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.
FINANCEFigure 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.
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.
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.