9K gold · 37.5%
Stamped 9K or 375.
Free · No sign-up · Works in grams, dwt and oz
Scrap Gold Calculator
Find out what your old gold is really worth. Add each piece, and get its melt value plus a realistic payout range from refiners, jewelers and pawn shops.
- Price source and time shown
- Formula always visible
- Independent, we don’t buy gold
Your Gold Piece
1 troy oz = 31.1 g · 1 oz = 28.35 g · 1 dwt = 1.555 g
- 58.3% pure · 5.83 g gold · —
How it works
How scrap gold value is calculated
Scrap gold value = weight × purity × gold price. Purity is the karat divided by 24, so 14K gold is 14 ÷ 24 = 58.3% pure. The result is the melt value. A buyer then pays a percentage of that.
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Weigh your gold
Use a kitchen or jewelry scale. Weigh the gold only, not stones or boxes. Grams are easiest, but pennyweight (dwt) and the troy ounce work too.
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Find the karat
Check the stamp (10K, 14K, 18K or 417, 585, 750). Add each karat as its own item so the total is accurate.
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Compare real payouts
Melt value is the ceiling. Pick a buyer type to see a realistic range, then check any offer you receive.
Worked example
Here’s the formula applied to 10 g of 14K. The dollar lines use the same price and currency as the calculator above.
melt = grams × (karat ÷ 24) × (spot per oz ÷ 31.1034768)
1 troy ounce = 31.1034768 g · 1 pennyweight = 1.55517384 g · 20 dwt = 1 troy oz
- Weight
- 10 g of 14K gold
- Purity
- 14 ÷ 24 = 58.3%
- Pure gold
- 5.83 g
- Gold price per gram
- —
- Melt value
- —
Price chart
Gold value by karat
Values update with the live gold price and your selected currency. Estimates of melt value only, not an offer.
| Karat | Stamp | Purity | Per gram | Per dwt | Per troy oz | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24KOpen calculator | 999 | 99.9% | Open calculator | |||
| 22KOpen calculator | 916 | 91.7% | Open calculator | |||
| 18KOpen calculator | 750 | 75.0% | Open calculator | |||
| 14KOpen calculator | 585 | 58.3% | Open calculator | |||
| 10KOpen calculator | 417 | 41.7% | Open calculator | |||
| 9KOpen calculator | 375 | 37.5% | Open calculator |
These are melt values before buyer fees. Typical payouts are lower, see the buyer comparison in the calculator.
Need a different karat or purity? Use the gold karat calculator or check the gold purity chart.
Quick reference
How much is scrap gold worth? Quick reference by weight and karat
Melt value of common weights at the current gold price. Find your weight in grams, then read across for your karat. These are melt-value estimates, not an offer.
| Weight | 9K | 10K | 14K | 18K | 22K | 24K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 g | ||||||
| 5 g | ||||||
| 10 g | ||||||
| 20 g | ||||||
| 50 g | ||||||
| 100 g |
How much is 10 grams of 14K gold worth? The melt value is about .
How much is 1 troy ounce of 24K gold worth? The melt value is about .
How much is 5 grams of 18K gold worth? The melt value is about .
Need ounces or pennyweight? 1 troy oz = 31.1035 g, 1 dwt = 1.5552 g. Convert a size you can measure with the gold weight calculator.
Per gram
Scrap gold price per gram today
The price per gram depends on the live spot price and the karat. The calculator above uses that live price, then multiplies by karat ÷ 24. Spot prices are based on the global market, usually referenced to LBMA benchmark prices.
- 24K per gram
- 18K per gram
- 14K per gram
- 10K per gram
See today's gold price per gram, ounce and karat. Buyers pay a percentage of melt, not the full per-gram figure. Read melt value is not what you'll be paid for why the cheque is lower.
Know before you sell
Melt value isn’t what you’ll be paid
Buyers have to test, melt and refine your gold, and they need to make a margin. That’s why offers come in below melt value, and why they differ so much between buyers.
| Buyer | Typical payout |
|---|---|
| Mail-in refiner | 85–95% |
| Local jeweler | 65–80% |
| Pawn shop | 50–70% |
General guidance. Actual offers vary by buyer, volume and market.
Before you sell, check:
- Get 2–3 quotesOffers for identical gold can differ by 20% or more.
- Ask how they payPer gram or per dwt, at what gold price, and with what fees.
- Watch it being weighedCheck the scale and the karat they test.
- Keep valuable pieces separateAntique, signed or designer jewelry may be worth more than melt.
- Know your number firstUse the calculator, so you can judge any offer on the spot.
- Where to sell scrap gold and how to compare offersRefiners, jewelers and pawn shops are not the same kind of buyer.
Before you sell
What changes the value of scrap gold
Weight and karat set melt value. A few other things change the payout, or show that the stamp is not the whole story.
Weight and karat
These two inputs set melt value. More grams and a higher karat both raise it. Enter each karat as its own line so the total is not an average.
Stones and non-gold parts
Stones, clasps, springs and steel pins must be removed or weighed out. Gold is only paid by its gold weight.
Solder and alloys
Solder and different alloys can lower the true fineness under the stamp. White gold and rose gold have different alloy mixes at the same karat: palladium or nickel in white gold, and copper in rose gold. The gold fraction still follows the karat.
Damage
Broken or bent pieces are valued by metal content, so damage usually does not change melt value. Antique, signed or designer pieces can be worth more than melt, so get an appraisal before selling those as scrap.
Testing
A stamp or hallmark is the mark on the metal, and it is a claim rather than a lab result.
An acid test compares a streak on a stone with karat needles, and it belongs with someone trained to use the acid.
An electronic test estimates karat from the surface and does not tell you what is inside a thick piece.
An XRF analyser reads the alloy with X-rays and does not dissolve the piece.
A fire assay melts a sample and is the most accurate check, and it consumes some of the metal.
Quantity
Larger lots often get a better percentage of melt, because the buyer’s work is spread over more gold. The guide on selling gold explains how to compare those offers.
Refining fees and the buyer’s margin
A refiner charges a refining fee for separating the gold, and a buyer keeps a margin. That is why a payout sits below melt value. The ranges higher on this page are typical guidance, not a promise from any company.
More calculators
Every gold calculation in one place
Whatever you’re scrapping, there’s a calculator built for it. The full list is on the calculators page, and the scrap gold guides explain the stamps and the selling steps. Today’s quote is on the gold price page.
Gold calculator
Gold value at today's price
Open calculator →Gold weight calculator
Weight of rings, chains and bars
Open calculator →Gold karat calculator
Purity converter and chart
Open calculator →Gold-filled calculator
Scrap value of 1/10, 1/20 and 14/20
Open calculator →Dental gold calculator
Crowns, bridges and dental scrap
Open calculator →Gold coin melt value calculator
Melt value of US and world gold coins
Open calculator →Gold and silver calculator
Gold and silver in one total
Open calculator →Gold price today
Spot price per ounce, gram and karat
Open calculator →Calculators by karat 9K gold calculator10K gold calculator14K gold calculator18K gold calculator22K gold calculator24K gold calculator
Learn
Gold karats and stamps, explained
The karat tells you how much of an item is pure gold. Higher karat means more gold and a higher melt value per gram. Fineness is the same idea written as parts per thousand.
10K gold · 41.7%
Stamped 10K or 417.
14K gold · 58.3%
Stamped 14K or 585.
18K gold · 75%
Stamped 18K or 750.
22K gold · 91.7%
Stamped 22K or 916. Some pieces are marked 917.
24K gold · pure
Stamped 24K or 999. Bars and coins in this grade are bullion.
Common stamps
| Stamp | Karat |
|---|---|
| 375 | 9K |
| 417 | 10K |
| 585 | 14K |
| 750 | 18K |
| 916 or 917 | 22K |
| 999 | 24K |
Gold-filled and plated
Gold-filled marks include GF, 1/20 14K GF, 1/10 and 12K GF. The fraction is the layer’s share of the weight, and that layer is only partly gold. Price those pieces with the gold-filled calculator, not as solid karat. Gold electroplate (GEP, HGE) is a very thin layer and has little scrap value. Rolled gold plate (RGP) is a bonded layer, thinner than typical gold-filled, and it also has little scrap value.
White gold and rose gold
White gold and rose gold at the same karat have the same gold content. Only the alloy metals differ: palladium or nickel in white gold, copper in rose gold.
Looking for a specific karat? Use our 9K gold calculator, 10K gold calculator, 14K gold calculator, 18K gold calculator, 22K gold calculator or 24K gold calculator.
FAQ
Scrap gold calculator questions
How do I calculate scrap gold value per gram?
Divide the karat by 24, then multiply the grams by that fraction and by the spot price per gram. Melt value per gram is (karat ÷ 24) × (spot per troy ounce ÷ 31.1034768). Ten grams of 14K is 10 × 14/24 × the spot price per gram. The calculator above does this for each piece and adds the totals. The result is melt value, not a buyer’s offer.
Do gold buyers pay full melt value?
Usually not. Buyers cover testing, refining, handling and their margin, so an offer is a percentage of melt value. Mail-in refiners tend to pay the highest share, local jewelers less, and pawn shops the least. The ranges on this page are typical, and they vary by buyer, quantity and the market. Compare at least two or three quotes before you sell.
What is the difference between spot price, melt value and scrap value?
Spot price is the market price of one troy ounce of pure (24K) gold. Melt value is what the pure gold in your item is worth at that spot price. Scrap value is what a buyer actually offers for it, which is melt value minus the buyer’s costs and margin. The calculator shows melt first, then a payout range that is an estimate, not a quote.
How do I know what karat my gold is?
Look for a stamp: 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, 24K, or a fineness mark such as 417, 585, 750, 916 or 999. If there is no stamp, a jeweler or buyer can test it with an acid test or an XRF analyser. Do not assume an unstamped piece is solid gold. A worn mark is still only a claim until someone tests the metal.
Is a pennyweight (dwt) the same as a gram?
No. One pennyweight is 1.55517384 grams, and one troy ounce is 31.1034768 grams, which is 20 pennyweights. Many US jewelers and buyers quote in pennyweights. The calculator switches units without making you re-enter the weight, so a dwt quote and a gram quote stay comparable.
Does broken or damaged gold lose value?
For scrap, no. Buyers pay for the gold content, so broken chains, single earrings and bent rings are valued by weight and karat. Damage to the shape does not remove gold. Pieces with antique, signed or designer value can be worth more than melt, so get those appraised before selling them as scrap.
Do I need to pay tax when I sell scrap gold?
In the US, selling gold for more than you paid can create a taxable gain, and the rules differ for jewelry, coins and bullion. This is general information, not tax advice. Check IRS guidance or a tax professional for your own sale before you treat any figure on this page as a tax result.
Can I calculate gold-filled, dental or gold-plated scrap here?
This calculator is for solid karat gold. Gold-filled items contain only a small percentage of gold by weight, and plated items almost none. Use the gold-filled calculator or the dental gold calculator for those pieces. A GF stamp means a layer of karat gold, not a solid karat through the item.
How much is 10 grams of 14K gold worth?
Ten grams of 14K gold is worth 10 grams × 14/24 × the spot price per gram. That product is the melt value of the pure gold in the piece. The live calculator and the quick-reference table above show the current figure in your selected currency. It changes when the spot price changes. The result is an estimate of melt value, not an offer.
Is it better to sell scrap gold to a jeweler or a refiner?
Refiners usually offer a higher percentage of melt on larger or mixed lots, but they may need a minimum weight and insured shipping. Local jewelers and pawn shops are faster and in person, and they often keep a larger margin. Compare at least two or three offers. Ask for the price per gram, the karat they tested and any fees in writing. See where to sell scrap gold for how those offers differ.
What does 585 mean on gold?
585 is a fineness mark meaning 58.5% pure gold, which is 14K, because 14 divided by 24 is about 0.583 and the trade stamps that grade 585. The same scale uses 750 for 18K (75%), 417 for 10K, 375 for 9K and 916 for 22K. A 999 mark is the usual stamp on 24K bullion. The gold purity chart lists each stamp beside its karat.
Does gold lose value if it’s broken?
For scrap, broken or damaged gold is valued by weight and karat, so melt value is unchanged when a chain snaps or a ring bends. Stones and other non-gold parts still have to be removed from the weight. Antique, signed or designer pieces can be worth more than melt, so get them appraised before you sell them as scrap.
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