What is sell-through rate?
Sell-through rate is the share of listed items that actually sell rather than going unsold, calculated as sold ÷ listed, over a period. It's a quick read on how fast inventory (or an auction catalog) clears.
How to calculate it
If 76 of 100 listed lots sell, that's a 76% sell-through rate. For a reseller's own stock it's often measured as units sold ÷ units received into inventory over a month. It tells you whether your inventory moves or sits.
What's a good rate?
It depends on the channel. For your own resale inventory, a monthly sell-through above roughly 40%–50% is generally healthy: stock that turns rather than dead weight tying up cash. On GovDeals, 55% of auctions sold from September 14 to October 31, 2026, and 75% of lots sold at least once, because unsold lots get relisted (GovDeals statistics). Vehicles sell 80% to 90% of the time; jewelry and home goods far less.
Why it matters on surplus
Low opening bids are how agencies move assets: they want them gone, not maximized. That's the opportunity, but it cuts both ways: a lot clearing cheaply doesn't make it a flip. The flip is still the gap between resale and landed cost. GovDeals sell-through by category →
Related terms
Reserve price · Sold comps · Full glossary
GavelGap scores each GovDeals listing on the one thing sell-through can't tell you: whether the lot resells for more than it costs you.
See how GavelGap works →