Gold IRA
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Palladium
Bitcoin
Ethereum
Gold Calculators
Questions? Call (626) 605-3152How Much Is A Gold Bar Worth?
Disclosure: We are reader-supported. If you purchase from a link on our site, we may earn a commission. Learn more
Last Updated on: 18th November 2025, 08:33 pm
Answering the question “How much is a gold bar worth? ” depends on three factors:
- Weight of the gold bar
- Purity of the gold
- Spot price of gold
All three aspects of the value of a gold bar merit further consideration. We actually developed a calculator that helps you assess your gold bar's worth.
Note that taking delivery of a gold bar will add extra costs to the amount you paid. Some gold dealers include free shipping and insurance, but that extra service will be reflected in a higher markup over the spot price of gold. The same goes for brand-name gold bars, which can bring up the price. To bring down costs, consider buying larger bars because these carry lower premiums per ounce.
Table of Contents
What is a Gold Bar?
A gold bar, also known as a gold ingot or gold bullion bar, is a block of pure gold that is cast into a specific shape and weight. Gold bars are typically produced by private mints, banks, and other precious metal refineries, and are used as a way to store wealth and as a form of investment.
Gold bars have been used as a way to store wealth for millennia, are still widely recognized, and are still a popular investment that can be a useful addition to a well-diversified portfolio. They offer the stability and security of a tangible asset and can be a good hedge against economic uncertainty and inflation.
How To Determine the Value of a Gold Bar
As we said earlier, the value of a gold bar is determined by several factors, including its weight, purity, and market conditions.
The weight of a gold bar is usually expressed in troy ounces, which are slightly heavier than standard ounces. One troy ounce is equal to about 31.1 grams. The value of a gold bar is directly related to its weight. The larger the bar, the more gold it contains and the more valuable it is.
Gold dealers also tend to offer lower premiums above spot for their larger bars. The smaller the bar, the higher the premium.
The purity of a gold bar is also a factor in determining its value. Gold is typically measured in karats, with 24 karats being the purest form of gold. Most investment-grade gold bars are at least 99.5% pure, or 24 karats. Naturally, if you have a gold bar that is mixed with other metals, you can expect a lower valuation. The higher the gold content, the more valuable the gold bar will be.
Market conditions also play a role in determining the value of a gold bar. Gold prices are influenced by a variety of factors, including economic conditions, political events, and the demand for gold. When the demand for gold is high and the supply is low, the price of gold will generally increase.
On the other hand, if the demand for gold is low and the supply is high, the price of gold may decrease.
In recent years, a one-ounce gold bar of standard fineness has typically traded in the low-to-mid thousands of U.S. dollars, depending on the current spot price.
The Markup
All gold bullion dealers need to make a profit over the spot price on their sales. This price difference is known as a markup. Which is the difference between the price you pay for a gold bar and the price of gold in the spot market.
The markup may vary greatly from one dealer to another. However, these differences may be justified depending on the services the bullion dealer offers. Most online gold bullion dealers have the spot price of gold on their website, allowing you to compare the markup over the spot price.
Popular Gold Bars for Investors (Brands & Examples)
Here are some of the most popular gold bars for investors looking to hold products from renowned and reputable refiners and minters.
Credit Suisse Gold Bar
Credit Suisse gold bars are a type of gold bullion produced by Credit Suisse, a Swiss bank and financial services company. These bars are made of pure gold and are a popular choice among investors. Thanks to their high gold content, recognizable brand, and reputation for quality.
The bars are made with the highest purity of gold, 99.99% which is considered to be the highest purity available. All bars have the Credit Suisse logo impressed as well as the weight, purity and serial number for authentication.
Perth Mint Gold Bar
The Perth Mint is renowned globally for making gold bars and coins of the highest purity. All gold bars are made of 99.99% pure gold. The bars come with an impression of the Perth Mint logo, weight, and purity.
In more recent years the mint has dedicated a design to the reverse of its gold bars. Recent designs have featured a Dragon and the effigy of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The trend seems to be catching on as the Perth Mint is not the first nor the only mint to take up this practice.
Royal Canadian Mint Gold Bar
The Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) is a crown corporation of Canada and produces bullion coins and bars that are renowned for purity and quality the world over. All RCM gold bars are made of the highest purity gold at 99.99%.
The gold bars are impressed with the RCM logo, serial number, and weight. Often their gold bars have an RCM pattern on the reverse side of the bar which gives the item a special characteristic.
The Royal Mint Gold Bar
Possibly the world’s oldest mint that is still operating today. The mint makes gold bars and coins with the highest purity of gold, 99.99%. The gold bars range in size from as small as 1 gram and as large as 1 kilo. The mint also produces a variety of sizes such as 1 ounce, 50 grams, or 500 grams.
The Royal Mint certainly has some creative coin designs that you won’t find anywhere else. The mint currently has an Indian deity and James bond-themed designs on offer. However, the most classical and possibly most popular remains the image of Britannia.
Valcambi Gold Bar
Valcambi is a Swiss precious metals refining company, founded in 1961 and based in Balerna, Switzerland. The company produces quality investment-grade gold bars and coins. Valcambi is renowned for its strict adherence to standards and high quality.
The company is accredited by the London Bullion Market Association, The Swiss National Bank, and the Dubai Multi Commodities Center. They also offer other value-added services such as assaying, precious metals recycling, and refining.
The Internationally Recommended Weight of a Gold Bar
The London Bullion Market offers an internationally recommended weight for a gold bar. Many nations around the world subscribe to the standard. By this standard, the size or dimensions of a gold bar are much less important. That said, the LBM still has a recommended size. The top surface of a gold bar should be 10 x 3 1/5 inches, while the bottom surface measures 9 3/10 inches x 2 1/5 inches. Each gold bar should be 1 ½ inches thick to meet the LBM standard.
The above-recommended size and weight are collectively referred to as London Good Delivery. There are 55 manufacturers that produce roughly 150,000 gold bars per year that meet this standard. Each of these gold bars contains 99.5% gold. It is estimated that central banks around the world own about 2.5 million of these gold bars. That’s nearly 20 years of global gold bar production all in the hands of just one sector of the finance industry.
Gold Bars Versus Gold Coins
Gold bars and coins are both ways to invest in physical assets that are not correlated to stock market returns. However, they have a variety of characteristics that separate them from each other. The table below outlines the main features of each type of gold item.
| Properties | Gold Bars | Gold Coins |
| Purity | Typically made of at least 99.5% pure gold and often 99.99% | Gold content can vary greatly when coins are not minted as bullion |
| Value | Based solely on weight and purity | Based on weight and purity but some coins can have a much higher value due to numismatic factors such as rarity & condition |
| Price | Relatively low markup over the spot price | Higher markup over spot price due to design and mint costs and possibly other numismatics |
| Design | Usually, no imagery is impressed into gold bars | Gold coins have a design, typically an image on one side and the country of origin on the other |
| Legal Tender | Cannot be used as legal tender | Often issued as legal tender in the country of origin |
| Collectability | Primarily a form of investment | Often collectible for historical, artistic, or cultural value |
| Shape & Size | Typically, rectangular and larger, 1 kg is a common size | Round and not usually bigger than 2 ounces |
| Marketability | Widely recognized form of investment, easy to sell and buy | Some coins with numismatic value may be harder to sell or buy |
Common Weights for Commercial Gold Bars (Oz. & Kg)
Commercial gold bars come in a variety of weights that start from as little as 1 gram and reach much larger weights such as 1 kilo or even 100 ounces.
Standard Weights in metric
- 1 gram
- 5 grams
- 10 grams
- 100 grams
- 250 grams
- 1 kilo
Standard weights in Imperial
- 1/10th oz
- 1 oz
- 5 oz
- 10 oz
- 20 oz
- 100 oz
Weight & Purity Considerations
When investing in gold bars, it is important to consider the weight and purity of the bars.
- Weight: Gold bars are typically available in a range of weights, from 1 gram to 100 ounces. The weight of the bar can affect the price and the size of the investment. Larger bars may be more cost-effective on a per-ounce basis, but they also require a larger upfront investment. Smaller bars may be more affordable, but they may also come with higher premiums or markups.
- Purity: Gold bars can vary in purity, with some being made of pure gold (24 karats) and others being made of a gold alloy. The purity of the gold affects the value of the bar, with purer gold typically being more valuable. It is important to check the purity of the gold bar before making a purchase, as this can have a significant impact on the value of the investment.
When investing in gold bars, it is also important to consider the reputation of the manufacturer or issuer and the storage and insurance costs associated with the investment. Gold bars should be stored in a secure location, and it may be necessary to insure the bars against loss or damage.
Gold Bar Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can I buy gold bars?
There are several ways to buy gold bars:
- Through a broker or dealer: You can buy gold bars from a broker or dealer, either online or in person at a local gold shop. However, this will not necessarily get you the best premiums and you’ll have a limited selection of gold bars to choose from since local dealers prefer to sell premium coins.
- Through a bank: Some banks offer gold bars for sale and may provide storage options as well. TD Bank for instance is known to sell its own TD-branded gold bars, which aren’t as widely recognized as the gold bars presented earlier in this article.
- At a coin shop or precious metals dealer: These types of retailers typically carry a small selection of gold bars and may be able to provide advice on buying and storing the bars.
How much do gold bars cost?
The price of gold bars can vary based on weight, purity, gold spot price, and market demand. In general, gold bars tend to be less expensive on a per-ounce basis than gold coins due to their larger size and lower manufacturing costs.
It is important to shop around and compare prices from different sources before making a purchase.
What is the minimum investment needed to buy gold bars?
There is no minimum investment in gold bars. Gold bars are available in a range of sizes and weights, and investors can buy as much or as little as they want. The only time you should expect a minimum investment to come into play is if you decide to buy gold bars through your IRA or 401k, as companies who deal with these retirement accounts are known to enforce a minimum investment amount (e.g., $10,000) when rolling over a retirement account to precious metals.
Keep in mind that the price of gold bars may be affected by the size of the investment, with larger bars typically being more cost-effective on a per-ounce basis.
How do I store gold bars?
Gold bars should be stored in a secure location, such as a safe deposit box or a home safe. It is also a good idea to insure the bars against loss or damage.
Some investors choose to store their gold bars with a third-party storage provider, such as a bank, private vault (e.g.: Brinks), or precious metals dealer, which may offer additional security and insurance.
How do I sell gold bars?
To sell gold bars, you can contact a broker or dealer, either online or in person. You may also be able to sell the bars to a bank or precious metals dealer.
It is important to shop around and compare prices before selling, as the value of gold can fluctuate, and different buyers may offer different prices.
You should also be able to sell back your gold to the same dealer you bought from. Ideally, you should have inquired about the dealer’s “Buyback Program" before purchasing from them. Most dealers will gladly buy back from you and they “should” help you recoup any premium you paid initially for your gold. (again, always do your due diligence and ask all these questions before you buy).
Gold: $4,065.14
Silver: $50.00
Platinum: $1,516.71
Palladium: $1,381.64
Bitcoin: $84,490.29
Ethereum: $2,747.65