Selling Lane supports timed, live, simulcast, proxy, sealed-bid, silent, buy-it-now, and hybrid auction formats across 50+ categories — on a single flat-fee subscription. Whatever your business runs, the platform handles it.
Every auction in the world runs on one of three core formats: live (an auctioneer calls bids in real time), timed online (lots open and close on a schedule), or silent / sealed-bid (bidders submit confidential bids by a deadline). Selling Lane runs all three — plus the variants and hybrid combinations modern auction businesses actually use.
Most operators use more than one. The platform supports them all on the same flat-fee plan — no upcharge for switching modes.
The default for high-volume sales
Lots open at a set time, accept bids over a defined window (often 3–10 days), and close on a schedule. Bidders place proxy bids and the platform handles increments automatically. No live auctioneer required.
Best for: consignment stores, dealer dispersals, weekly used-furniture sales, estate liquidations, charity online auctions.
See how a timed auction runs →Real-time auctioneer-called bidding
A licensed auctioneer calls bids verbally, controls the increments, and drops the hammer when bidding stops. The traditional format for high-energy sales where the social pressure of a live ring drives prices higher than equivalent timed sales.
Best for: classic cars, sport horse production sales, fine art, charity galas, foreclosure, livestock.
Learn about open-bid format →Live ring + remote bidders, in real time
The auctioneer calls bids in person, while online bidders watch a live stream and bid alongside the in-room crowd. Synchronized bid clock, sub-2-second latency, and a single ledger reconciling all three channels (floor + phone + online).
Best for: production sales, dealer remarketing, classic-car events, large estate dispersals.
See simulcast streaming →Set a max, the system bids for you
Bidders enter their highest willingness-to-pay, and the platform bids on their behalf one increment at a time. No need to camp on the bidding screen. Works inside timed and live formats both — the digital implementation of the centuries-old absentee bid.
Best for: any auction format. Especially valuable for timed online, where bidders aren't watching in real time.
Learn about proxy bidding →Confidential bids, fixed close window
Bidders submit private bids during a defined window (often 2–4 hours at a fundraising event). The highest bid at close wins. Modern silent auctions replace the paper bid sheets with mobile bidding apps — same format, much higher engagement.
Best for: charity galas, school fundraisers, PTAs, real estate, government procurement.
See silent auction features →Fixed-price option to skip the auction
Some lots include a Buy It Now price — if a buyer wants the item immediately, they pay the BIN price and the lot is locked. Common on timed online auctions for impatient or risk-averse buyers willing to pay a premium for certainty.
Best for: dealer inventory, time-sensitive sales, items with established market value (cars, equipment, collectibles).
Read about BIN →Live + simulcast + phone, all at once
The format that became standard during the COVID era and stayed dominant. Live in-room auction running simultaneously with online and phone bidding, all competing in real time. Expand your bidder pool 5–10x without sacrificing the energy of a floor sale.
Best for: high-value events where both local and remote audiences matter — specialty sales, classic cars, charity galas, production sales.
See hybrid auction features →Selling Lane supports 50+ auction categories with relevant fields, condition templates, and category-specific workflows. Tap into a dedicated industry page or browse the full directory.
$995/month or $9,995/year. Run timed, live, simulcast, hybrid, silent — as many auctions as you want, in any combination — for the same price. No per-event fees, no per-format upcharges, no commission on hammer.