GovDeals statistics: what 180,905 government surplus auctions sold for
Every number on this page comes from GovDeals' own auction results: the winning bid, the bid count and the seller, for 180,905 sold lots. Each figure below is a standalone sentence with its date range and sample size, linkable by its anchor. A winning bid is what the buyer paid, not what the item is worth: resale value is a separate number, and on a good lot it sits well above the bid. Download the data (free, CC BY 4.0).
Key GovDeals numbers
- 180,905 GovDeals auctions that closed May 22, 2026 to October 31, 2026 sold, for $375,954,480 in winning bids, from 7,970 seller accounts.
- The median winning bid on GovDeals was $175 across 180,905 sold lots (May 22, 2026 to October 31, 2026).
- Half of all sold GovDeals lots went for between $35 and $1,375; one in ten sold for $5,050 or more (180,905 sales, May 22, 2026 to October 31, 2026).
- The average GovDeals winning bid was $2,078, almost 12 times the median, because a few vehicles, machines and utility lots sell for tens or hundreds of thousands (May 22, 2026 to October 31, 2026).
- 40.3% of sold GovDeals lots went for under $100, 28.7% for $1,000 or more, and 4.5% for $10,000 or more (180,905 sales, May 22, 2026 to October 31, 2026).
- The median sold GovDeals lot drew 11 bids (180,905 sales, May 22, 2026 to October 31, 2026). Bid count includes repeat bids from one person, so read it as how contested a lot was.
- 55.2% of GovDeals auctions that closed September 14, 2026 to October 31, 2026 sold: 69,336 of 125,547 with a confirmed result, counting each relisted auction separately.
- 75.2% of individual GovDeals lots up for auction September 14, 2026 to October 31, 2026 sold at least once, counting a lot that was relisted only once (91,864 lots).
- 20.8% of GovDeals auctions September 14, 2026 to October 31, 2026 came from 49 sellers that relist the same items and almost never sell (30 or more auctions in 60 days, under 15% sold); without them, 68% of auctions sold.
- 21.7% of sold GovDeals lots closed on a single bid, so the winner paid the opening price (May 22, 2026 to October 31, 2026).
- 33.6% of sold GovDeals lots drew 20 or more bids (May 22, 2026 to October 31, 2026).
- Tractor - Farm was the most contested GovDeals category with at least 300 sales: a median 45 bids per sold lot and a $5,850 median winning bid (741 sales, May 22, 2026 to October 31, 2026).
- Home and Garden, arts, crafts, and collectibles and lighting & fixtures lots on GovDeals typically closed on 1 bid (categories with at least 300 sales, May 22, 2026 to October 31, 2026).
- Dump Trucks, pickup trucks and school bus sold most reliably on GovDeals: 90.8% to 91.5% of auctions sold (categories with at least 500 decided auctions, September 14, 2026 to October 31, 2026).
- Only 6% of GovDeals home and garden auctions and 6.1% of fine art auctions sold (September 14, 2026 to October 31, 2026).
- Automobiles/Cars was GovDeals' largest category by sold lots: 8,387 sold at a $2,200 median winning bid (May 22, 2026 to October 31, 2026).
- Government pickup trucks sold on GovDeals for a median $3,850 across 7,439 sales, with a median 38 bids (single trucks, parts excluded, May 22, 2026 to November 1, 2026). Pickup prices by model year.
- A single government surplus laptop sold on GovDeals for a median $102 across 1,746 sales (multi-unit lots excluded, May 22, 2026 to November 1, 2026). Laptop sold prices.
- Ohio had the most sold GovDeals lots: 13,887 sold at a $140 median winning bid (by pickup location, May 22, 2026 to October 31, 2026).
- 19.4% of sold GovDeals lots came from commercial sellers (businesses and remarketers) rather than government bodies, by GovDeals' own seller type (May 22, 2026 to October 31, 2026).
- Sold GovDeals lots in our tracking rose from 23,272 in June 2026 to 43,053 in October 2026, while the monthly median winning bid stayed between $160 and $186.
- Thursday was the busiest closing day on GovDeals (35,327 sold lots). Weekend closings were a fraction of weekday ones (23,606 vs 157,299) and sold for less: a median $99 on Saturdays (US Eastern time, May 22, 2026 to October 31, 2026).
- The largest single GovDeals sale in the period was $1,820,000 for public utility equipment in California on July 1, 2026, with 13 bids.
Biggest GovDeals categories
The 25 categories with the most sold lots, May 22, 2026 to October 31, 2026. Rows that link to a sold-prices page use that page's numbers (single items, parts and multi-unit lots excluded), so they can differ slightly from GovDeals' raw category.
| Category | Sold lots | Median winning bid | Median bids |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automobiles/Cars | 8,387 | $2,200 | 28 |
| Pickup trucks | 7,439 | $3,850 | 38 |
| SUV | 7,278 | $3,000 | 30 |
| Computers, Parts, and Supplies | 4,084 | $220 | 15 |
| General Merchandise | 3,860 | $35 | 3 |
| Jewelry | 3,746 | $100 | 4 |
| Furniture and Furnishings | 3,745 | $15 | 2 |
| Computers: Desktops and All-In-Ones | 3,677 | $170 | 14 |
| Fire & Police Equipment | 3,112 | $65 | 6 |
| Furniture, Miscellaneous | 2,951 | $21 | 3 |
| Commercial Food Service and Cafeteria Equipment | 2,452 | $103 | 7 |
| Tools, All Types | 2,435 | $53 | 10 |
| Coin Collections | 2,392 | $52 | 8 |
| Office Equipment and Supplies | 2,342 | $19 | 3 |
| Audio/Visual Equipment | 2,184 | $55 | 6 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies | 2,134 | $60 | 5 |
| Office Equipment & Supplies, Miscellaneous | 2,111 | $17 | 3 |
| Industrial Equipment | 2,100 | $102 | 8 |
| Mowing Equipment | 2,041 | $781 | 25 |
| Laboratory Equipment | 2,004 | $100 | 7 |
| Coins, Currency, Precious Metals | 1,973 | $75 | 3 |
| Vans, Passenger | 1,907 | $2,626 | 29 |
| Laptops | 1,746 | $102 | 13 |
| Chairs | 1,690 | $20 | 3 |
| Vehicle Equipment and Parts | 1,540 | $110 | 8 |
Most contested categories
Highest median bid count among categories with at least 300 sales. Vehicles and machinery draw the crowds.
| Category | Sold lots | Median winning bid | Median bids |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tractor - Farm | 741 | $5,850 | 45 |
| Pickup trucks | 7,439 | $3,850 | 38 |
| Electric/Hybrid Vehicle | 611 | $3,200 | 37 |
| Dump trucks | 1,444 | $6,600 | 33 |
| All Terrain Vehicles | 793 | $1,850 | 32 |
| Loaders | 351 | $13,600 | 31 |
| SUV | 7,278 | $3,000 | 30 |
| Vans | 1,231 | $2,725 | 30 |
| Vans, Passenger | 1,907 | $2,626 | 29 |
| Shuttle Bus - Mini Bus | 454 | $3,075 | 29 |
Least contested categories
Lowest median bid count among categories with at least 300 sales. These lots often close at or near the opening bid.
| Category | Sold lots | Median winning bid | Median bids |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home and Garden | 883 | $20 | 1 |
| Arts, Crafts, and Collectibles | 866 | $25 | 1 |
| Lighting & Fixtures | 796 | $25 | 1 |
| Books & Manuals | 670 | $10 | 1 |
| Desks | 501 | $10 | 1 |
| Furniture and Furnishings | 3,745 | $15 | 2 |
| Currency & Financial Products | 322 | $20 | 2 |
| General Merchandise | 3,860 | $35 | 3 |
| Furniture, Miscellaneous | 2,951 | $21 | 3 |
| Office Equipment and Supplies | 2,342 | $19 | 3 |
Sell-through: how many GovDeals auctions sell
55.2% of auctions that closed September 14, 2026 to October 31, 2026 sold, counting every relisted auction. This is the site's one published sell-through figure; it starts September 14, 2026, the first day our tracking recorded every unsold auction, including ones GovDeals relisted. Sell-through by category, at least 500 decided auctions:
Sells most reliably
| Category | Sell-through | Auctions |
|---|---|---|
| Dump Trucks | 91.5% | 554 |
| Pickup Trucks | 91.1% | 3,239 |
| School Bus | 90.8% | 606 |
| Computers: Desktops and All-In-Ones | 87.3% | 1,619 |
| Vans, Passenger | 87.2% | 1,304 |
| Mowing Equipment | 84.1% | 931 |
| Automobiles/Cars | 78.3% | 4,794 |
| Computers: Laptops | 78.2% | 2,451 |
| SUV | 77.6% | 3,789 |
| Cell Phones | 77.6% | 644 |
Sells least often
| Category | Sell-through | Auctions |
|---|---|---|
| Home and Garden | 6% | 5,138 |
| Fine Art | 6.1% | 1,011 |
| Lighting & Fixtures | 15.4% | 1,832 |
| Jewelry | 20% | 6,566 |
| Tools (Non-Industrial) | 20.8% | 1,595 |
| General Merchandise | 23.5% | 4,748 |
| Arts, Crafts, and Collectibles | 25.1% | 842 |
| Laboratory Equipment, Miscellaneous | 28.8% | 1,542 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies | 30.8% | 2,017 |
| Desks | 35.4% | 594 |
GovDeals by state
The 15 states with the most sold lots, by the lot's pickup location. Linked states have a full report on where that state sells its own surplus and what its GovDeals auctions sold for.
| State | Sold lots | Median winning bid | Median bids |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 13,887 | $140 | 11 |
| Tennessee | 11,417 | $135 | 15 |
| California | 11,417 | $150 | 7 |
| Georgia | 9,177 | $240 | 8 |
| Florida | 8,854 | $588 | 9 |
| Texas | 8,853 | $550 | 15 |
| Virginia | 8,521 | $180 | 7 |
| Alabama | 6,153 | $150 | 12 |
| Indiana | 6,077 | $56 | 6 |
| Iowa | 5,909 | $84 | 10 |
| Washington | 5,816 | $130 | 9 |
| New York | 5,777 | $700 | 14 |
| Kentucky | 5,414 | $101 | 12 |
| Colorado | 5,351 | $87 | 16 |
| Missouri | 5,347 | $82 | 11 |
By month
Sold lots by the month the auction closed. Our tracking ramped up through May 2026 (first close May 22, 2026), so early months undercount volume; medians are comparable.
| Month | Sold lots | Median winning bid | Median bids |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | 11,231 | $210 | 13 |
| June 2026 | 23,272 | $162 | 11 |
| July 2026 | 27,469 | $160 | 11 |
| August 2026 | 36,467 | $166 | 11 |
| September 2026 | 39,413 | $186 | 11 |
| October 2026 | 43,053 | $178 | 10 |
By closing day
Day of the week the auction closed, US Eastern time.
| Day | Sold lots | Median winning bid | Median bids |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 29,527 | $172 | 11 |
| Tuesday | 29,697 | $173 | 11 |
| Wednesday | 33,416 | $166 | 12 |
| Thursday | 35,327 | $250 | 10 |
| Friday | 29,332 | $210 | 11 |
| Saturday | 11,199 | $99 | 7 |
| Sunday | 12,407 | $100 | 8 |
Biggest single sales
| Winning bid | Category | State | Bids | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,820,000 | Public Utility Equipment | California | 13 | July 1, 2026 |
| $1,445,000 | Public Utility Equipment | California | 19 | July 1, 2026 |
| $1,304,348 | Transformers & Power Distribution | Texas | 1 | August 31, 2026 |
| $997,500 | Aircraft | Mississippi | 23 | September 15, 2026 |
| $751,250 | Tanks & Vessels | Colorado | 31 | September 17, 2026 |
Sold prices for common items
Single-item medians from our sold-prices pages, which break each item down by model year, state and bid count.
| Item | Sold | Median winning bid | Median bids |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickup trucks | 7,439 | $3,850 | 38 |
| Ford F-150 | 1,814 | $3,606 | 36 |
| Police vehicles | 1,553 | $3,000 | 36 |
| Chevrolet Tahoe | 1,089 | $3,850 | 43 |
| Dump trucks | 1,444 | $6,600 | 33 |
| School buses | 1,225 | $1,950 | 23 |
| Skid steers | 189 | $10,200 | 37 |
| Zero-turn mowers | 271 | $1,826 | 41 |
| Laptops | 1,746 | $102 | 13 |
Download the data
govdeals-auction-results-2026-05-to-2026-10.csv (CSV, 8,234 rows, 447 KB). One row per month, pickup state and GovDeals category with at least 5 sales: lots sold, median, 25th and 75th percentile winning bid, total winning bids and median bid count, in US dollars. Hammer prices only: no resale estimates.
License: CC BY 4.0. Use it in articles, research, videos or your own analysis; credit GavelGap (gavelgap.com) and link to this page. Suggested citation: GavelGap, "GovDeals statistics," November 3, 2026, https://gavelgap.com/govdeals-statistics/
Frequently asked questions
What is the average winning bid on GovDeals?
The median winning bid was $175 across 180,905 sold GovDeals lots from May 22, 2026 to October 31, 2026. The mean was $2,078, pulled up by a small number of high-value vehicles and equipment.
What percent of GovDeals auctions sell?
55.2% of GovDeals auctions that closed September 14, 2026 to October 31, 2026 sold, counting each relisted auction separately; 75.2% of individual lots sold at least once. Vehicles sell most reliably (pickup trucks: 91.1%); home and garden, art and jewelry lots usually don't.
How many bids does a typical GovDeals auction get?
The median sold lot drew 11 bids. 21.7% closed on a single bid and 33.6% drew 20 or more.
What sells for the most on GovDeals?
By median winning bid among large categories, heavy equipment and vehicles: tractor - farm went for a median $5,850 and government pickups for $3,850. The single largest sale in the period was $1,820,000.
Is the GovDeals winning bid what an item is worth?
No. The winning bid is what the buyer paid at auction, before the 12.5% buyer's premium, tax and transport. What an item resells for on the open market is a separate number, and on a good lot it is well above the winning bid.
Can I use these GovDeals statistics?
Yes. The numbers and the CSV download are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit "GavelGap (gavelgap.com)" and link to this page.
How we measured it
We include every GovDeals auction that ended from May 22, 2026 to October 31, 2026 whose outcome GovDeals confirmed by status, bid history or bid count; lots we couldn't confirm either way are left out. We exclude real estate and land, and sellers that sell at a fixed price with no bidding (at least 90% of 20 or more sales with no recorded bid). Winning bids are the final bid before the buyer's premium and tax; Canadian lots are converted from CAD to USD. "Bids" is the bid count on the sold lot, which can include several bids from one person. Categories and seller types are GovDeals' own. Sell-through counts every auction, not every lot: an unsold lot GovDeals relists counts once per auction. It starts September 14, 2026, the first day our tracking labelled every ended auction (before that, a relist could erase an unsold result, which overstated sell-through), and it excludes the same fixed-price sellers and real estate; auctions whose result GovDeals never confirmed are left out. Older blog posts quote earlier, dated pulls; this page is the current one.
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