Hunting for a good deal? Our Server Auction is home to plenty of servers in all kinds of hardware configurations, just waiting to be discovered.
This is where we auction off used bare metal servers. That doesn't just make them considerably cheaper – it also gives you a huge range to choose from. Depending on which servers free up, you'll find anything from lots of RAM to tons of storage to a particular CPU generation. There's a good chance the exact combination your project needs is already in there – with no setup fee and no minimum contract term.
This article gives you an introduction to everything you need to know about the Hetzner Server Auction.
What is a refurbished server? How the Hetzner Server Auction works
Before a server goes into the Server Auction, we test it thoroughly. So what you get is a complete, fully functional refurbished server. And don't worry: we securely wipe the previous owner's data beforehand in a careful, documented process.
So where do these machines come from? Some are from earlier product lines, others we once configured individually for specific customers. They weren't cancelled because anything's broken, but because, say, a new processor generation launched or a customer moved on to a newer model. Technically, they keep running flawlessly.
One nice side effect: there's no one-time setup fee, since the server was already set up. That's why it's usually ready to go within one business day – often even faster.
Are used servers worth it? Who gets the most out of the Server Auction
You won't find the best deals by looking at price alone – you'll find them by searching specifically for the hardware you actually need.
The auction gets interesting wherever a strong price-performance ratio matters more than the latest CPU generation: for test and staging environments, build jobs, or backup servers, for example. And if you need plenty of storage or lots of RAM, you're in the right place too. No surprise, then, that experienced admins, developers, self-hosters, small businesses, and homelab users are the ones who tend to drop by.
The advantage really stands out with large amounts of memory or high storage capacity. At 256 or 512 GB of RAM, you can easily save several hundred euros compared to the regular offerings. And since there's no minimum contract term, the auction works well for short-term projects too.
That said, it's not the best fit for every purpose. If you want to run a large game server that needs high single-core performance, or host a database with many simultaneous accesses, you're better off with the current AX or EX lines. Modern CPUs simply have the edge there.
How does a Dutch auction work? The price model behind the Server Auction
What makes it special is the Dutch-style auction. Prices start out low and keep dropping over the course of the day, at randomly chosen intervals. The longer you wait, the cheaper your dream server can get. The catch: with every passing minute, the risk grows that someone else beats you to it.
Once you've bought a server, you're not left to fend for yourself. You get the same customer service as with any regular dedicated server: free phone support and 24/7 monitoring. And if a piece of hardware fails, we replace the faulty components free of charge.
What hardware is used for servers? Specs, filters and finding your deal
The offerings vary widely in specs and price. To save you a long search, you can filter for exactly what you want – by price, RAM, storage, the number and type of drives, processor, or location, for example.
For storage, you choose both the capacity and the number of drives, so you can track down even very large setups. You also decide which drive type fits your project: HDD, SSD, or NVMe SSD. And you can filter precisely by processor generation, too.
If you know what you're looking for, you can land real bargains here. Here's an example:
Say you need a solid backup server for a small agency and want to store client data, media, and projects safely. Then one thing matters above all: enough storage at a good price. For many smaller backup scenarios, around 25 TB and 32 to 64 GB of RAM are plenty.
Now you compare with a matching server from the regular lineup. In this case, that's the SX65 – our entry-level server when it comes to storage. Then you keep an eye on the auction and strike as soon as a server meets your criteria and comes in well below the SX65. Either way, you save yourself the one-time setup fee.
Are refurbished servers good for the environment? How we extend server lifespans
The auction isn't just easy on your budget – it's also good for the environment. The idea is simple: because the servers run longer, we save resources and avoid waste. This way, we extend a server's life from an average of three to four years to around eight.
The graphic below shows the lifecycle of our hardware. Once servers are no longer suitable for the Server Auction, several environmentally friendly paths await them.
First, we check which components can be reused, because our goal is to put as much hardware back into service as possible. That's why we offer individual parts by selling them externally. And anything that's technically outdated doesn't end up in the trash – it's properly recycled.
Cheap dedicated server hosting: when the Server Auction is the right choice
The Server Auction will be worth watching in the future, too. After all, there's no way to predict exactly which servers will be available or which model will drop out of the regular lineup next. That means your next server might already be sitting there right now.
Whether you're after a test environment, need an affordable way in, or are just hoping for a good deal: take a look. Filter by your criteria, compare with the regular lineup, and strike at the right moment.
If you have any questions, take a look at our Docs — we've put together an FAQ for you there.
Save money with refurbished servers
Catch your refurbished dedicated servers in our server auction with decreasing prices and zero setup costs.
