Finding out what things are worth

How to value antiques

By the Sortwell team · Updated 9 November 2026 · 5 min read

A person's hands turning over a blue and white china plate to look at its underside.

Short answer: To value antiques, identify the object first, from its marks, materials and construction. Then look up what similar pieces have sold for at auction, rather than what people are asking. For anything that looks promising, send clear photos to a general auction house for a free estimate. Pay for a written valuation only when you need one for probate or insurance, or when something may be worth a lot.

On this page

First, work out what you have
What drives the price
How to find what things actually sell for
Getting an expert opinion for free
When you should pay for a valuation
How this fits with clearing a house
Common questions

Most inherited things aren't worth much, and a few are worth far more than anyone realised. The aim here is to find those few without paying an expert to look at the Pyrex.

First, work out what you have

You can't price something until you know what it is. Spend a few minutes with each object and write down:

Marks and labels. Turn it over. Check the base of china, the back of pictures, inside drawers and on clock dials and movements.
Materials. Solid wood or veneer, silver or plate, porcelain or earthenware.
How it's made. Hand-cut dovetails, uneven screws and irregular glass are signs of age. Staples, plywood and perfectly even machine marks generally mean it's more recent.
Condition. Cracks, chips, repairs and replaced parts. Damage often does more harm to value than people expect.
Provenance. Old receipts, family stories and letters can all add value when they can be backed up.

Photograph all of this while you're at it, including close-ups of any marks. For silver, our guide to reading hallmarks will get you the date and maker in a few minutes.

If you've got no idea what something is, Google Lens or a similar image search is a reasonable starting point. Treat the result as a lead to follow up.

What drives the price

People tend to overestimate the importance of age. A Victorian chest of drawers can be cheaper than a flat-pack one from a good shop. What moves the price is:

Factor	What it does
Current taste	Brown furniture has fallen a long way. Mid-century design has risen.
Maker or designer	A good name can multiply the price of an otherwise similar piece.
Rarity	Scarcity only matters when somebody wants the thing as well.
Condition	Collectors pay for originality and for good condition.
Size	Pieces that fit in modern homes sell more easily. Very large wardrobes struggle.
Material	Silver, gold and some gemstones have a floor price set by their metal or stone value.

How to find what things actually sell for

Look for sold prices. An asking price only tells you what someone hopes to get, and things can sit unsold at that price for years.

eBay sold listings. Search for the item, then filter by "sold items". It's the quickest way to see prices for everyday collectables.
Auction archives. the-saleroom.com and Invaluable publish past results from a large number of auction houses. You may need a free account to see prices.
Dealer websites. These help you identify things, but remember they show retail prices. You'd generally get well below them.
Specialist price guides. Miller's and similar guides are useful, but they date quickly.

Compare like with like. Check the same maker, size and condition, and take the middle of several results instead of the best one you can find. Most people's first search turns up the single highest price, and that's rarely the one that's relevant.

Getting an expert opinion for free

Many general auction houses will give a free auction estimate from photographs, or on a valuation day. They're doing it in the hope that you'll sell through them, but that doesn't make the estimate useless. Send clear pictures, including any marks, and a note of the dimensions. If two or three salerooms give you similar numbers, you can be fairly confident.

Some things are worth asking a specialist about, because general auctioneers can miss them:

Paintings, particularly ones that are signed or have labels on the back
Asian ceramics and works of art
Early or unusual clocks and watches
First editions and manuscripts
Coins, medals and militaria
Designer furniture and studio pottery

When you should pay for a valuation

Free estimates are fine for deciding what to do with something. You'll want a formal written valuation when the figure has to stand up on its own:

For probate. Estates have to declare the open market value of the contents, and a written report protects the executor.
For insurance. That's a different figure, based on what it'd cost to replace the item. HMRC warns that insurance values may be too high for probate purposes.
For a family division. If a sale or a share-out depends on the value, an independent figure can help settle the argument.

Ask for the fee in writing first. Be careful of anyone who charges a percentage of the value, because that gives them a reason to set it high.

Be just as careful of anyone who offers to value and buy in the same breath. Door-to-door buyers and "free home valuation" visits often end in a low cash offer made to someone who's tired and wants it finished. If someone offers to buy on the spot, thank them and check elsewhere first.

How this fits with clearing a house

You don't need to value everything before you can start. A rough first pass is enough to split things into three groups: probably nothing, might be something, definitely ask. Spend your time on the middle group, and take the last one to someone who knows.

Sortwell's research does a first pass of this for each photographed item, with a likely price range from comparable sales and a note when something deserves a specialist. It's a guide rather than a formal valuation.

Once you know what you have, our guide to selling antiques in the UK goes through the options.

Common questions

How can I find out if my antiques are worth anything for free?

Look up sold prices for similar items on eBay and auction archives, then send clear photos to one or two local auction houses for a free estimate. That'll usually tell you whether something is worth pursuing.

What antiques are worth the most money in the UK?

In general, things by well-known makers tend to do well, as do fine jewellery, silver with good provenance, Asian works of art, good paintings and quality mid-century design. There isn't a single answer, and it changes with taste.

Is it worth getting antiques valued?

It's worth getting a free estimate for anything that looks old, is marked or has a family story behind it. Pay for a formal valuation only if you need a written figure, or if something may be worth more than about £1,500.

Where can I get antiques valued near me?

Search for local auction houses and check whether they run free valuation days. The Society of Fine Art Auctioneers lists members across the UK.

Sources

This guide is general information for people in England and Wales. The rules in Scotland and Northern Ireland can differ. It isn't legal, tax or financial advice, and Sortwell isn't a law firm or a valuer. If an estate is complicated or there's a disagreement, talk to a solicitor. Figures were checked on the date above.