Valuation & Scoring
How much do patents typically sell for?
The short answer
There's no honest average — and brokers famously call average price-per-patent 'the worst thing that ever happened to patents.' The brokered market moved about $158 million in 2024 across tracked packages, with individual sales ranging from five figures for single assets to millions for strong portfolios with evidence of use.
The full picture
Why averages mislead: the distribution is extremely skewed. A small number of portfolio sales with litigation-grade evidence pull every average up, while the median single-patent sale is far more modest. Asking prices compound the confusion — analysts note they're often missing or disconnected from closing prices.
What actually predicts your price: comparable sales in your technology area, evidence of use, remaining term, and how many buyers you can bring to the table. One interested buyer is a negotiation; three is a market. Getting a realistic range for your specific patent before you talk to anyone is cheap insurance against both underpricing and sitting unsold for years.
Where does your patent stand?
The Beyond the Patent Commercialization Score answers that — a professional, factor-by-factor read on your patent's licensing, sale, build, and partner potential.
Related questions
General information for patent owners — not legal advice. Read the disclaimer.