# Lot number

> The number under which a lot appears in a given sale catalogue and is called by the auctioneer. It follows the catalogue order and changes from one sale to another, unlike the lot's permanent inventory reference.

- URL: https://www.selloff.auction/glossary/lot-number
- Language: English
- Also known as: Catalogue number
- Last updated: 2026-10-07
- Français: https://www.selloff.auction/fr/glossaire/numero-de-lot.md

## Definition

The number under which a lot appears in a given sale catalogue and is called by the auctioneer. It follows the catalogue order and changes from one sale to another, unlike the lot's permanent inventory reference.

Lot numbers are assigned once the catalogue order is final, typically grouped by category, consignor or theme and split into sessions. Bidders, clerks and platforms all refer to the lot number during the sale, so late renumbering is risky.

In Selloff, lots are put in order in the catalogue and numbered automatically from a chosen first number. The permanent lot reference does not change, so a lot re-offered later keeps its history.

## Related features

- [Catalogue building & numbering](https://www.selloff.auction/features/catalogue-building.md): Assign lots to a sale, order them by category or any field, number them automatically or by scanning, and check the catalogue for errors before it goes live.
- [Lot references & barcode labels](https://www.selloff.auction/features/lot-references-barcodes.md): Give every lot a unique reference in your chosen format, print barcode labels on Zebra printers from the browser and scan them at every step.

## Related terms

- [Lot](https://www.selloff.auction/glossary/lot.md): An object or group of objects offered for sale as a single unit under one lot number. A lot is described, estimated and sold as a whole, for a single hammer price.
- [Catalogue](https://www.selloff.auction/glossary/catalogue.md): The publication that presents the lots of a sale in order, with lot numbers, descriptions, images, estimates and the conditions of sale. It exists in print, as a PDF and online, often on several platforms at once.
- [Sale session](https://www.selloff.auction/glossary/sale-session.md): A continuous part of an auction, held at a set date and time and covering a defined range of lots. Large sales are split into several sessions, often by category or value.
- [Lot label and barcode](https://www.selloff.auction/glossary/lot-label.md): A label attached to an object or its packaging showing its lot number, internal reference and a barcode, so that it can be identified and scanned at every stage from intake to shipping.