How to use the silent auction bid sheet printable
- Enter the starting bid and the minimum raise in dollars, and choose how many bid lines each sheet has.
- List your items, one per line, as Name | description | donor. The description and donor are optional.
- Optionally add an estimated value, a buy now price and a currency symbol.
- Press Download PDF or Print to get one sheet per item, and put each beside its item.
How the bid lines work
Every line on the sheet has the lowest acceptable bid already printed on it, so bidders do not have to do any arithmetic. By default the first line is one raise above the starting bid, and each line after that is one more raise. With a $50 start and a $5 raise, the lines read $55, $60, $65 and so on up to $110 on line 12.
If your rules let the first bidder bid the starting amount itself, tick the box. The first line then reads $50, and each line adds the raise. All amounts are held in whole cents, so a raise of $2.50 never leaves a fraction behind.
Each sheet
The top of each sheet shows the event name, the item name in large type, an optional description and the donor. A band under it shows the starting bid, the minimum raise and, if you filled them in, the estimated value and the buy now price. The estimated value and buy now price are the same for every item, so leave them blank when they differ.
Bidders write their name and number and the amount they bid. Rules for payment, pickup and who wins ties are set by your organizers, so add them to a separate sign. To plan the rest of the fundraiser, see the Fundraiser Goal Calculator, the Raffle Ticket Maker and the Name Tag Maker.
Assumptions and limits
- Amounts are in whole cents and the raise must be more than zero.
- The first line is the starting bid plus one raise, unless you tick the box.
- The value and buy now price are printed on every sheet when you enter them.
- Auction rules, taxes and receipts are set by your organizers and are not covered here.
Frequently asked questions
What is a silent auction bid sheet?
It is a page beside an item where bidders write their name and bid. Each new bid must be higher than the last, usually by at least a set raise.
How is the lowest bid on each line worked out?
The first line is the starting bid plus one raise, and every line adds the raise again. $50 with a $5 raise gives $55, $60, $65 and so on.
Can the first bid be the starting amount?
Yes. Tick the box that lets the first bidder bid the starting amount, and the first line then shows $50 instead of $55.
How many bid lines should a sheet have?
Twelve is a good start for a busy item. The page allows from 4 to 20 lines per sheet.