5 Best Auction Houses in Chicago (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Talise Sterling, Goods and Shopping · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 8 min read

Selling grandma's china cabinet or bidding on a rare bourbon bottle calls for a very different auction house in Chicago. The businesses below range from a 168-ranked-on-Inc.5000 online spirits marketplace to a century-old Maxwell Street institution, and their review counts span from 46 to 379, so scale alone won't tell you which one fits what you're trying to buy or sell.

Short answer: Unicorn Auctions leads with a 4.9 rating across 379 Google reviews and specializes in rare spirits and wine. For general estate, antique and collectible auctions, Direct Auction Galleries (4.2, 125 reviews) and RPN Sales & Auction House (4.6, 77 reviews) are longtime Chicago names. Buyer's premiums typically run around 5% or more on top of the winning bid.

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1. Unicorn Auctions
2. Direct Auction Galleri…
3. RPN Sales & Auction Ho…
4. Lot 14 Auctions
5. Potter & Potter Auctio…
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How Chicago's Auction Houses Compare

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	Unicorn Auctions	4.9 ★	379	Rare spirits and wine	View ›
2	Direct Auction Galleries, Inc.	4.2 ★	125	Estate and antique auctions	View ›
3	RPN Sales & Auction House	4.6 ★	77	Family-run, decades of history	View ›
4	Lot 14 Auctions	4.9 ★	46	Coins, jewelry and pop culture	View ›
5	Potter & Potter Auctions	4.5 ★	65	Magic, sideshow and specialty collectibles	View ›

Our top picks, reviewed

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Unicorn Auctions

4.9379 Google reviews

Unicorn Auctions is an online marketplace for buying, selling and vaulting rare whiskeys, bourbons and wine, based in Chicago with local pickup available. The company reports 10 million-plus bids all time, over $200 million in sales and more than 100,000 bottles securely stored, and ranked No. 168 on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies.

What people praise

Wide selection of rare and hard-to-find bottles
Smooth local pickup process, in and out quickly
Offers shipping, pickup or long-term vault storage
Real-time bid tracking during auctions

Worth knowing

One reviewer reported a bottle leaked in shipping, though the company issued a refund and prepaid return

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.9 / 5

Review volume379 · 97th

Confidencehigh

Recency6 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown97% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The most-reviewed and highest-rated auction house here, though it's a specialty operation for spirits and wine rather than general estate goods. If that's what you're after, it's the clear leader.

Website +1872-349-2186 Directions

1801 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL 60640

#2🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Direct Auction Galleries, Inc.

4.2125 Google reviews

Direct Auction Galleries is a longtime West Rogers Park auction house specializing in antique and estate sales, including furniture, rugs, jewelry, oil paintings and glassware. It holds regular live and online auctions roughly every three weeks and offers in-house shipping for buyers.

What people praise

Regular auctions with a wide mix of antiques and collectibles
In-house shipping handled by the same company
Long track record, with some customers returning for over a decade
Attracts a broad buyer pool, which helps consignors get visibility

Worth knowing

A few reviewers reported slow payouts or miscommunication on consigned items
Selling fees can eat into the final payout, according to one reviewer

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.2 / 5

Review volume125 · 91th

Confidencemoderate

Recency8 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown69% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: One of Chicago's established general antique auction houses. If you're consigning, ask upfront about fee structure and payout timelines given the mixed feedback there.

Website +1773-465-3300 Directions

7232 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60645

#3🕑 Open 5 days/wk

RPN Sales & Auction House

4.677 Google reviews

RPN Sales & Auction House traces back to Chicago's old Maxwell Street market and has been run by the same family since the early 1990s. It handles a broad mix of household goods and collectibles, with regular in-person auctions.

What people praise

Deep local history, some customers going back to the 1990s
Honest, helpful reputation across multiple decades of reviews
Reasonable prices on home goods
Auctions described as a fun social event to attend

Worth knowing

Not Google-claimed, so contact details should be double-checked
One recent reviewer reported an item sold to the wrong buyer, unresolved at review time

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume77 · 78th

Confidenceearly

Recency3 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown79% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The most nostalgic pick on this list, with a genuine Maxwell Street pedigree. Good for browsing in person rather than a high-stakes online consignment.

Website +1773-736-1925 Directions

4451 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60630

#4🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Lot 14 Auctions

4.946 Google reviews

Lot 14 Auctions, based just outside Chicago in Niles, runs auctions covering art, jewelry, collectibles, sports memorabilia, comics, video games and pop culture items alongside consignment and estate liquidation. It also operates as a walk-in antique store.

What people praise

Clear listings and reliable photos of lots
Fair, accurate pricing according to reviewers
Organized, quick pickup or shipping process
Responsive communication throughout bidding

Worth knowing

Smaller review base than the specialty auction houses on this list

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.9 / 5

Review volume46 · 41th

Confidenceearly

Recency6 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown98% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A solid pick for collectibles-focused buyers, particularly coins, sports cards and pop culture items. The rating is strong even if the review count is still building.

Website +1847-625-0555 Directions

6231 W Howard St, Niles, IL 60714

#5🕑 Open 5 days/wk

Potter & Potter Auctions

4.565 Google reviews

Potter & Potter Auctions specializes in rare books, manuscripts, magic memorabilia, circus and sideshow items, and unusual collectibles, running themed auctions like Modern Magic Masters and Circus and Sideshow Memorabilia. Past lots have sold for six figures.

What people praise

Deep specialty in magic and unusual collectibles that's hard to find elsewhere
Strong communication before and after the sale
Consignors report prompt payment and good sale prices
Careful authentication, including pulling items when provenance can't be confirmed

Worth knowing

A handful of reviewers cite lower ratings, though the top reviews describe a genuinely specialized operation

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.5 / 5

Review volume65 · 59th

Confidenceearly

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown85% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The pick if you're chasing something niche, magic props, sideshow items, rare manuscripts, that a general auction house won't handle well.

Website +1773-472-1442 Directions

5001 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60641

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How we score

Every number on this page comes from public Google data on the date shown, not opinion or payment. Rating is the business’s live Google star average. Review volume is how many customers have rated it, measured against other Chicago auction houses. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume. Recency reflects how recently customers are still reviewing. No business can pay to change these numbers.

How much does it cost to buy or sell at auction in Chicago? (2026)

Auction costs vary widely by house and category, and most publish buyer’s premiums rather than flat prices. Several of the houses above mention a buyer’s premium of roughly 5% when bidding live online, on top of the hammer price. Consignor fees and pickup charges vary by item and house, so ask for the fee schedule before consigning.

Serving Chicago and the surrounding suburbs

These auction houses cover Chicago neighborhoods from Foster Avenue to West Belmont, plus nearby Niles. Searching for an auction house near me? Every listing below shows a live phone number and directions so you can reach the closest option fast.

What to ask before you consign or bid

What is the buyer’s premium and does it change for online bidding?
What percentage does the house take on consigned items, and when do you get paid?
Can you view items in person before the sale?
How are items authenticated, particularly for high-value pieces?
What are the shipping options and costs for out-of-state buyers?
Is there a minimum reserve, and how is it set?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these auction houses?

We started from every auction house in Chicago with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position on the underlying data.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (August 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

Do any of these auction houses specialize in a particular category?

Yes. Unicorn Auctions focuses on rare spirits and wine, and Potter & Potter specializes in magic, sideshow and rare book collectibles. The others handle broader estate and antique sales.

Can I sell items at these auction houses?

Most accept consignments. Ask about fee structure, payout timing and whether they handle pickup, since practices vary by house.

The bottom line

Unicorn Auctions is the standout if you’re buying or selling rare spirits and wine, with the strongest rating and review volume here. For general estate and antique auctions, Direct Auction Galleries and RPN Sales bring decades of Chicago history. Ask about fees and payout timing before you consign anywhere.

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