An online appraisal costs about $25-30 per item as of October 2026 and usually takes 24 to 48 hours: Mearto lists $25 for one item and ValueMyStuff $28. Auction houses such as Sotheby's give online estimates at no charge, but only for items they would sell, and Sotheby's says replies usually take 15 to 20 business days. It is a useful opinion, not a formal appraisal for taxes or court.
That distinction is the whole point of this page. Online services are good at telling you what an item is and what it might sell for, which is what most people want. They are not built to produce the signed, purpose-specific document that the IRS, a probate court or some insurers require.
Quick answer
- Paid expert services: Mearto $25 for one item ($70 for three); ValueMyStuff $28 for one ($70 for three), as of October 2026.
- Turnaround: about 48 hours standard; ValueMyStuff sells a 24 hour express option for two credits.
- Auction house estimate forms cost nothing, but you only hear back if they want to sell the item.
- Price databases such as WorthPoint and eBay sold listings let you research yourself; AI tools give an instant identification and range.
- None of these is a qualified appraisal for a donation over $5,000; that needs a qualified appraiser under IRS rules.
How does an online appraisal work?
You upload photos and a description, a specialist or a piece of software looks at them, and you get back an identification and a value opinion. The details differ by service:
- You choose a category, such as paintings, jewelry, silver, furniture or collectibles, so the request goes to the right specialist.
- You upload photos. Most services ask for the front, back, any signature or mark, and condition close-ups. Sotheby's asks for 4 to 6 photographs from different angles.
- You describe what you know: size, materials, where it came from, any receipts, labels or earlier appraisals.
- A specialist reviews it. On paid services this happens within a day or two. Auction houses screen first and reply only to items they consider saleable.
- You get a written opinion, usually an identification, a short description and one or two values, often as a downloadable PDF.
The quality of the answer depends almost entirely on step 2. A specialist who cannot read the signature or see the back of the canvas will give a cautious, wide range or ask for more photos.
How much does an online appraisal cost?
Most paid online services charge about $25-30 for one item, less per item in bundles, as of October 2026. Auction house forms and eBay's sold listings cost nothing. A formal written appraisal by a credentialed appraiser costs more and is billed by the hour, per item or as a flat fee.
| Service | Cost, as of October 2026 | Turnaround | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mearto | $25 one item; $70 for 3; $90 for 5; $170 for 10 | Typically within 48 hours | Specialist opinion with a description and values, PDF | Single items: art, antiques, jewelry, collectibles |
| ValueMyStuff | $28 one credit; $70 for 3; $99 for 5; $195 for 10 | 48 hours standard (1 credit), 24 hours express (2 credits) | Expert valuation with an insurance value and PDF certificate | Same, when speed matters |
| Auction house forms (Sotheby's, Christie's, regional houses) | No charge | Sotheby's: usually 15-20 business days | A pre-sale estimate, only if they would sell it | Items you are ready to consign |
| WorthPoint | Paid subscription, roughly $20-50 a month by tier | Instant, you search yourself | Archive of past sold prices and a marks library | Researching many items over time |
| eBay sold listings | No charge | Instant, you search yourself | Recent actual sale prices | Common items with an active market |
| AI identification tools | Varies; some offer a basic tier at no cost | Seconds | Identification, value range, what drives it | Sorting and triage before paying anyone |
| Written appraisal by a qualified appraiser | Hourly, flat or per item, never a percentage of value | Days to weeks | Signed report for a stated purpose | Insurance, estates, donations, divorce |
On the people behind the paid services: ValueMyStuff says it has "over 60 experts formerly of Sotheby's and Christie's." Mearto says many of its specialists run their own appraisal practices and have worked for auction houses including Bonhams, Sotheby's and Christie's. Both are human opinions from photos, which is a real step up from a guess and a real step down from an in-hand examination.
What is an online appraisal valid for?
An online appraisal is valid for deciding what to do next: whether to sell, where, at what asking price, and whether the item deserves a formal appraisal. It can also support insurance in some cases. It is not valid where the law sets the standard.
| Use | Does an online appraisal work? |
|---|---|
| Deciding whether to sell and for how much | Yes, this is what it is best at |
| Choosing a selling channel | Yes |
| Home insurance for jewelry or art | Sometimes. ValueMyStuff's FAQ says most insurers accept its valuations but advises checking with your insurer first |
| Estate and probate | Usually not for anything significant; executors need a defensible fair market value |
| Charitable donation over $5,000 | No. IRS Form 8283 Section B requires a written qualified appraisal signed by a qualified appraiser |
| Divorce, legal disputes | No, both sides and the court need a formal report |
| Proving authenticity | No. ValueMyStuff states its certificate is not proof of authenticity |
The IRS bar is specific. According to the Form 8283 instructions, a qualified appraiser must hold a recognized designation or meet minimum education requirements and have at least two years of experience valuing that type of property, must regularly prepare paid appraisals, and must state their education and experience in the appraisal. Appraisal fees "cannot be based on a percentage of the appraised value."
A worked example
Say you have an oil painting from your grandparents' house: a harbor scene about 20 by 30 inches, signed in the lower right, in a gilt frame.
First do the checks that cost nothing. Tilt it under a light: brushstrokes that stand up from the surface mean paint, a flat even surface with a dot pattern under magnification means a print. Our guide on whether a painting is worth anything covers this in detail. Then photograph the signature, read it carefully and search the name; how to identify an artist signature explains where to look.
Suppose it is an original by a regional painter who appears in a few auction records. That is exactly the case where a $25-28 online opinion pays for itself. Send the front, the back of the canvas with any labels or stamps, the signature close up and a frame corner. If the specialist puts it in the low hundreds, sell it through a local auction or online. If they say it could bring thousands, submit it to an auction house that sells that artist, and if you want to donate it rather than sell it, hire a qualified appraiser before you file.
Common mistakes
- Sending one photo. The back of a painting, the base of a vase or the inside of a ring usually carries more information than the front.
- Paying for an appraisal of something common. A Pyrex bowl or a box of state quarters does not need a specialist; a sold-listing search answers it.
- Treating an auction estimate as a market value. It is a range set partly to attract bidders, and it only exists if they want the item.
- Reading no reply as "worthless." Auction houses ignore items outside their sales. That says nothing about your item's value elsewhere.
- Using an online appraisal for a tax deduction. It does not meet the qualified appraisal rules.
- Using asking prices as a second opinion. A listing that has sat for a year at $2,000 is evidence of what does not sell.
How WorthPic fits among online appraisal options
WorthPic runs on the newest and most capable AI model available, tuned for exactly this kind of identification. It is a web app that works in the phone browser with nothing to install: you pick one of twelve categories, upload one to four photos and sign in with Google. It reads the marks, labels, dates, model numbers, materials and visible condition in the photos, identifies the item, and gives an honest US dollar range with a most likely figure and a short explanation of what drives the price. If the answer depends on something not shown, it says which extra photo would settle it, and it offers a PDF report. There is a daily scan allowance. What it cannot know is what photos do not carry, such as weight, metal purity, hidden repairs or whether a careful fake is genuine. It identifies and estimates. It does not authenticate, grade or appraise, and it is not a marketplace. It is best used before you pay for a human opinion, to see which items deserve one.
What to photograph for any online appraisal
- The whole item from the front in daylight, square on, with no flash.
- The back or underside, including labels, stamps, stickers and construction.
- Every mark, signature or serial number close up and readable.
- Condition problems: chips, cracks, repairs, tears, losses, stains.
- Size, with a tape measure in the shot or the measurements written in the description.
- Any paperwork: receipts, old appraisals, gallery labels, certificates, boxes.
When to get it looked at in person
Move from online to in person when the online range reaches the thousands, when value depends on authenticity, metal or stones, or when a third party will rely on the number. For coins, a dealer or PCGS and NGC; see our coin appraisal guide. For rings, a jeweler or gemologist; see jewelry appraisal. For furniture, art and decorative objects, an auction house specialist or a member of the American Society of Appraisers; see antique appraisal. For a wider look at how AI fits into this, read AI appraisal, and for the do-it-yourself method, what is it worth.
Sources
- Mearto pricing and Mearto FAQ: per-item prices, 48 hour turnaround, specialist backgrounds.
- ValueMyStuff pricing and ValueMyStuff FAQ: credit prices, standard and express turnaround, insurer acceptance, no proof of authenticity.
- Sotheby's help: requesting an estimate online: no fee, 15-20 business days, only saleable items.
- Sotheby's: What do I need to request an estimate?: 4 to 6 photographs and provenance details.
- IRS Instructions for Form 8283: qualified appraisal and qualified appraiser requirements.