"Restaurant equipment auction" is searched about 2,400 times a month worldwide, according to Ubersuggest, and "used restaurant equipment" about 6,600, but most of that is buyers hunting for stock and is crowded with dealers. The seller-side searches are much smaller: "who buys used restaurant equipment near me" about 480, "sell restaurant equipment" about 390, "sell used restaurant equipment" about 210 and "sell used commercial kitchen equipment" about 210, at a cost of 5 to 7 dollars a click. A global guide cannot win the local ones, so this one explains the routes and the trade-offs. It belongs to our guide to selling used machinery and equipment worldwide, and our Australian companion covers second-hand commercial kitchen equipment. We quote no prices, because we found no reliable source. We operate ScrapTrade, a scrap marketplace, so we have a stake in this trade.
The routes compared
The guides we read are from auction houses, a restaurant-software company and equipment brokers, each with an interest in the route they describe. They agree on the trade-offs:
- Dealers. The fastest route to cash. Dealers pay cash, but the offer is often low, and one guide says the value may be much lower than you would like.
- Auctions. They reach many buyers and handle photography, appraisal and marketing. Auction companies typically take a commission plus expenses, online auctions usually run a week or two and the final price is uncertain, so fees can eat into profit. Our guide to selling equipment at auction covers how fees and reserves work.
- Online marketplaces and classifieds. They give the most control over price, and you handle every item and every buyer. One source suggests they suit a large quantity sold quickly more than single items, which is an opinion and not data.
- A mixed approach. One guide suggests listing premium items directly, selling the leftovers to a dealer and auctioning specialty or slow-moving pieces.
We found no source comparing net returns across the routes, so the order of the list is not a ranking.
Gas and electrical appliances
Used commercial cooking equipment is not like other furniture, because gas and electrical appliances have safety rules. Energy Safe Victoria's information sheet on second-hand commercial catering equipment, which we read only in summary, warns that some second-hand commercial catering equipment has been found to be unsafe and that many appliances do not meet minimum safety requirements. It points to an Australian and New Zealand standard that requires certain gas appliances to be certified or acceptable to the safety regulator before a used appliance is installed, and says certification must be obtained through an accepted body if it cannot be established. Job listings suggest disconnecting and capping commercial gas appliances is typically done by a licensed gasfitter. These are Australian examples, and we did not review other countries, so ask the gas and electrical regulator where you are, and tell the buyer what you know about the appliance's certification.
Preparing the sale
- List every item. Make, model, serial number, age and condition, including what works.
- Sort into piles. Premium items for direct sale, ordinary items for a dealer or auction, and items beyond use for scrap.
- Disconnect gas and electrical appliances properly. And clean them, because buyers inspect.
- Photograph and describe. Show data plates and any damage.
- Check ownership. Leased and financed equipment has to be released before it can be sold, as our worldwide guide explains.
- Agree collection. Who removes it, by when, and who pays for removal and any damage to the premises.
When the business is closing
A closing business has a deadline, and that favors a dealer or an auction over a slow direct sale. Our Australian guide to selling business equipment when you close down covers the order of work in that case, and other countries have their own rules, which we did not review.
Where ScrapTrade fits
ScrapTrade is not a restaurant equipment dealer or auction house, and a dealer or an auction will handle ordinary kitchen equipment better. The part that suits a marketplace is metal and spares in volume, such as stainless steel units that are beyond resale, motors and compressors, which verified traders in more than 50 countries may buy as scrap. Listing is free with no commission, price and terms are negotiated live and an accepted bid puts the buyer's 5 percent deposit in escrow. Businesses and individuals can sell once verified. We could not confirm that working equipment can be listed, so write to cs@scraptrade.com.au before you plan around it.
What we could not verify
- Net returns by route. We found no source.
- Gas and electrical rules outside Australia.
- Condition-disclosure duties on resale. We found nothing authoritative.
- Whether ScrapTrade accepts working kitchen equipment.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to sell restaurant equipment?
It depends on the items and your deadline. Dealers are fast and pay less, auctions reach more buyers for a fee, and marketplaces give control at the cost of effort.
Do I need a gasfitter to sell gas equipment?
Disconnecting commercial gas appliances is typically done by a licensed gasfitter, according to job listings we saw. Check your regulator's rules.
Can I sell restaurant equipment at auction?
Yes. Auction companies take a commission plus expenses, and the final price is uncertain.
Can I list kitchen equipment on ScrapTrade?
Verified sellers can list scrap, and we could not confirm that working equipment is accepted, so ask support.
Sources
- Ubersuggest keyword data, global, queried November 2026.
- Auction-house, restaurant-software and equipment-broker guides on selling restaurant equipment, as summarised in search results.
- Energy Safe Victoria, Gas Information Sheet 19 on second-hand commercial catering equipment, as summarised in search results.
- ScrapTrade website, accessed November 2026.
General information only, not legal or safety advice. Appliance rules differ by place.