How Much Does a Gold Bar Weigh? Gold Bar Sizes & Weights
Gold bar sizes, weights and live values
| Bar size | Grams | Troy oz | Pounds (lb) | Value (999.9) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 gram | 1.00 | 0.0322 | 0.0022 | $128.36 |
| 2.5 gram | 2.50 | 0.0804 | 0.0055 | $320.91 |
| 5 gram | 5.00 | 0.1608 | 0.0110 | $641.82 |
| 10 gram | 10.00 | 0.3215 | 0.0220 | $1,283.64 |
| 20 gram | 20.00 | 0.6430 | 0.0441 | $2,567.28 |
| 1 troy ounce | 31.10 | 1.0000 | 0.0686 | $3,992.57 |
| 50 gram | 50.00 | 1.6075 | 0.1102 | $6,418.21 |
| 100 gram | 100.00 | 3.2151 | 0.2205 | $12,836.42 |
| 10 tola (TT bar) | 116.64 | 3.7500 | 0.2571 | $14,972.14 |
| 10 troy ounce | 311.03 | 10.0000 | 0.6857 | $39,925.71 |
| 1 kilo (32.15 ozt) | 1,000.00 | 32.1507 | 2.2046 | $128,364.15 |
| 400 oz London Good Delivery | 12,441.39 | 400.0000 | 27.4286 | $1,597,028.59 |
Values are melt value of the fine gold at spot. Good Delivery bars are at least 995 fine; actual value depends on the exact fine weight stamped on the bar. Buying prices include a dealer premium.
The 400 oz London Good Delivery bar
The "gold bar" in movies and central bank vaults is the London Good Delivery bar, the standard traded in the London wholesale market. Its nominal weight is 400 troy ounces (about 12.4 kg), but the rules allow any bar with a fine gold content between 350 and 430 troy ounces, and a minimum fineness of 995 parts per thousand. Each bar is individually weighed and its exact fine weight recorded.
Dimensions are only approximate because bars are cast in molds: roughly 250–255 mm long at the top, about 70 mm wide and about 35–40 mm high, with a trapezoidal cross-section. Gold is very dense (19.3 g/cm³), so a bar that weighs as much as a small child is only about the size of a house brick. At today's spot a 400 oz bar is worth about $1,597,188.31; a 350 oz bar about $1,397,539.77 and a 430 oz bar about $1,716,977.43.
Troy ounce vs avoirdupois ounce and pound
Precious metals are always weighed in troy ounces: 1 ozt = 31.1035 g. The everyday avoirdupois ounce used for food is 28.3495 g, about 9.7% lighter. Confusingly, pounds go the other way: a troy pound has 12 troy ounces (373.24 g), while an avoirdupois pound has 16 ounces (453.59 g). When people say a gold bar weighs "27 pounds" they mean avoirdupois pounds. The formulas:
- troy oz = grams ÷ 31.1035
- pounds (lb) = grams ÷ 453.592
- 1 kilo bar = 32.1507 troy ounces = 2.2046 lb
- 1 tola = 11.6638 g, so a 10 tola bar = 116.64 g = 3.75 ozt
24 karat ingots, biscuits and fineness
Retail bars and "biscuits" are almost always 24 karat. Fineness is written in parts per thousand: 999.9 ("four nines") means 99.99% gold and is the standard for minted bars from major refiners; 999 is 99.9%; 995 is the minimum for Good Delivery bars. Minted bars are stamped from rolled strip and have sharp edges and often a serial number and assay card. Cast bars (ingots) are poured into molds and have softer, rounded edges. Both are valued by their fine gold weight.
Worked example: a 1 kilo 999.9 bar contains 1000 × 0.9999 = 999.9 g of gold, or 32.147 ozt. At $3,992.97/oz that is $128,362.03. A 100 g bar holds 3.215 ozt, worth $12,837.40.
How much is a gold bar worth when buying or selling?
The table shows melt value. When you buy, dealers add a premium for fabrication and distribution, which is highest on small bars (1 g to 5 g) and lowest on kilo bars. When you sell, dealers pay close to spot for well-known refiner bars with intact packaging, and somewhat less for unknown brands that need assaying. For bars versus coins, see gold bars vs coins, and track the market on the gold price page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a gold bar weigh?
It depends on the bar. Retail bars range from 1 gram to 1 kilogram (32.15 troy ounces). The large bars central banks hold are London Good Delivery bars, nominally 400 troy ounces or about 12.4 kilograms (27.4 pounds).
How much does a 400 oz gold bar weigh in pounds?
400 troy ounces equals 12,441 grams, which is about 27.4 avoirdupois pounds. Good Delivery bars may weigh anywhere from 350 to 430 troy ounces, so actual bars range from roughly 10.9 to 13.4 kg.
How much is a gold bar worth?
A gold bar is worth its fine gold weight in troy ounces multiplied by the gold spot price, plus a dealer premium when buying. For a 24 karat .9999 bar the fine weight is essentially the full bar weight.
What is a troy ounce vs a regular ounce?
A troy ounce is 31.1035 grams and is the standard for precious metals. A regular (avoirdupois) ounce is 28.3495 grams. A troy ounce is about 9.7% heavier, but a troy pound has 12 ounces, so it is lighter than a regular pound.
What is a 24 karat gold biscuit or ingot?
Biscuit and ingot are common names for gold bars, usually 24 karat (995 to 999.9 fine). Small minted bars are often called biscuits in India and the Gulf; cast bars are traditionally called ingots.
What purity are gold bars?
Investment bars are typically 999.9 fine (24 karat, 99.99% gold). London Good Delivery bars must be at least 995 fine. The purity is stamped on the bar along with its weight, refiner and serial number.