Public Surplus Auctions: Live Listings Nationwide (2026)
4420 active Public Surplus listings across the U.S. right now.
Public Surplus serves smaller cities, counties, school districts, and volunteer fire departments. Inventory overlaps with GovDeals on roughly 5–15% of items but Public Surplus often runs lower buyer's premiums - some sellers absorb the premium entirely. The interface is more basic; search is less polished than GovDeals. Every listing links back to bid on publicsurplus.com - GovAuctions doesn't sit between you and the seller.Last updated: 2026-08-16
Search all 4,420 Public Surplus listings
Filter by category, state, price, and when the auction ends
2003 Peterbilt 379
Phoenix, AZ · 46 bids
387,628 miManual
Polaris Hawkeye 4-Wheeler
Enid, OK · 39 bids
Assorted Automotive Shop Equipment - Tool Boxes, Parts Washer, Carts & Tire Chan
Mesa, AZ · 35 bids
Parcel # 100.49.36.3000
Canton, SD · 32 bids
Lot 49 - 2017 Chevy Silverado 1500 4x4 - 3GCUKNEC6HG403208
Austin, TX · 27 bids
107,548 mi
Afinia 3D H800+ Printer (#1957)
MN · 24 bids
Lot 53 - TRAILER, 2005 WELLS CARGO - 1W4200C1452052636
Austin, TX · 23 bids
Apple iPhone 14 128GB Midnight - Free Shipping!
Tempe, AZ · 22 bids
2005 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 2500
Cedar City, UT · 22 bids
48,069 mi
2016 Honda Accord
Surprise, AZ · 20 bids
71,287 mi
1995 Chevrolet 2500 Flatbed Pickup
Enid, OK · 20 bids
117,249 mi4x4
Lot 52 - TRAILER, 1993 TANDEM 6' X 12' - 1J9FS1226PG076174
Austin, TX · 20 bids
Public Surplus Auctions by Category
What Public Surplus Categories Sell For at Auction
Median winning bids from 102,036 completed government auction sales in the last year, for the categories Public Surplus carries.
| Category | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Furniture | $13 | 15,427 |
| Electronics | $81 | 24,121 |
| Vehicles | $2,050 | 41,121 |
| Tools | $100 | 10,004 |
| Medical | $68 | 5,115 |
| Equipment | $1,500 | 6,248 |
Market-wide sold prices across every government auction platform we track, not Public Surplus alone - use them as a valuation benchmark before you bid. The typical range is the middle 50% of sales (25th to 75th percentile).
Source: the GovAuctions Surplus Price Index, built from completed sales on official U.S. government auction platforms. Free to cite with attribution.
Public Surplus Auctions by State
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many Public Surplus auctions are live right now?
- There are 4420 active Public Surplus listings across the U.S. right now, spread across 36 states. The count refreshes twice daily from publicsurplus.com.
- Is Public Surplus legit?
- Yes. Public Surplus (publicsurplus.com) is the official platform for state and local government surplus. Public Surplus serves smaller cities, counties, school districts, and volunteer fire departments. Inventory overlaps with GovDeals on roughly 5–15% of items but Public Surplus often runs lower buyer's premiums - some sellers absorb the premium entirely. The interface is more basic; search is less polished than GovDeals. GovAuctions indexes Public Surplus listings into one searchable feed - bidding happens on publicsurplus.com.
- Does Public Surplus charge a buyer's premium?
- Buyer's premium 0–10%, set per seller (median ~7%). Always confirm the exact premium on the listing itself, since some sellers set their own.
- How do I buy from Public Surplus?
- Find a listing here or on publicsurplus.com, register a bidder account on publicsurplus.com, and place your bid there - GovAuctions never sits between you and the seller. Most items require in-person pickup at the seller's location within 5-10 business days, though a meaningful minority of sellers ship. Check the listing for shipping options, and factor in travel or freight before you bid.