Fee schedule

What HoofnHorn charges, in plain numbers. One fee when an animal sells, one seller fee that almost nobody pays, and a list of things we never charge for.

Last updated August 24, 2026. These are the fees our terms of service refer to.

The closing fee

When an animal sells, the buyer pays HoofnHorn a closing fee. It comes out of the sale price, not on top of it, so the winning bid is the buyer’s whole outlay. It is capped at $2,500 however high the bidding goes.

Our launch rate is 4% of the winning bid for sellers who join in 2026, locked for their first year. The standard rate that applies afterward will be published well before any launch rate ends. The exact rate for a listing is fixed when the listing goes live, and the exact fee in dollars is shown with your bid before you place it.

Worked example

$10,000

winning bid, at the 4% launch rate

To the seller
$9,600
Closing fee to HoofnHorn
$400
The buyer’s total
$10,000

When it is charged

Bidding places a hold on the buyer’s credit card, and when an auction is won the hold becomes the closing fee. How the hold works, and what happens if a win goes unpaid, is on how bidding works.

What sellers pay

Listing is free. The closing fee above is paid by the buyer, out of the sale price.

There is one seller fee: a flat $25 failed-reserve fee. It applies only when all three of these are true: you set a reserve, the auction received bids, and the animal did not sell, including through the offer period that follows a reserve-not-met close. An auction with no bids is never charged. Setting a reserve requires a card on file, which is what the fee is charged to.

What we never charge for

  • Creating an account, browsing, watching, or messaging.
  • Placing bids. The hold on your card is not a charge, and it is released if you do not win.
  • Listing an animal.
  • Card or payment processing surcharges.
  • Board, storage, or per-day fees.
  • Any part of the animal's price. The buyer pays the seller directly, and that money never passes through us.

When fees change

If we change a fee, we post the change here at least 14 days before it takes effect. A fee reduction can take effect right away. A rate already fixed on a live listing does not change.

Questions about fees go to support@hoofnhorn.com.