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Gold Calculator (Weight, Purity & Value)

Calculate the melt value of gold jewelry, coins, or scrap from weight and karat purity. Estimates pure gold content, spot melt value, and a typical scrap-dealer offer.

FINANCE

Figure out what your gold is actually worth. Enter the weight (grams, troy ounces, pennyweight, or grain), pick the karat purity, and the calculator returns the pure gold content, the melt value at current spot, and a realistic scrap-dealer offer after the typical buyer's margin.

Gold value boils down to three numbers: how much gold (pure weight), what it's worth on the market (spot price per troy ounce), and what a buyer will actually hand you (melt minus their margin). Purity factor = karat / 24, so 14K = 0.583 and 24K ≈ 1.0. Pure gold in grams = item weight in grams × purity factor. Convert to troy ounces (÷ 31.1035) and multiply by spot price to get melt value. Worked example: 10g 14K ring at spot $2400 → pure gold 5.83g (0.187 troy oz) → melt $450 → dealer offer 25% off ≈ $337. The price-sensitivity table shows how the same item revalues as spot moves between $2,200 and $2,800 per troy ounce.

Disclaimer: Spot price changes throughout the trading day — check kitco.com or LBMA for the live price. Actual dealer offers depend on lot size, gold form, and your region. Designer and antique pieces are usually worth more sold intact than melted.

Gold Calculator (Weight, Purity & Value)

Calculate the melt value of gold jewelry, coins, or scrap from weight and karat purity. Estimates pure gold content, spot melt value, and a typical scrap-dealer offer.

Weight

Weight Unit

Karat PurityMost US jewelry is 14K (58.3%). Investment bullion is 24K. European jewelry is often 18K.

Spot Price (USD / troy oz)Live gold price. Check kitco.com or LBMA — gold trades near historic highs in 2026.

Dealer Discount (%)Scrap buyers typically offer 60-80% of melt value. 25% discount = 75% of melt.

Melt Value (at spot)

$450.08

Pure Gold Weight (g)5.833 g

Pure Gold Weight (troy oz)0.1875 ozt

Estimated Dealer Offer$337.56

Value per Gram (item, melt)$45.01/g

Theoretical value of the pure gold content at current spot price. What a typical scrap buyer would pay you after their margin.

Melt Value at Different Spot Prices

Spot Price	Melt Value	Dealer Offer
$2,200/ozt	$412.58	$309.43
$2,400/ozt	$450.08	$337.56
$2,600/ozt	$487.59	$365.69
$2,800/ozt	$525.10	$393.82

Understanding Gold Value

Gold purity is measured in karats out of 24. 24K is pure gold (99.96%+). 22K is 91.67% gold (common in Indian and Middle Eastern jewelry). 18K is 75% gold (high-end Western jewelry). 14K is 58.3% gold — the workhorse purity for US wedding rings and chains because it balances cost, color, and durability. 10K is 41.67% gold, the legal minimum to be called "gold" in the United States.

Melt value is the floor, not the ceiling. A signed Cartier or Tiffany piece sells for far more than its gold weight justifies because of brand, craftsmanship, and design — that premium evaporates when you sell to a scrap buyer. Coin dealers and pawn shops typically pay 60-80% of melt for scrap jewelry (25-40% discount) to cover refining costs, assay risk, and their margin. Refiners pay closer to 95-98% of melt but require minimum lot sizes (often 1+ troy oz of pure gold).

In 2026, gold trades near historic highs above $2,400 per troy ounce, driven by central bank buying, geopolitical tension, and persistent inflation hedging. US Mint American Gold Eagles and Buffalos carry a 4-8% premium over spot for 1 oz coins, higher for fractional sizes. Long-term capital gains on physical gold held over a year are taxed at the 28% collectibles rate in the US — higher than the 15-20% rate on stocks. Sales of more than $10,000 in cash are reported to the IRS by the dealer.

Spot price changes throughout the trading day — check kitco.com or LBMA for the live price. Actual dealer offers vary by region, lot size, and gold form (scrap jewelry, coins, bullion bars). Always weigh and test purity before negotiating.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How is gold karat purity calculated?

Karat is the fraction of pure gold out of 24 parts. Purity factor = karat / 24. So 24K is pure gold (99.96%+), 22K is 91.67%, 18K is 75%, 14K is 58.3%, 10K is 41.67% (the US legal minimum to be sold as 'gold'). Multiply the item's weight by the purity factor to get the pure gold content.

What is the melt value of my gold jewelry?

Melt value = (pure gold weight in grams ÷ 31.1035) × current spot price per troy ounce. A 10g 14K chain at spot $2,400 contains 5.83g of pure gold = 0.1875 troy oz, worth about $450 in melt value. That's the floor — the theoretical raw-metal worth before any buyer's margin.

Why do dealers offer less than spot price?

Scrap buyers (pawn shops, coin dealers) typically pay 60-80% of melt because they need to cover assay testing, refining fees, freight, and their margin. Large refiners pay 95-98% but require minimum lot sizes (often 1+ troy oz of pure gold). Designer or branded pieces are usually worth more sold intact on the secondhand market than melted.

What is a troy ounce?

A troy ounce is the standard weight unit for precious metals: 31.1035 grams, slightly heavier than a regular (avoirdupois) ounce of 28.35g. Gold spot prices are always quoted per troy ounce. Pennyweight (DWT, 1.55517g) and grain (0.0648g) are older units still used by some US jewelers.

Is selling gold taxable in the US?

Yes. Profit on physical gold held over a year is taxed as a 'collectible' at up to 28% — higher than the 15-20% long-term capital gains rate on stocks. Short-term gains (held under a year) are taxed as ordinary income. Cash transactions above $10,000 are reported to the IRS by the dealer via Form 8300, and some gold sales trigger a 1099-B.

Gold Calculator (Weight, Purity & Value)

Gold Calculator (Weight, Purity & Value)

Melt Value at Different Spot Prices

Understanding Gold Value

Frequently Asked Questions

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