What do gold buyers pay for scrap gold?

Most reputable gold buyers pay 80–95% of the gold's melt value (pure metal value at spot price). Pawnshops typically offer 60–75%, while specialist refiners and online gold buyers may pay 90–98%. The 'dealer buyback %' slider in this calculator lets you model any scenario.

What is the difference between karat and gold purity?

Karat measures how many parts out of 24 are pure gold. 24K = 100% gold (fineness 999), 22K = 91.67% gold (fineness 917), 18K = 75% gold (fineness 750), 14K = 58.3% gold (fineness 585), 10K = 41.7% gold (fineness 417). Higher karat = more pure gold = higher scrap value per gram.

How do I find the karat of my gold jewelry?

Look for a hallmark stamp inside the jewelry — typically a number like 750 (18K), 916 or 917 (22K), 585 (14K), or 375 (9K). In North America, pieces are more often stamped with the karat number directly: 18K, 14K, 10K. If there is no stamp, a jeweler or gold buyer can test purity with nitric acid or an XRF analyzer for a small fee.

Should I sell scrap gold to a pawnshop or a gold buyer?

Gold specialist buyers (local gold dealers, online refiners) almost always pay more than pawnshops because they have lower overhead and a direct refining pipeline. Pawnshops typically offer 55–75% of melt value; gold buyers typically 80–95%. Always get at least 2–3 quotes before selling, and use this calculator to know your minimum acceptable offer.

Can I add multiple gold items and get one total?

Yes — use the 'Add Item' button to build a basket of multiple pieces, each with its own weight, unit, and karat. The calculator sums all items and shows a combined melt value, total dealer offer, and price range for the entire collection.

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Scrap Gold Calculator

Calculate the metal value of old gold jewelry using live spot prices — United States 2026. Know your melt value before you sell.

Gold: Loading…

Gold Details

Item name (optional)

Weight

⚖

Unit

Karat / Purity

Dealer Buyback %

90%

Pawnshops ≈ 60–75% · Gold buyers ≈ 80–95% · Refiners ≈ 90–98%

Enter gold details to calculate value

How to use this calculator: Values shown are the theoretical melt value of the pure gold content at current spot prices. Actual dealer offers depend on local market conditions, premiums, and individual dealer margins. Always get 2–3 quotes before selling.

Not to be confused with making charges: the “Dealer Buyback %” above applies when you sell old gold — dealers deduct refining costs from the melt value. “Making charges” are a separate labour/design fee jewelers add when you buy new jewelry, on top of the metal value — they don't apply to scrap sales. See how gold prices are calculated and gold karats & purity explained for more.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is scrap gold value calculated?

Scrap gold value = weight in grams × purity fraction × spot price per gram. For example, a 10 g 18K piece (75% pure) with gold at $90/g = 10 × 0.75 × $90 = $675 melt value. Dealers typically pay 80–95% of that figure.

What do gold dealers pay for scrap gold?

Most reputable gold buyers pay 80–95% of melt value. Pawnshops typically offer 60–75%. Specialist refiners and online gold buyers may pay 90–98%. Use the buyback slider above to model any scenario.

How do I find the karat of my jewelry?

Look for a hallmark stamp — usually a number like 750 (18K), 917 (22K), 585 (14K), 375 (9K). North American pieces are often stamped with the karat directly: 18K, 14K, 10K. If there's no stamp, a jeweler can test purity with nitric acid or an XRF analyzer.

Is 22K or 24K gold worth more per gram?

24K (99.9% pure) has the highest scrap value per gram because it contains the most pure gold. 22K is 91.67% pure and is worth about 8.3% less per gram than 24K. For a given weight, higher karat always means higher scrap value.

Can I add multiple items and get a combined total?

Yes. Click 'Add to Basket' after entering each piece. The basket section shows individual values for each item and a combined total melt value, dealer offer, and price range.