Appraisal Services
420 of the 26,011 antique stores we track nationwide have on-site appraisal services. Appraising is a separate, credentialed skill from buying and selling, and most antique shops that sell furniture and glassware don't offer it — a detail no map search surfaces. Every listing here has appraisal confirmed as an actual service on the business's own website, not assumed from "we buy antiques" signage.
Browse by state
- Arizona7
- California35
- Colorado15
- Connecticut14
- Florida45
- Georgia14
- Illinois18
- Indiana10
- Iowa6
- Kentucky11
- Maine11
- Maryland16
- Massachusetts26
- Michigan7
- Minnesota9
- Missouri7
- New Jersey18
- New York46
- North Carolina5
- Ohio6
- Pennsylvania13
- Tennessee12
- Texas27
- Virginia12
- Washington13
- Wisconsin17
Call ahead and ask if it's verbal or written. A quick verbal estimate on an item you bring in is often free or cheap, but a written appraisal for insurance, estate, or IRS donation purposes usually runs $50-150 per hour or a flat $25-75 per item, and needs a certified appraiser, not just a store clerk with an eye for it.
Common questions
- How much does an antique appraisal cost?
- A free or low-cost verbal opinion on one item is common at shops that offer appraisals, but a formal written appraisal — the kind insurance companies or the IRS accept — typically runs $50-150 per hour or a flat $25-75 per item, with a full estate or collection appraisal running several hundred dollars depending on the number of pieces.
- Do antique stores appraise items for free?
- Some do a quick, informal verbal estimate for free as a way to build a relationship with a potential seller, but that's not a documented appraisal you can use for insurance or a sale. Anything you need in writing — for probate, insurance riders, or resale documentation — almost always carries a per-item or hourly fee, even at shops that waive it for a casual walk-in look.