What Types of Commercial Equipment Sell Best at Auction (And What Doesn’t)

Whether you’re a business owner closing a location, upgrading your fleet, or liquidating surplus inventory, selling commercial equipment through auction can be a fast and profitable solution. But not all equipment performs equally well at auction—and understanding current trends, buyer demand, and what doesn’t move as quickly can make all the difference in your final return.

At Burgess Auctions LLC, we’ve helped thousands of sellers across Indiana move everything from heavy machinery and restaurant appliances to medical and office equipment. In this guide, we break down which types of commercial assets attract the strongest bidding—and which may need a different sales approach.

📈 What Sells Best at Auction Right Now?

🚜 1. Construction & Heavy Equipment

This remains one of the most in-demand categories across the auction industry.

• Equipment like skid steers, mini excavators, backhoes, forklifts, scissor lifts, and trailers consistently draw high interest.
  
  

• These items are sought after by contractors, small businesses, and resellers who want to avoid the high cost of buying new.
  
  

• Auctions allow buyers to visually inspect equipment, assess working conditions, and bid accordingly—making them more confident than when purchasing sight unseen.
  
  

• Even older models or partially functional units can perform well due to the availability of replacement parts and the rising cost of new machinery.
  
  

🍳 2. Restaurant & Food Service Equipment

From new openings to food truck builds and ghost kitchens, used restaurant gear is hot—when it’s clean, functional, and current.

• Items like stainless steel prep tables, commercial ranges, fryers, coolers, and mixers sell well due to their broad application.
  
  

• Smaller kitchen startups, mobile vendors, and catering companies rely on auctions for affordable commercial-grade tools.
  
  

• Condition matters: functional, well-cleaned equipment with recent service records fetches far more than outdated or untested units.
  
  

• Bundling multiple pieces (e.g., a “complete pizza kitchen setup”) tends to increase value and buyer urgency.
  
  

🧰 3. Tools & Shop Equipment

This category spans a variety of industries and is consistently in demand at local and regional auctions.

• Popular items include air compressors, welders, drill presses, toolboxes, tire changers, and diagnostic machines.
  
  

• Mechanics, hobbyists, and small shop owners attend auctions looking for well-maintained tools at a fraction of retail cost.
  
  

• Specialty automotive equipment or niche tools with known brands (Snap-on, Miller, Lincoln Electric) typically see strong bidding.
  
  

• Clean presentation and working conditions are key to driving higher prices in this category.
  
  

🏢 4. Office Furniture & Business Fixtures (Selective)

Not everything in the office space sells well—but the right pieces do.

• Locking filing cabinets, ergonomic desk chairs, conference room tables, and workstations often sell quickly, especially when marketed to startups or remote workers.
  
  

• Reception desks, POS counters, shelving, and storage systems from salons, medical offices, and retail stores are also popular.
  
  

• Items should be modern, modular, and in good cosmetic condition. Outdated or highly customized furniture is less appealing to buyers.
  
  

🏥 5. Medical & Lab Equipment (With Compliance)

Certain types of medical equipment sell very well in auctions when documentation and maintenance records are available.

• Autoclaves, centrifuges, ultrasound machines, exam tables, and diagnostic monitors are sought after by clinics, veterinary offices, and research labs.
  
  

• Buyers are cautious about equipment that requires calibration, certification, or sensitive software—so clear documentation is essential.
  
  

• Surplus from dental, dermatology, and veterinary practices often performs best.
  
  

• Note: some items may require FDA compliance or transfer restrictions depending on the unit type.
  
  

🛑 What Commercial Equipment Sells Poorly (or Not at All)

🖥️ 1. Outdated Computers & Tech

• Obsolete monitors, printers, CRT TVs, or non-networked systems have little to no value at an auction.
  
  

• Many buyers are concerned about outdated software, cybersecurity issues, and disposal costs.
  
  

• If you’re liquidating an office, we recommend recycling e-waste or donating functional equipment to nonprofits.
  
  

🪑 2. Worn-Out or Custom Furniture

• Heavy conference tables, worn cubicle panels, or desks with missing hardware are difficult to move.
  
  

• Buyers prefer modern, neutral pieces they can adapt to their own spaces.
  
  

• Extremely bulky or branded fixtures (like built-ins or countertops) are expensive to move and generally avoidable unless bundled attractively.
  
  

🧯 3. Broken or Incomplete Equipment

• While some “for parts” lots can sell to tinkerers, most buyers want working, tested equipment.
  
  

• Missing manuals, control panels, or attachments drastically lower value.
  
  

• If you’re unsure about functionality, we recommend providing a clear description so buyers can bid accordingly—but don’t expect premium pricing.
  
  

FAQs: Selling Commercial Equipment at Auction

Q: Should I sell items individually or in bundles?
 It depends on the category. Bundling makes sense for tools or restaurant gear, but high-value items (like forklifts or compressors) often fetch more as standalone lots.

Q: How should I prepare my equipment for auction?
 Clean everything thoroughly, test it for function, gather documentation (manuals, maintenance records), and photograph from multiple angles. Presentation boosts value.

Q: What if my equipment isn’t located in one place?
 We can host your items at our Knightstown facility or coordinate multi-site pickup and staging. Our team handles complex logistics every week.

Q: What if I have a mix of great and unsellable equipment?
 We’ll help you separate high-demand items from low-value inventory. Our team can advise what’s worth auctioning, donating, or disposing of.

Why Choose Burgess Auctions LLC?

When it comes to commercial liquidation, experience and reach matter. At Burgess Auctions LLC, we bring:

• 🏗️ Proven Expertise Across Categories: We’ve sold everything from CNC machines and backhoes to walk-in coolers and medical tables.
  
  

• 🌐 National Buyer Network: Your equipment will be seen by motivated buyers across Indiana and the U.S.
  
  

• 🧾 Complete Service: From intake and appraisal to marketing, payment, and pickup, we handle every step so you don’t have to.
  
  

• 📍 Convenient Facility: Use our Knightstown auction house for staging and display—ideal for consolidated sales.
  
  

• 📢 Aggressive Marketing: We target buyers through auction sites, industry databases, social media, email campaigns, and regional advertising.
  
  

Ready to Sell Commercial Equipment?

Let us evaluate your inventory and design a sale strategy that gets results. Whether it’s a single business closure or a full commercial liquidation, Burgess Auctions will turn your assets into cash—quickly and professionally.

👉 Contact Burgess Auctions LLC today to schedule your no-obligation consultation.