Looking to cash in on your interstellar hauls or offload some contraband in Starfield? Knowing where to find the Trade Authority locations is key to maximizing your profits and acquiring rare materials across the galaxy. From bustling hubs like New Atlantis and Cydonia to the shadowy corners of The Den and Akila City, these kiosks and shops are scattered across the stars, each offering unique opportunities for traders and smugglers alike. Dive into our guide to pinpoint every Trade Authority spot on PC and Xbox, and turn your spacefaring ventures into a lucrative enterprise.
In this Starfield guide, we’ll tell you everything about Starfield’s Trade Authority and where you can find Trade Authority locations (both their storefronts and their kiosks).
What is the Trade Authority in Starfield?
The Trade Authority in Starfield is the largest and most influential interstellar mercantile organization in the Settled Systems, dominating shipping and trade across major cities and planets. It operates a vast network of physical shops, kiosks, and merchant ships where players can buy and sell items, including stolen and contraband goods, making it a key hub for trading in the game. While not officially a criminal entity, the Trade Authority is known for its willingness to deal in illegal merchandise, providing a unique opportunity for players to offload such items for credits. Trade Authority locations are found in major settlements and spaceports, with shops offering more extensive services than kiosks, which primarily buy items from players.
Most vendors in Starfield will only buy items from you that could be of use to them. If you go to a store where you can buy cool Star Wars-ass space clothes, the person selling them to you isn’t going to want to buy your space-AK-47. I mean, what would they wear with it? Instead, you’ll need to find a vendor who has an interest in weapons.
Since you’ll pick up a wide variety of goods on your adventures, you’ll end up wasting literal hours trying to go around an entire city and visit the weapon shop, then the space suit shop, then the clothes shop, etc. It’s tedious and there’s a better way: the Trade Authority.
These shops and their kiosks will buy anything and everything from your inventory. If you want to sell it a shotgun, a turkey sandwich, and “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, it’ll buy all of them – as long as it has the credits available.
How much money does the Trade Authority have?
The Trade Authority kiosks sit relatively low at only 5,000 Credits, but its purse refreshes every 24 hours, so you can either go to a new one or take a nap in your ship if you need to sell more stuff. The proper Trade Authority shops, on the other hand, have a much larger wallet, with nearly 12,000 Credits, and they carry some pretty solid items for you to spend your credits on as well.
What does the Trade Authority buy?
But the best thing about the Trade Authority is that they will buy your contraband and any stolen items you have. If you end up lifting something with a high cost and don’t want to get caught, your inanimate kiosk friends or the dead inside Trade Authority employees will pay you, no questions asked.
You can find the Trade Authority Kiosks in any major spaceport and docking station, just by the Ship Services worker or building. The shops are less convenient, but are worth heading to if you need to offload a lot of merchandise – that extra credit boost goes a long way. Below, we’ve listed the locations of five kiosks and stores, all of which are easy to get to in the early parts of Starfield.
The Den near Chthonia, Wolf system
The Den, located in the Wolf System orbiting the planet Chthonia, is a small but significant Trade Authority location in Starfield. Unlike other Trade Authority sites, The Den offers the advantage of not scanning your ship, making it an ideal spot to sell contraband without detection. To find it, travel to the Wolf System, locate Chthonia, and dock at The Den station. Inside, the Trade Authority shop is just ahead and to the right after disembarking, where you can sell illicit goods and purchase decent weapons. This location is particularly valued for its authority-free trade environment, providing a unique opportunity for players dealing in contraband.
There’s another Trade Authority Shop and Kiosk in The Den, a big space station orbiting the planet Chthonia in the Wolf system.
The Den Trade Authority shop location
Once you dock with The Den, finding the Trade Authority shop is simple. Head past the ship technician until you reach a railing, where the station opens up. Look to your left and you’ll see a little storefront cut into the wall. This is the Trade Authority on The Den, and it’s one of the best in the game. You don’t get scanned when docking at The Den, and since the Trade Authority buys contraband and stolen goods, you don’t need a shielded cargo compartment to sell illegal stuff here.
The Den Trade Authority kiosk location
For the Den’s kiosk, walk forward from the docking port and you’ll see the ship technician standing there, spouting off nonsense about Heatleeches. Ignore him and look to your right (his left) and you’ll see the kiosk resting near some boxes.
New Atlantis on Jemison, Alpha Centauri system
New Atlantis is the capital city of the United Colonies and a major hub in Starfield, located on the planet Jemison within the Alpha Centauri system, which lies just south of the Sol system on the starmap. Players will visit New Atlantis early in their journey, as it is central to the main storyline and home to the Constellation Lodge. The city is divided into several districts, including the commercial, administrative (MAST), residential, and the spaceport district where players first land. To reach New Atlantis, navigate to the Alpha Centauri system, select Jemison, and choose a landing point on the planet. The city features key Trade Authority locations such as a kiosk near the landing area and a shop accessible via an elevator near Jemison Mercantile, making it a vital location for trading and quest progression in the game.
The Trade Authority on Jemison is one of the first shops you’ll visit in Starfield.
New Atlantis Trade Authority shop location
The Trade Authority is a bit hidden in New Atlantis. It’s in The Well, which is the lower district under New Atlantis where the poorer citizens live. Take the elevator from the spaceport and hang a left. You’ll see “Trade Authority” printed in big letters on the wall above you.
New Atlantis Trade Authority kiosk location
The first Trade Authority Kiosk you’ll find in Starfield, you can find this kiosk sitting just off to the right of where you park your ship in New Atlantis.
Cydonia on Mars, Sol system
Cydonia is a prominent colony located on Mars within the Sol system in Starfield. It serves as a key mining settlement under United Colonies territory and is one of the major cities players will frequently visit. In Cydonia, players can find both a Trade Authority kiosk and shop, making it an essential location for trading and selling goods, including contraband, without consequences. The Trade Authority shop is situated in the Cydonia Central Hub, accessible by heading down the main ramp and turning right, while the kiosk is located near the ship services by the main entrance of the hub. Due to Mars’ harsh environment, players must wear a spacesuit until entering the city itself.
You’ll first head to Mars during Starfield’s second main mission, “The Old Neighborhood.”
Cydonia Trade Authority shop location
For the Trade Authority shop in Cydonia, head into the mining colony and continue straight, down the long, steamy ramp. At the end, on the right, you’ll see a door with a white sign above it that says “Trade Authority Outpost.”
Cydonia Trade Authority kiosk location
Before you enter the Cydonia mining colony, head down toward the station’s entrance and keep left. You’ll find a small shack that houses the Ship Services station, and the kiosk will be right along the railing, outside.
Neon on Volii Alpha, Volii system
The Neon Trade Authority in Starfield is located on Volii Alpha in the Volii system. Upon arriving in Neon, players can find the Trade Authority kiosk inside the Ship Services building, which is to the left of the landing pad where ships arrive. To access the Trade Authority shop, take the elevator from the spaceport into Neon proper; the shop is directly in front of you when you exit the elevator, marked by a bright yellow sign. This location is one of the easiest Trade Authority spots to find in the game and offers a convenient place to buy, sell, and offload contraband.
You’ll first head to Neon during the “All That Money Can Buy” quest, early in Starfield’s main quest.
Neon Trade Authority shop location
The Trade Authority shop is just inside of Neon. Ride the elevator from the space port and immediately look left. There is a massive, yellow, neon sign that says Trade Authority on the building. You can’t miss it.
Neon Trade Authority kiosk location
Before you enter the city of Neon itself, walk out of your ship and look left. You’ll see a shack for Ship Services on the left side of your platform. Walk inside and access the kiosk attached to the wall.
Akila City on Akila, Cheyenne system
The Akila Trade Authority in Starfield is located in Akila City on the planet Akila, within the Cheyenne system. To find the Trade Authority shop, enter Akila City through the main gates and proceed straight until you pass the Hitching Post bar on your right. Just beyond it, you will see Galbank on your right. Between the Hitching Post and Galbank, there is an alley with a small set of stairs; follow this path and look to your left to find the Trade Authority shop, which is situated almost directly behind Galbank. Additionally, a Trade Authority kiosk is conveniently located just outside the Akila City entrance near the Ship Services building, making it easy to sell items quickly upon arrival.
You’ll head to Akila City for the first time during “The Empty Nest,” one of Starfield’s first five main quests.
Akila Trade Authority shop location
The Trade Authority in Akila City is hiding a bit. It’s right behind Galbank, which is to your right when you go through the city gates. You’ll need to pass down a little alleyway to get there.
Akila Trade Authority kiosk location
Want to know the easiest way to find all Trade Authority kiosks in Starfield
The easiest way to find all Trade Authority kiosks in Starfield is to head to the major spaceports and city entrances across key settlements like New Atlantis, Cydonia, Akila City, Neon, and The Den. These kiosks are typically located near Ship Services or the shipyards, often right by your landing spot, making them quick and convenient for selling items without the need to navigate deep into the cities. For example, in New Atlantis, the kiosk is immediately visible next to the Ship Technician at the spaceport landing pad, while in Cydonia and Akila City, kiosks are similarly positioned near the city entrances or shipyards. This consistent placement across major hubs allows you to quickly offload items as you travel, streamlining your trading experience in Starfield.
What’s the quickest way to locate all Trade Authority kiosks in Starfield
The quickest way to locate all Trade Authority kiosks in Starfield is to visit the major settlements’ shipyards or city entrances, where these kiosks are consistently found near your landing spots. Key locations include New Atlantis, Cydonia, Akila City, Neon, and The Den, each featuring a kiosk close to Ship Services or the ship technician, making them easy to spot right after docking. For example, in New Atlantis, the kiosk is next to the Ship Technician at the spaceport landing pad, while in The Den, it is just past the ship technician near a railing on the station. This pattern of placement allows you to quickly offload items without needing to explore deeper into the cities. Additionally, visiting the larger Trade Authority storefronts in these cities-such as the shop in the Well district of New Atlantis or the alley behind GalBank in Akila City-offers more extensive trading options but requires more navigation. Thus, focusing on shipyards and landing pads is the fastest method to find all kiosks efficiently.
