Tools

Scrap Gold Calculator

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.

Live gold spot
Refreshes ~60s

USD / oz

$4,539.78

USD / g

$145.96

EUR / g

125.17

GBP / g

£108.47

INR / g

13,864.82

AED / g

AED 536.12

Multi-item scrap calculator

Live spot $145.96 / g pure

Buyer payout — 85% of spot
ItemKaratWeightUnitValue
$425.68
$930.48
$145.97

Pure gold

10.29 g

Spot value

$1,502.13

Est. payout @ 85%

$1,276.81

Scrap Gold Calculator

Live spot: $4,539.78 / troy oz

Estimated scrap payout

$124.06

1 Gram of 24k gold · 0.0322 troy oz · spot $145.96

24k price today: $145.96 / gram · $1,702.42 / tola · $4,539.78 / oz

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$145.96$226.99$1,702.42$4,539.78
22k$133.80$208.08$1,560.61$4,161.62
21k$127.71$198.62$1,489.62$3,972.31
18k$109.47$170.24$1,276.81$3,404.84
14k$85.14$132.40$993.02$2,648.06
10k$60.82$94.59$709.40$1,891.73
9k$54.73$85.12$638.41$1,702.42
8k$48.60$75.59$566.91$1,511.75

Common scrap gold items

Typical weights and live spot values. Actual payout depends on the buyer and assayed purity.

Wedding band

$425.68

5 g · 14k · Typical men's 14k yellow gold band, 4–6 g

Engagement ring (gold only)

$328.40

3 g · 18k · Remove the stone before weighing

Class ring

$1,094.77

18 g · 10k · Heavy US high-school / college ring

Necklace chain (20 in)

$1,021.64

12 g · 14k · Standard rope or curb chain

Dental crown

$292.06

3 g · 16k · Most dental gold is 16k yellow alloy

Krugerrand (1 oz)

$133.80

1 g · 22k · Bullion premium usually exceeds scrap value

Sovereign coin

$1,067.72

7.98 g · 22k · Numismatic premium possible — appraise first

Tola bar (India / UAE)

$1,701.86

11.66 g · 24k · Traditional Indian / Middle-Eastern bar

Scrap gold prices by currency

Live per-gram value in 14k, 18k and 22k across major markets.

Currency14k / g18k / g22k / g
USD$85.14$109.47$133.80
EUR73.0193.87114.74
GBP£63.27£81.36£99.44
INR8,087.3510,398.6112,709.88
AEDAED 312.72AED 402.09AED 491.46
SARSAR 319.50SAR 410.81SAR 502.12
CADC$117.43C$150.99C$184.55
AUDA$118.49A$152.35A$186.21

Karat & hallmark reference

Use the stamp on your jewelry to confirm karat. Unstamped pieces should be acid- or XRF-tested before sale.

KaratStampPurityTypical use
24k999 / 999999.9% pureInvestment bullion, bars, Asian jewelry
22k916 / 91791.7% pureIndian and Middle-Eastern jewelry, sovereigns
21k87587.5% pureGulf-region jewelry
18k75075.0% pureHigh-end European and designer jewelry
14k585 / 58358.5% pureMost US jewelry, class rings
10k41741.7% pureAffordable US jewelry, dental gold
9k37537.5% pureUK / European entry-level jewelry
8k33333.3% pureGerman 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

  1. Sort by karat — never let a buyer weigh mixed lots as one karat.
  2. Weigh on a calibrated 0.1 g scale and write the weight down.
  3. Get at least three quotes — one local jeweler, one pawn shop, one online refiner.
  4. Ship via USPS Registered Mail or FedEx with declared value and tracking.
  5. Confirm the buyer pays by check or bank transfer, not cash on the spot, for any lot above a few hundred dollars.
  6. 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 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.