Bid increments and the next allowed bid

Auctions move up in set steps called increments. The increment is the smallest amount a bid can rise by, and it's what decides the next allowed bid on a lot.

The minimum shown on the lot

The bid panel always shows the current minimum — the smallest maximum we'll accept from you right now. It's calculated for you, so you never have to work it out:

• On a lot with no bids yet, the minimum is the lot's starting bid. The first bidder pays the opening price, not the opening price plus a step.
• On a lot that already has a bid, the minimum is the current price plus one increment.

If you enter less than the minimum, the bid is refused and the panel tells you the exact figure to beat — for example, "The next bid on this lot is $27.50 or more."

Why the step size changes

Increments are tiered by price. Cheaper lots rise in small steps; as the price climbs, the step gets bigger. So a lot at $20 might go up in $1 or $2.50 steps, while a lot at $2,000 goes up in much larger ones. This keeps low-value lots from taking forever and high-value lots from being nudged a dollar at a time.

The exact tiers are set by the auction house and can differ from one sale to another. You don't need to memorise them — the panel always shows the current minimum, and it updates live as bids come in.

You bid a maximum, not the next step

You don't have to bid exactly the next increment. Enter the most you're willing to pay, and the system moves the price up one increment at a time on your behalf, only as far as it needs to. That's proxy bidding — see How proxy (maximum) bidding works for exactly how the steps play out when two people are competing.