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Questions? Call (626) 605-3152Gold Calculator: Scrap Gold Value by Karat and Weight (2026)
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I have been writing about gold for more than two decades, and the question I still get most often is the simplest one: what is my gold actually worth? This gold calculator answers it in seconds. Enter the weight, pick the karat, and it values your scrap gold, jewelry, coins or bars against the live spot price, then shows what a realistic buyer will actually pay. You can add several pieces and see the total for the whole pile, which is how most people walk into a gold buyer anyway.
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Gold Calculator: What Is Your Gold Worth?
Enter each piece, then hit “Add to my total” to build a running tally for everything you plan to sell. The live gold price loads automatically.
Scrap Gold Prices Today by Karat
This is the melt value of gold at every common karat, calculated from the live spot price. It is the number to compare any offer against before you sell.
What Is My Gold Worth? Quick Answers
These are the questions I get most often, worked out at today's price. The numbers update automatically.
Need a karat in more depth? I keep dedicated price pages for 24K gold, 22K gold, 18K gold, 14K gold and 10K gold, each with buyer offers and hallmark tips.
What Gold Buyers Actually Pay
Every buyer keeps a margin for refining, testing and profit. These are the typical ranges I see for ordinary scrap jewelry. Offers vary a lot, so treat these as a guide and always get more than one quote.
How the Math Works
Every gold valuation comes down to that one formula. The calculator converts grams or pennyweights into troy ounces for you, applies the purity of the karat you pick, and multiplies by the live spot price. You can check the benchmark yourself on our gold price page or the LBMA Gold Price, which is set twice a day in London.
A worked example at today's price: a 10 gram 18K chain contains 7.5 grams of pure gold (10 × 0.75), which is 0.2411 troy ounces. At $4,165.27 an ounce, its melt value is about $1,004.37. A buyer paying 85% of melt would offer you roughly $853.72.
Working backwards is just as useful. If a buyer quotes you a flat dollar amount, divide it by the melt value from the calculator and you have their real payout percentage.
Gold Karat Stamps and What They Mean
Look inside a ring band or near a clasp for a small stamp. US pieces usually show karats (14K), while European and older pieces use a three-digit fineness number.
Before You Sell or Buy
A calculator tells you what the metal is worth; it cannot tell you whether the person quoting you is honest. If you are selling locally, our state-by-state dealer directory lists established coin shops with their ratings. Before any large transaction, skim our guide to common gold scams and the CFTC's precious metals fraud advisory. Valuing something bigger? My guides to what a gold bar is worth and what a pound of gold costs cover the large-denomination math.
Gold Calculator FAQ
How much is 1 gram of scrap gold worth today?
It depends on the karat. Right now one gram of 24K gold is worth about $133.78, 18K about $100.44, 14K about $78.11 and 10K about $55.80 in melt value. Expect a buyer to pay somewhat less than those figures.
How much are 20 grams of 14K gold worth?
Twenty grams of 14K gold contain about 11.67 grams of pure gold, which is worth roughly $1,562.27 at today's spot price. A buyer paying 85% of melt would offer around $1,327.93.
What are current scrap gold prices?
Scrap gold prices follow the live spot price, adjusted for purity. See the scrap prices by karat section above for today's per gram, per pennyweight and per ounce values; they update automatically throughout the trading day.
What is the difference between spot price, melt value and scrap value?
Spot price is the market price of one troy ounce of pure gold. Melt value is what the gold in your item is worth after adjusting for weight and purity. Scrap value, or payout, is what a buyer actually pays you, which is usually a percentage of melt value.
How much do pawn shops pay for gold?
Pawn shops typically pay around 50% to 70% of melt value for scrap jewelry, because they need room for resale risk and profit. Refiners and established gold buyers often pay 85% to 98% of melt, especially on larger lots, so it pays to shop around.
How do karats affect the value of gold?
Karat measures purity out of 24 parts. 24K is essentially pure gold, 18K is 75% gold, 14K is 58.3% and 10K is 41.7%. The calculator converts the karat into a purity percentage, so you are always comparing the actual gold content.
What is a pennyweight in gold?
A pennyweight (dwt) is 1.555 grams, or one twentieth of a troy ounce. Many US gold buyers quote prices per pennyweight, so the calculator and the karat table above show dwt values alongside grams and ounces.
Does jewelry ever sell for more than melt value?
Yes. Designer pieces, antiques, unusual craftsmanship and items with valuable gemstones can sell well above melt value through jewelers, consignment or auction. Melt value is the right benchmark for broken, dated or plain scrap jewelry.
Can I use this calculator for gold-plated or gold-filled items?
Not really. Plated and gold-filled pieces only carry a thin layer of gold, so their value is a small fraction of solid gold. Look for stamps like GP, GF or RGP, and use the calculator only for solid karat gold or tested pieces.
How often does the gold price on this page update?
The spot price loads from our live feed every time you open the page and moves throughout the trading day. The LBMA Gold Price benchmark is set twice daily in London, and most dealers reference the live spot price during market hours.
What should I do before selling gold?
Weigh your pieces, separate them by karat, run them through the calculator, then get at least two or three quotes. Ask each buyer what percentage of melt they pay and whether they deduct testing or refining fees. Walk away from anyone who will not explain their math.
Gold: $4,118.18
Silver: $57.64
Platinum: $1,651.14
Palladium: $1,101.54
Bitcoin: $82,636.88
Ethereum: $2,439.01