Kentucky government surplus auctions
Kentucky's state surplus is sold by the Division of Surplus Property in Frankfort, on the state's own auction site and on GovDeals. We tracked 5,929 Kentucky auctions with a confirmed result from May 22 to October 31, 2026, and the Commonwealth's account sold more than any other: $1.5 million in winning bids.
Kentucky Division of Surplus Property
The Division of Surplus Property, in the Finance and Administration Cabinet, runs its own online auction site, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky also sells on GovDeals. On the state site, payment is due within 5 business days of the close, you have 5 working days after paying to remove what you bought, and Kentucky's 6% sales tax applies to everything but motor vehicles if you're a Kentucky resident or picking up at the warehouse, unless you're exempt.
The warehouse is at 999 Chenault Rd. in Frankfort; the division lists 502-573-4836. Everything is sold as-is, where-is, with no warranty. Surplus state land and buildings are sold separately, by sealed bid.
Kentucky on GovDeals: the numbers
Every GovDeals auction with a Kentucky pickup location that closed from May 22, 2026 to October 31, 2026 with a confirmed result:
| Metric | Kentucky on GovDeals |
|---|---|
| Auctions with a confirmed result | 5,929 |
| Sold | 5,414 |
| Median bidders per sold lot | 12 (all GovDeals: 11) |
| Median winning bid | $101 (all GovDeals: $175) |
| Total winning bids | $8.3 million |
| Selling accounts | 218 |
| Auctions from commercial sellers | 8.5% |
| Lots open on November 7 | 595 |
TSA knives and university surplus
The Commonwealth's GovDeals account sold 1,279 lots for $1.51 million, a median $131 with 19 bidders. Its biggest category is knives: 369 knife lots and 180 knife and multi-tool lots, many tagged TSA in their titles, from single Benchmades to 16-pound lots. Kentucky knives sold for a median $76 with 13 bidders. It also sold cars, which drew 40 bidders across the state for a median $2,026 (national: 28 and $2,200).
The University of Kentucky's surplus office ran the most auctions (1,532), mostly office equipment, tools and furniture, at a median $37. The Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant near Richmond, which GovDeals lists as a commercial seller, sold 119 lots of industrial equipment for $555,462. Government vehicles drew a median of 44 bidders.
What sells
The busiest categories (at least 10 sales each), with the GovDeals-wide figure for comparison:
| Category | Sold | Median bidders | Median winning bid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knives | 372 | 13 (all GovDeals: 13) | $76 (all GovDeals: $101) |
| Office Equipment and Supplies | 264 | 4 (all GovDeals: 3) | $18 (all GovDeals: $19) |
| Automobiles/Cars | 305 | 40 (all GovDeals: 28) | $2,026 (all GovDeals: $2,200) |
| Furniture and Furnishings | 181 | 3 (all GovDeals: 2) | $25 (all GovDeals: $15) |
| Pickup Trucks | 249 | 43 (all GovDeals: 38) | $2,975 (all GovDeals: $3,800) |
| Tools, All Types | 193 | 9 (all GovDeals: 10) | $42 (all GovDeals: $53) |
| Knives / Multi-Tools | 180 | 17 (all GovDeals: 18) | $101 (all GovDeals: $137) |
| SUV | 172 | 43 (all GovDeals: 30) | $3,000 (all GovDeals: $3,000) |
| Office Equipment & Supplies, Miscellaneous | 116 | 3 (all GovDeals: 3) | $16 (all GovDeals: $17) |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies | 128 | 5 (all GovDeals: 5) | $34 (all GovDeals: $60) |
| Commercial Food Service and Cafeteria Equipment | 130 | 10 (all GovDeals: 7) | $102 (all GovDeals: $102) |
| Fire & Police Equipment | 106 | 3 (all GovDeals: 6) | $100 (all GovDeals: $65) |
| Laboratory Equipment | 98 | 9 (all GovDeals: 7) | $51 (all GovDeals: $100) |
| Industrial Equipment | 91 | 7 (all GovDeals: 8) | $715 (all GovDeals: $102) |
| Furniture, Miscellaneous | 49 | 2 (all GovDeals: 3) | $15 (all GovDeals: $21) |
Who sells
| Seller | Type | Auctions | Sold | Winning bids |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Kentucky Surplus Property | Government | 1,532 | 1,418 | $971,628 |
| Commonwealth of Kentucky | Government | 1,285 | 1,279 | $1,508,650 |
| Western Kentucky University | Government | 311 | 175 | $52,800 |
| Murray State University | Government | 157 | 96 | $77,971 |
| Kentucky Community and Technical College System | Government | 136 | 119 | $55,030 |
| Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant | Commercial | 125 | 119 | $555,462 |
| Glens Emergency Equipment | Commercial | 97 | 75 | $7,030 |
| Jessamine County Board of Education | Government | 94 | 91 | $48,438 |
| Bowling Green | Government | 90 | 90 | $35,147 |
| Bullitt County Public Schools | Government | 77 | 68 | $8,853 |
Where
| City | Auctions | Sold | Median winning bid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | 1,710 | 1,594 | $42 |
| Frankfort | 1,274 | 1,273 | $125 |
| Bowling Green | 496 | 346 | $32 |
| Louisville | 298 | 266 | $505 |
| Richmond | 202 | 193 | $831 |
| Murray | 176 | 115 | $20 |
| Nicholasville | 149 | 145 | $151 |
| Shepherdsville | 140 | 131 | $42 |
By month
| Month | Sold | Median winning bid |
|---|---|---|
| May 2026* | 321 | $185 |
| June 2026 | 744 | $77 |
| July 2026 | 846 | $77 |
| August 2026 | 1,207 | $101 |
| September 2026 | 1,261 | $140 |
| October 2026 | 1,035 | $91 |
What's open right now
539 Kentucky lots were open on GovDeals when this page was last updated (Nov 8, 11:23 PM ET). These 8 have the highest current bids among lots closing in the next few days. Bids move fast, so open the listing for the current bid, the pickup address and the removal deadline before you bid.
GavelGap puts the other half of the math on every GovDeals listing: what the lot resells for, what it costs you landed, and the pickup-only, title and condition problems that sink a deal, right in your browser.
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Our GovDeals figures include every GovDeals auction with a Kentucky pickup location that ended from May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026 and whose outcome GovDeals confirmed by status, bid history or bid count. Lots we couldn't confirm either way are left out, as are real estate and land sales and sellers that sell at a fixed price with no bidding (at least 90% of 20 or more sales with no recorded bid). "All GovDeals" figures use the same rules nationwide over the same dates. "Bidders" is the bid count on the sold lot, which can include several bids from one person, so read it as a measure of how contested a lot was. Category medians are per lot, so a multi-unit lot counts as one sale at its full price. Categories need at least 10 sales. Commercial sellers are businesses and remarketers selling on GovDeals rather than government bodies, using GovDeals' own seller type. We don't show sell-through: before September 2026 our tracking didn't record every unsold auction, so early months would overstate it. We don't publish per-lot resale estimates. Facts about Kentucky's own surplus program come from the official sources linked above; programs change, so confirm terms with the agency before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Commonwealth of Kentucky sell surplus?
Through the Division of Surplus Property in Frankfort, on its own online auction site and on GovDeals. The warehouse is at 999 Chenault Rd., Frankfort; call 502-573-4836.
How long do I have to pay and pick up Kentucky state surplus?
On the state's auction site, payment is due within 5 business days of the close, and you have 5 working days after paying to remove the item.
Does Kentucky charge sales tax on surplus?
On the state's auction site, 6% Kentucky sales tax applies to everything but motor vehicles if you're a Kentucky resident or pick up at the warehouse, unless you're exempt.
What do Kentucky government vehicles sell for?
From May 22 to October 31, 2026, Kentucky cars on GovDeals sold for a median $2,026 with 40 bidders, pickups for $2,975 with 43, and SUVs for $3,000 with 43.
Related: How to flip GovDeals items · Car auctions near you · Pickup truck sold prices
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