, once the buyer has paid.
What selling costs
- Seller’s commission: a percentage of the hammer price. At many houses it falls roughly between 10% and 25%, often lower for higher-value works, and it is frequently negotiable.
- Possible fees: some houses charge for photography, insurance, shipping or an unsold-lot fee. Ask which apply before you sign.
- Buyer’s premium: paid by the buyer on top of the hammer price. Prices in our results include it where the house publishes it.
Questions
Is a free estimate the same as an appraisal?
No. An estimate is an opinion of a likely auction range. An appraisal is a signed report prepared for a stated purpose such as tax or insurance.
How do I look up what a painting sold for?
Use the ArtSell price database or the What’s my art worth tool to compare recorded auction results by artist, medium and size.
Do I need an appraisal to sell at auction?
No. Houses estimate works themselves; an appraisal is only needed if you need a formal value for another purpose.
More for estates, heirs and collectors
- I inherited artwork. How do I sell it?
- Selling art through probate
- What to do with inherited paintings
- Selling inherited art and estate collections (guide)
- Sell your collection: free review for 10 or more works
- Request a call about your collection
Seller guides
How to sell art at auctionWhat’s my art worth?Sell a paintingSell a printSell a sculptureSelling inherited art and estatesHow to photograph art for an estimateAppraisal vs. auction estimateWhere to sell artArt appraisal for insuranceHow to sell a painting you inheritedIs my print worth anything?What is my painting worth?Is my painting valuable?Original or print?How to read a signatureAuction vs. gallery vs. onlineSell your collection (10+ works)I inherited artwork: how to sell itSelling an estate art collectionHow to sell a large art collectionSpeak with a specialist about your collection