Free tool · live prices
Scrap Gold Calculator
How much is your scrap gold worth today?
Find out the live market value of scrap gold jewelry, coins, dental gold or broken chains. Add multiple items, switch currency, and apply a buyer-payout preset for a realistic offer.
USD / oz
$4,104.00
USD / g
$131.95
EUR / g
€118.10
GBP / g
£99.92
INR / g
₹12,560.29
AED / g
AED 484.61
Multi-item scrap calculator
Live spot $131.95 / g pure
| Item | Karat | Weight | Unit | Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $384.82 | |||||
| $841.16 | |||||
| $131.96 |
Pure gold
10.29 g
Spot value
$1,357.94
Est. payout @ 85%
$1,154.25
Scrap gold value by karat (USD)
Melt value and the cash a buyer pays at your chosen payout rate.
| Karat | Hallmark | Melt per gram | You get (85%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24k | 1000 | $131.95 | $112.15 |
| 22k | 917 | $120.96 | $102.81 |
| 21k | 875 | $115.45 | $98.14 |
| 18k | 750 | $98.96 | $84.12 |
| 14k | 583 | $76.96 | $65.42 |
| 10k | 417 | $54.98 | $46.73 |
| 9k | 375 | $49.48 | $42.06 |
1 dwt (pennyweight) = 1.555 g; 1 troy oz = 20 dwt = 31.1035 g. US buyers often quote per dwt.
What do gold dealers pay for scrap gold?
No buyer pays 100% of melt value: they must refine, assay and resell the metal. Typical offers as a share of melt value:
Pawn shop
60–75%
Instant cash, but the lowest rate — they carry resale risk and short-term loan costs.
Local jeweler
70–85%
Convenient and quick. Rates improve if you bring heavier, well-hallmarked pieces.
Cash-for-gold / online buyer
75–90%
Mail-in services pay after assay; read the return-shipping and fee terms first.
Refiner (large lots)
90–98%
Best payout, usually for 50 g+ or professional sellers, after a fire or XRF assay.
Tip: an offer below 70% of the melt value shown above is usually worth refusing — get a second quote.
Scrap Gold Calculator
Estimated scrap payout
$112.15
1 Gram of 24k gold · 0.0322 troy oz · spot $131.95
Live scrap gold price by karat (USD)
Pure-metal market value, before buyer margin. Multiply by 0.6–0.9 for a realistic offer.
| Karat | $ / gram | $ / dwt | $ / tola | $ / oz |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24k | $131.95 | $205.20 | $1,539.00 | $4,104.00 |
| 22k | $120.96 | $188.11 | $1,410.80 | $3,762.14 |
| 21k | $115.45 | $179.55 | $1,346.63 | $3,591.00 |
| 18k | $98.96 | $153.90 | $1,154.25 | $3,078.00 |
| 14k | $76.96 | $119.69 | $897.70 | $2,393.86 |
| 10k | $54.98 | $85.51 | $641.30 | $1,710.14 |
| 9k | $49.48 | $76.95 | $577.13 | $1,539.00 |
| 8k | $43.94 | $68.33 | $512.49 | $1,366.63 |
How much is scrap gold worth?
Scrap gold is worth exactly what the pure gold inside it is worth on today's market, minus the cost of turning it back into bullion. Right now pure (24k) gold trades at about $131.95 per gram ($4,104.00 per troy ounce). Every karat below 24k contains proportionally less gold, so the starting point is always: weight in grams × purity × spot price per gram.
That number is the melt value. No buyer will pay the full melt value, because they need to cover assaying, refining, shipping, insurance and a profit margin. Pawn shops typically pay around 50–65% of melt, local jewelers 65–80%, cash-for-gold stores about 75–85% and online or walk-in refiners 85–95% for larger lots. The gap between buyers is often larger than a full week of price movement, which is why comparing quotes matters more than timing the market.
| Example item | Melt value | Jeweler (75%) | Refiner (88%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A 5 g 14k wedding band | $385.94 | $289.46 | $339.63 |
| A 12 g 18k chain | $1,187.52 | $890.64 | $1,045.02 |
| A 20 g bag of mixed 10k jewelry | $1,100.44 | $825.33 | $968.38 |
| A 10 g 22k bangle | $1,208.63 | $906.47 | $1,063.60 |
Worked example: a 5 g ring stamped 585 holds 5 × 0.585 = 2.93 g of pure gold. At $131.95 per gram that is $385.94 of gold. A jeweler offering 75% would pay about $289.46. For per-karat tables, open the 14k scrap gold price per gram, 18k scrap gold price per gram or 10k scrap gold value pages.
Scrap calculator & price history by karat
Dedicated calculators with melt value, pawn/refiner payouts and historical price per gram.
How much is X gold worth today?
Common scrap gold quantities at the current live spot price.
1 gram 24k
$131.95
1 gram 22k
$120.96
1 gram 18k
$98.96
1 gram 14k
$76.96
1 gram 10k
$54.98
1 gram 9k
$49.48
10 gram 24k
$1,319.47
10 gram 22k
$1,209.56
10 gram 18k
$989.60
10 gram 14k
$769.65
100 gram 24k
$13,194.67
100 gram 14k
$7,696.45
1 troy oz 24k
$4,104.00
1 troy oz 22k
$3,762.14
1 troy oz 18k
$3,078.00
1 troy oz 14k
$2,393.86
1 tola 24k
$1,539.00
1 tola 22k
$1,410.80
1 tola 18k
$1,154.25
1 tola 14k
$897.70
Common scrap gold items
Typical weights and live spot values. Actual payout depends on the buyer and assayed purity.
Wedding band
$384.825 g · 14k · Typical men's 14k yellow gold band, 4–6 g
Engagement ring (gold only)
$296.883 g · 18k · Remove the stone before weighing
Class ring
$989.6818 g · 10k · Heavy US high-school / college ring
Necklace chain (20 in)
$923.5712 g · 14k · Standard rope or curb chain
Dental crown
$264.033 g · 16k · Most dental gold is 16k yellow alloy
Krugerrand (1 oz)
$120.961 g · 22k · Bullion premium usually exceeds scrap value
Sovereign coin
$965.237.98 g · 22k · Numismatic premium possible — appraise first
Tola bar (India / UAE)
$1,538.5011.66 g · 24k · Traditional Indian / Middle-Eastern bar
Scrap gold prices by currency
Live per-gram value in 14k, 18k and 22k across major markets.
| Currency | 14k / g | 18k / g | 22k / g |
|---|---|---|---|
| USD | $76.96 | $98.96 | $120.96 |
| EUR | €68.89 | €88.58 | €108.26 |
| GBP | £58.28 | £74.94 | £91.60 |
| INR | ₹7,326.42 | ₹9,420.22 | ₹11,514.02 |
| AED | AED 282.67 | AED 363.46 | AED 444.24 |
| SAR | SAR 288.96 | SAR 371.54 | SAR 454.12 |
| CAD | C$109.49 | C$140.78 | C$172.07 |
| AUD | A$110.36 | A$141.90 | A$173.44 |
Karat & hallmark reference
Use the stamp on your jewelry to confirm karat. Unstamped pieces should be acid- or XRF-tested before sale.
| Karat | Stamp | Purity | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24k | 999 / 9999 | 99.9% pure | Investment bullion, bars, Asian jewelry |
| 22k | 916 / 917 | 91.7% pure | Indian and Middle-Eastern jewelry, sovereigns |
| 21k | 875 | 87.5% pure | Gulf-region jewelry |
| 18k | 750 | 75.0% pure | High-end European and designer jewelry |
| 14k | 585 / 583 | 58.5% pure | Most US jewelry, class rings |
| 10k | 417 | 41.7% pure | Affordable US jewelry, dental gold |
| 9k | 375 | 37.5% pure | UK / European entry-level jewelry |
| 8k | 333 | 33.3% pure | German costume jewelry |
Solid
All-the-way-through gold of the stamped karat. Worth its full purity at scrap.
Gold-filled (GF)
5–10% gold bonded to brass. Scrap value is real but only refiners buy bulk lots.
Gold-plated (GP)
Microscopic plating; effectively zero scrap value. Most buyers reject it.
How scrap gold buyers calculate offers
Every legitimate buyer uses the same formula: spot × purity × weight × payout %. The only variable they control is the payout percentage. Refiners with industrial volume can pay 88–92% because they spread refining costs across kilos of metal a day; a corner pawn shop often quotes 55–65% because they need to resell to a refiner themselves and want a margin on each lot.
How to sell scrap gold safely
- Sort by karat — never let a buyer weigh mixed lots as one karat.
- Weigh on a calibrated 0.1 g scale and write the weight down.
- Get at least three quotes — one local jeweler, one pawn shop, one online refiner.
- Ship via USPS Registered Mail or FedEx with declared value and tracking.
- Confirm the buyer pays by check or bank transfer, not cash on the spot, for any lot above a few hundred dollars.
- Keep photos of every item before shipping in case of dispute.
Common scrap gold scams to avoid
- Lowball karat tests. A buyer claims your 14k stamped ring "only tests as 10k" to cut the payout.
- Pennyweight switcheroo. Some US pawn shops weigh in pennyweights but quote in grams to confuse the math.
- Hidden lot fees. A "free assay" that's deducted as a $25 lot fee on tiny shipments.
- Numismatic coins melted. Pre-1933 US gold or old sovereigns can be worth 3–10× melt — never scrap without an appraisal.
Weigh accurately
Use a gram-scale accurate to 0.1 g. Remove gemstones and non-gold parts (clasps, springs) before weighing.
Identify the karat
Look for stamps like 750 (18k), 585 (14k), 417 (10k). If there is no stamp, a jeweler can test it with acid or X-ray.
Understand the offer
Refiners take a margin to cover refining, assay and risk. A 70–85% spot offer is normal for small lots.
Compare quotes
Always get 2–3 quotes. Local jewelers, refiners and online buyers all price differently.
Frequently asked questions
- How much is scrap gold worth?
- Scrap gold is worth its pure-gold content multiplied by the live spot price, minus the buyer's margin. Multiply the weight in grams by the karat purity (14k = 0.585, 18k = 0.750) and by the spot price per gram, then expect 60–90% of that figure depending on whether you sell to a pawn shop, jeweler or refiner.
- How is scrap gold value calculated?
- Spot price per gram × karat purity (e.g. 0.585 for 14k) × weight in grams = pure-metal value. Multiply by the buyer's payout % to estimate what you'll actually receive.
- Why do buyers pay less than the calculator shows?
- Refiners pay 80–92% of spot, local jewelers 70–85%, and pawn shops as low as 55–70%. The gap covers refining, assay, shipping, insurance and their margin.
- How do I identify the karat of my gold?
- Look for a stamp: 999 = 24k, 916/917 = 22k, 750 = 18k, 585 = 14k, 417 = 10k, 375 = 9k. If unstamped, a jeweler can test it with acid, an electronic tester, or XRF analyzer.
- Should I remove stones before weighing?
- Yes. Diamonds, gemstones, springs and clasps add weight but no gold value. Weigh the cleaned gold only for the most accurate quote.
- Is scrap gold taxed?
- In most countries selling personal scrap gold is a taxable capital gain if you sell above your cost basis. Check your local rules — this calculator does not deduct tax.
- What is the minimum weight a buyer will accept?
- Most online refiners have no minimum, but pay-out usually scales with weight. Local pawn shops typically accept anything above 0.5 g.
- Should I sell scrap gold in person or by mail?
- Mail-in refiners (Cash for Gold, GoldFellow, Express Gold Cash) usually pay 85–92% of spot but you wait 1–2 weeks. Local jewelers pay less but settle immediately.
- Does scrap gold need to be insured during shipping?
- Yes. Use USPS Registered Mail or FedEx with declared value. Most refiners include free insured shipping up to a stated limit; anything above needs supplemental insurance.
- Are refining fees deducted from my payout?
- Reputable refiners quote you a percentage of spot that already includes refining. Avoid buyers that quote a high spot percent and then deduct an 'assay fee' or 'lot fee' on top.
- What is gold-filled and is it worth scrapping?
- Gold-filled (GF) is 5–10% gold by weight bonded to brass. 1/20 12k GF = 5% × 0.5 purity = 2.5% pure gold. It is worth scrapping in bulk (over ~100 g) but most refiners won't take small lots.
- What about gold-plated (GP) jewelry?
- Gold-plated has a microscopically thin layer (<0.5% by weight). It is not worth refining and most buyers reject it.
- Can I scrap sterling silver flatware?
- Yes — sterling is 92.5% silver. Use a silver scrap calculator instead; sterling value follows the silver spot, not gold.
- What is dental gold worth?
- Dental crowns are usually 10k–22k yellow gold. A typical crown weighs 2–4 g and contains 1–3 g of pure gold. Multiply by spot and the buyer's payout %.
- Are gold coins worth more melted than sold?
- Bullion coins (Krugerrand, Maple Leaf, Eagle) trade at a small premium to melt. Numismatic / collectible coins (pre-1933 US, old sovereigns) can be worth many times their melt value — never scrap without a numismatic appraisal first.
- How accurate is this scrap gold calculator?
- The spot price updates from a live market feed every 60 seconds. Karat purities follow standard hallmark definitions. Actual payout depends on the buyer's margin and the assayed purity of your lot.
- Does the calculator support different currencies?
- Yes — 30+ currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, INR, AED, SAR, CAD and AUD. Switch the currency in the calculator and all live tables update instantly.
- What is a pennyweight (dwt)?
- 1 pennyweight = 1.5552 g = 1/20 troy ounce. Pawn shops in the United States often quote scrap prices per dwt.
- What is a tola?
- 1 tola = 11.6638 g. It is the traditional weight unit used for gold in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.
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