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Free max bid calculator for liquidation pallets
Enter the manifest retail, your realistic recovery rate and your costs. You get the most you can pay for that pallet and still hit your target return, before the auction closes.
Estimate only, calculated in your browser. Category recovery benchmarks are published in our recovery rates report.
Questions resellers ask
Do I need an account to use this calculator?
No. This page is free and requires no signup. Enter your numbers and the maximum bid updates instantly in your browser.
What recovery rate should I use?
Mixed general merchandise typically recovers 20-30% of manifest retail, apparel 15-25%, and tools or home improvement 30-40%. If you are unsure, start low: a conservative recovery rate protects your bid ceiling.
Why is my maximum bid so much lower than manifest retail?
Manifest retail is MSRP, not resale. After realistic recovery, marketplace fees, freight and buyer premium, the amount left for the pallet itself is usually a small fraction of retail. That gap is where most new buyers lose money.