What Type of Auction Is Right for Your Event?
Last updated October 12, 2026
The right format depends on three things: what kind of items you have, how your guests will spend the evening, and how many volunteers you can count on. A live auction suits a few showpiece items and a seated audience. A silent auction suits a mix of mid-value items and guests who move around. An online auction reaches supporters who can't attend, as long as your donors allow it. A raffle or tricky tray suits lots of modest prizes and a crowd that likes to play. Many events combine two: a silent table or basket raffle through the evening, and a short live auction or one drawing to close it.
This guide is part of our fundraiser donation answers library. It compares the formats, shows where a donor's own rules decide the format for you, and links to the companies and planning tools for each.
The formats side by side
| Format | How the winner is decided | Best for | What it asks of volunteers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live auction | Guests bid aloud and an auctioneer takes the highest bid | Two or three showpieces, such as a getaway or signed memorabilia | An auctioneer, spotters, and a fixed slot in the program |
| Silent auction | The highest bid on the sheet or bidding app when the tables close | A mix of mid-value items that guests browse | Bid sheets or an app, table monitors, and a checkout team |
| Online auction | The highest bid when the online auction closes | Supporters who can't come, or a fundraiser with no event | A photo and description for every item, and a plan to hand over or ship it |
| Raffle | One entry drawn per prize, or one drawing for a grand prize | One big prize, or a table of gift cards and passes | Entry sales, the drawing, and a check of your state's raffle rules |
| Tricky tray (basket raffle) | One entry drawn from the container beside each prize | Many themed baskets and modest items | Basket building, containers, entry sales, and a long drawing |
Five questions that pick the format
- How many items will people compete for? If only a few items will draw real bidding, a short live auction gets the most from them. Everything else goes on a silent table or into baskets.
- Will guests be seated, or moving around? A live auction needs a seated, listening audience. A mingling crowd suits silent tables and a basket raffle.
- Will supporters join from home? An online auction reaches them, but someone has to photograph and describe every item and get it to each winner.
- How many modest items will you have? Gift cards, admission passes and restaurant certificates rarely start a bidding war. Grouped into baskets for a raffle or tricky tray, they give every guest something to play for.
- How many volunteers can you rely on? A live auction needs a confident caller. A silent auction needs table monitors and a quick checkout. A tricky tray needs people to build baskets and run a long drawing.
Check the donor's rules before you commit
The format is not only your decision. Several donation programs say on their own pages what a donation may be used for, and some rule out a format entirely. Read each program's page before you promise an item to a particular table.
| Company | What its own page says | What it means for your format |
|---|---|---|
| Books-A-Million | Donates a $20 gift card, and excludes donations intended for online auctions or for resale | Use it at an in-person raffle or silent table, not in an online auction |
| Big 5 Sporting Goods | Its donated store cards can be used for raffles, auctions, prize giveaways and drawings; online requests only, once a year | Fits any in-person format |
| Urban Air | Its request form asks you to describe the event, such as a silent or live auction or a raffle, at least 30 days ahead | Name your format in the request |
| Total Wine & More | Offers nonprofits a private wine class for 20 as an auction item; eight weeks' notice; the applicant must be 21 or older; not offered in every state | A strong live or silent lot |
| Boston Red Sox | Autographed memorabilia, one item a year, for organizations in New England, requested online at least eight weeks ahead | A live auction showpiece |
| New York Giants | Giants memorabilia, one item per organization each year, for organizations in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, eight weeks ahead | A live or silent showpiece |
| Great Wolf Lodge | Takes requests through an online form and recommends submitting at least three months ahead | Ask early if you want it as a headline lot |
| Crayola Experience | Admission for charitable events, requested 30 days before the event and no earlier, one approval per 501(c)(3) per year | A family raffle prize or basket centerpiece |
Two patterns stand out. Showpiece items come with the longest lead times, so the format decision has to be made before those requests go out. And a gift card that cannot go into an online auction still works well in a basket.
Combining formats
Combining formats lets each item go where it will do best:
- Silent auction plus a short live auction. Most items sit on the silent tables, and a handful of showpieces are auctioned live during the program.
- Tricky tray plus a silent auction. A long table of themed baskets for everyone, with a smaller silent section for the higher-value items. Our tricky tray and raffle planning workbook covers prize tiers, basket themes and the drawing.
- Online preview, in-person close. Items are posted online before the event so supporters at home can bid, and bidding finishes in the room. Only use this for items whose donors allow online auctions.
Whatever the mix, keep each item's donor rules with it. A note on the bid sheet or basket card saying where the item came from also makes the thank-you easier later.
Where to find items for each format
- Silent and live auction items: start with companies that donate silent auction items, then work through the silent auction procurement checklist, which puts the long-lead showpieces first.
- Raffle and tricky tray prizes: see companies that donate raffle prizes for gift cards, family passes and treats.
- Admission passes and experiences: the entertainment category lists teams, attractions, theaters and museums with published donation programs.
Then plan backward from the event date. How far in advance to request donations sets out lead times by donor type.
Check your state's raffle rules
Raffles and tricky trays are regulated by the states, and the rules differ. Before you sell a single chance, check with your state's charitable gaming regulator. This is general information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a silent auction and a live auction?
In a silent auction guests write or enter bids while they browse, and the highest bid when the tables close wins. In a live auction an auctioneer takes spoken bids on one item at a time, which suits a few showpiece items and a seated audience.
Is an online auction better than a silent auction?
An online auction reaches supporters who can't attend, but every item needs a photo, a description and a way to reach the winner, and some donors exclude it. Books-A-Million, for example, does not donate for online auctions.
Should we run a raffle instead of an auction?
A raffle or tricky tray suits many modest prizes, such as gift cards and admission passes, because every guest can enter for the prizes they want. Check your state's raffle rules first; this is general information, not legal advice.
Can we combine a silent auction and a raffle at the same event?
Yes. Many events put most items on silent tables or in baskets and save a few showpieces for a short live auction or a closing drawing. Keep each donor's rules with its item so nothing lands in a format the donor excludes.
Where can we get items for a live auction?
Showpieces such as memorabilia and experiences come from programs like the Boston Red Sox, the New York Giants and Total Wine & More, which ask for eight weeks' notice. Our silent auction items list has more.