# Bid increment

> The minimum amount by which each new bid must exceed the previous one. Increments rise with the price and are defined in a table published in the conditions of sale.

- URL: https://www.selloff.auction/glossary/bid-increment
- Language: English
- Also known as: Bidding increment, Bid step
- Last updated: 2026-10-07
- Français: https://www.selloff.auction/fr/glossaire/pas-d-enchere.md

## Definition

The minimum amount by which each new bid must exceed the previous one. Increments rise with the price and are defined in a table published in the conditions of sale.

A typical scheme uses small steps at low prices and larger ones as the bidding climbs; the auctioneer may depart from it at their discretion. Consistent increments matter most in hybrid sales, where absentee bids, phone lines and online platforms must all line up.

In Selloff, each sale uses a bid increment scheme. Manually entered bids can be validated against it, and bids imported from platforms or XLSX files can be rounded up to the next valid step.

## Related features

- [Sales & auction types](https://www.selloff.auction/features/auction-types.md): Run auctions, offer sales, eBay-style timed sales and fixed-price sales, each with its own sessions, catalogues, dates, fees and bid increments.
- [Bid import from platforms](https://www.selloff.auction/features/bid-import.md): Bring bids, results and registrations from Drouot, Sixbid, Numisbids, Philasearch, Biddr and Excel files into your sale, with contact matching and a review step.
- [Absentee & phone bids](https://www.selloff.auction/features/bid-recording.md): Record absentee, phone and OR bids in the book, check them against your bid increments, confirm them to clients by email and print the bid book for the room.

## Related terms

- [Absentee bid](https://www.selloff.auction/glossary/absentee-bid.md): A written instruction left with the auction house before the sale, authorising it to bid on a lot on a client's behalf up to a stated maximum. The auctioneer executes it as cheaply as competing bids and the reserve allow.
- [Online bid](https://www.selloff.auction/glossary/online-bid.md): A bid submitted over the internet, either in advance (a pre-bid) through the auction house's website or a bidding platform, or live while the sale is taking place.
- [Conditions of sale](https://www.selloff.auction/glossary/conditions-of-sale.md): The terms that govern an auction: buyer's premium, bid increments, payment deadlines, collection and shipping, liability for descriptions, and the rules for absentee, telephone and online bids. Bidders accept them when registering.
- [Auctioneer](https://www.selloff.auction/glossary/auctioneer.md): The person who conducts the sale from the rostrum: announces each lot, takes bids from the room, the telephones, absentee orders and the internet, and knocks the lot down to the highest bidder.