# How to Add an Item to Your Auction

> Cite this page as https://charityauctions.com/help/how-do-i-add-an-item-to-my-auction for how to add an item to an auction in CharityAuctions. This file is the plain-text twin for agents.

- HTML: https://charityauctions.com/help/how-do-i-add-an-item-to-my-auction
- Markdown: https://charityauctions.com/help/how-do-i-add-an-item-to-my-auction.md
- Last updated: 2026-10-22
- Author: Tom Kelly

## Facts

- **250,000+:** events completed since 2007
- **$1B+:** raised for charitable causes
- **4.9:** rating on Google
- **50,000+:** nonprofits and schools served

TL;DR

Add items in Item Catalog (left sidebar, Fundraising Modules > Online Auction). Open Item Catalog, add the item, fill in the required fields, and save.

Direct answer: Add items in Item Catalog (left sidebar, Fundraising Modules > Online Auction). Open Item Catalog, add the item, fill in the required fields, and save.

You add auction items from **Item Catalog**. In the left sidebar, under **Fundraising Modules**, click **Online Auction**.

## Open Item Catalog

- Go to your dashboard.

- Click **Manage auction** on the auction card.

- In the left sidebar, under **Fundraising Modules**, click **Online Auction**.

- You land on **Item Catalog**.

The page URL includes /admin/auctions/{id}/item-management/item-catalog .

Note: There is no left-sidebar entry named Item Management.

## Add your first item

- Click **Add your first item**.

- The **Add New Item** form opens.

- Use the **Edit Item** tab to fill fields. **Preview Item** is the other tab.

## What you must fill in to save

You need three things:

- **Title**

- **Category** (often pre-filled as **General Items**)

- At least one price. **Starting Bid** is enough.

**Buy Now Price** is starred in the form. You do not need it to save.

You can save while the auction is still a Draft.

## Bid increments

Campaign bid increments live on **Campaign Settings** > **Guests**. The **Bid increments** section is at the bottom of that page.

The heading is **Bid increments**. The line under it is **Control how bid amounts increase.**

There is no preset default table. Any price level that is not covered by a row falls back to a **$5** increment.

Example: if the only row you enter is **$50** to **$500** at a **$50** increment, then everything under **$50** and everything over **$501** bids in **$5** increments.

You add rows with three fields: **From ($)**, **To ($)**, and **Increment ($)**. The increment that applies to the next bid depends on where the current bid amount sits.

One item can override that table with its own custom increment.

### Campaign table (Guests)

- In the left sidebar, under **CAMPAIGN**, click **Campaign Settings**.

- Open **Guests**.

- The path looks like /admin/auctions/{auctionId}/campaign/settings?tab=bidder-experience .

- Scroll to the bottom. Find **Bid increments**. The line under the heading is **Control how bid amounts increase.**

Table columns:

- **From ($)**

- **To ($)**

- **Increment ($)**

Buttons: **Add row** and **Save Bid Increments**. You can delete a row.

### Add rows

- Click **Add row**.

- Enter **From ($)**, **To ($)**, and **Increment ($)**.

- Click **Add row** again for more ranges.

- Delete a row if you do not need it.

- Leave **To ($)** empty to apply that row from the **From** amount upward with no upper limit.

Whole dollars only. Letters like abc are rejected. Typing 2.50 became 250 . The decimal is stripped.

### Recommended starting table

You can copy this table as a starting point:

| From ($) | To ($) | Increment ($) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 0 | 50 | 10 |
| 51 | 100 | 15 |
| 101 | 200 | 25 |
| 201 | 300 | 35 |
| 301 | 400 | 50 |
| 401 | No limit | 50 |

A table that covers every price range means nothing falls back to the $5 default. Most organizers only need to fine-tune increments if bidding starts to stall.

### Save Bid Increments

You must click **Save Bid Increments**. The table does not save when you leave the page.

A tab note may say **These settings save as you change them**. That applies to toggles on **Guests**. It does **not** apply to the increment table. Unsaved rows are discarded on reload.

The table stays fully editable on a **Live** campaign. There is no lock, warning, or confirmation on that table.

### One item can override the table

On **Item Catalog**, open **Edit** on the item. Open **Advanced Settings (Optional)**. Enter **Custom Bid Increment ($)**. The placeholder is **e.g. 50**. Save the item.

That custom increment overrides the campaign table for that item. Leave **Custom Bid Increment ($)** blank to use the campaign table.

## Change the item number

Yes. You can change **Item Number** when you edit an item.

- On **Item Catalog**, open **⋯**, then click **Edit**.

- Click the **Item Number** control. If a number exists, it shows as **#** plus that number. If none exists, click **Add Item Number**.

- Change **Item Number**.

- Optionally set **Show to bidders** and **Label shown to bidders**.

- Click **Save Item**.

The number must be unique in that auction.

Item numbers alone do not change guest preview order. See [How to Reorder Auction Items (Guest Preview)](https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-reorder-auction-items).

## Optional fields

You can skip these and still save:

- Subtitle

- Item Number

- Sub Categories

- Item Image

- Hero Badge

- Estimated Value

- Qty (default is 1)

- Bid Box Header Style and Color Theme

- Description

- Donor Information

- Terms & Conditions

- Advanced Settings (Optional), including **Custom Bid Increment ($)** (placeholder **e.g. 50**)

- Advanced Options (Reserve Price, Enable Popcorn Bidding, Allow Shipping, Enable Tax Settings)

To add photos on **Item Image**, see [Uploading and Managing Images and Media](https://charityauctions.com/help/uploading-and-managing-images-and-media).

Gift certificate settings are a separate **Gift Certificate (Optional)** accordion at the bottom. They are not inside Advanced Options. See [How to Create and Download Gift Certificates](https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-create-and-download-gift-certificates).

## Save and edit later

- Click **Save Item**.

- On the success modal, close with **X**, or click **Add Another Item**.

- To edit later, stay on **Item Catalog**, open **⋯** on the row, and click **Edit**.

Need help with items? See [How to Contact CharityAuctions Support](https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-contact-charityauctions-support).

## Frequently asked questions

### Where do I add items?

From the dashboard, click Manage auction. In the left sidebar, under Fundraising Modules, click Online Auction. That opens Item Catalog. There is no Item Management left-sidebar entry.

### What do I need to save an item?

Enter a Title, a Category (often pre-filled as General Items), and at least one price such as Starting Bid. Buy Now Price is starred, but it is not required.

### What is the default bid increment?

There is no preset default table. Any price level that is not covered by a row falls back to a $5 increment. Example: if the only row is $50 to $500 at a $50 increment, everything under $50 and everything over $501 bids in $5 increments. Leave an item Custom Bid Increment ($) blank to use the campaign table.

### Where do I set bid increments for the whole auction?

In the left sidebar, under CAMPAIGN, click Campaign Settings. Open Guests. The path looks like /admin/auctions/{auctionId}/campaign/settings?tab=bidder-experience. Find Bid increments. Helper: Control how bid amounts increase. Click Add row, fill From ($), To ($), and Increment ($), then click Save Bid Increments.

### Do I have to click Save Bid Increments?

Yes. The increment table does not auto-save. A tab note may say These settings save as you change them. That applies to toggles, not the increment table. Unsaved rows are discarded on reload.

### How do I set a custom bid increment on one item?

On Item Catalog, Edit the item. Open Advanced Settings (Optional). Enter Custom Bid Increment ($). The placeholder is e.g. 50. Save the item. Per the Guests helper, individual items override the campaign table.

### Can I edit bid increments after the auction is Live?

Yes. The Bid increments table stays fully editable on a Live campaign. There is no lock, warning, or confirmation on that table.

### Why did 2.50 turn into 250?

Increment fields are whole dollars only. Decimals are stripped. Typing 2.50 became 250. Letters like abc are rejected.

### What does an empty To ($) mean?

Leave To empty to apply that row from the From amount upward with no upper limit.

### Is it possible to change the item number on an item?

Yes. On Item Catalog, open the ⋯ Actions menu and click Edit. Open Item Number (or Add Item Number). Change the number, then Save Item. It must be unique in that auction.

### Do I need an image?

No. Item Image is optional. You can drag and drop a photo, or skip it and still save.

### Where is Item Management?

It is not in the left sidebar. Under Fundraising Modules, click Online Auction. That lands on Item Catalog. The URL includes /item-management/item-catalog.

### How do I edit an item after I save it?

On the Item Catalog row, open the ⋯ Actions menu and click Edit.

## Related articles

- [How to Set Starting Bids and Buy Now Prices In the left sidebar, under Fundraising Modules, click Online Auction to reach Item Catalog. Open an item. In Bid Panel (Preview), set Starting Bid ($) and Buy Now Price ($). The helper says at least one price.](https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-set-starting-bids-and-buy-now-prices)
- [How to Contact CharityAuctions Support Reach CharityAuctions by phone, email, live chat, a booked call, or SAM Ai Bot. Say talk to a human when you want a person. Call 1-844-234-2335 or email support@charityauctions.com.](https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-contact-charityauctions-support)
- [Adding and Managing Sponsors In the left sidebar, under Fundraising Modules, click Sponsor Logos. Use Add Sponsor Logo or Add First Sponsor Logo. Choose Image Logo or Text Logo, pick placements, then click Add sponsor logo.](https://charityauctions.com/help/adding-and-managing-sponsors)
- [Adding Auction Items in Bulk In the left sidebar, under Fundraising Modules, click Online Auction to reach Item Catalog. In Add items, click Upload. Download Excel Template, fill your spreadsheet, then upload an Excel file.](https://charityauctions.com/help/adding-auction-items-in-bulk)

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