Gold Calculator

Gold melt value is the raw worth of the pure gold content in any item — a ring, a chain, a bracelet, dental gold, or a coin. The calculation is simple: convert the weight to troy ounces, multiply by the karat purity, and multiply by the current gold spot price. This calculator does all three steps automatically.

For example, if you have a 14K gold necklace that weighs 20 grams, the pure gold content is 20 × 0.5833 = 11.67 grams. Converting to troy ounces: 11.67 ÷ 31.1035 = 0.3752 oz t. At a spot price of $4,541.67 per troy ounce, the melt value is approximately $1,703.45. That's the starting point for any negotiation with a buyer.

Gold Calculator by Karat

Different karats have different melt values because each karat is a different percentage of pure gold. Use the gold calculator above with the karat selector, or reference per-karat details below. Per-gram prices update automatically with live spot prices.

24K Gold Calculator: Price Per Gram

24 karat gold is 99.9% pure gold with no significant alloy content. The gold price per gram for 24K is $146.02 at today's spot price. 24K is the standard for bullion bars and most modern gold coins like the American Gold Buffalo. Pure gold is soft and rarely used in everyday jewelry because it scratches and bends easily.

22K Gold Calculator: Price Per Gram

22 karat gold is 91.67% pure gold, with the remaining 8.33% typically copper or silver for durability. The gold price per gram for 22K is $133.85 at today's spot price. American Gold Eagles, Krugerrands, and traditional high-karat jewelry common in India and the Middle East use 22K.

18K Gold Calculator: Price Per Gram

18 karat gold is 75% pure gold, stamped "750" inside the band or clasp. The gold price per gram for 18K is $109.51 at today's spot price. 18K is the most popular karat for fine jewelry worldwide because it holds detail well and retains a rich gold color while being more durable than 22K or 24K.

14K Gold Calculator: Price Per Gram

14 karat gold is 58.33% pure gold, stamped "585." The gold price per gram for 14K is $85.17 at today's spot price. 14K is the most common karat in US jewelry because it balances gold content with durability and affordability. Most engagement rings, chains, and bracelets sold in the US are 14K.

10K Gold Calculator: Price Per Gram

10 karat gold is 41.67% pure gold, stamped "417." The gold price per gram for 10K is $60.85 at today's spot price. 10K is the minimum karat that can legally be marketed as "gold" in the United States. Class rings, costume-grade fine jewelry, and budget pieces are often 10K.

Other karats appear in older or international jewelry. 12K gold is 50% pure (stamped "500") and shows up in some European and older American pieces. 9K gold is 37.5% pure (stamped "375"), common in UK and Australian jewelry. 8K gold is 33.33% pure (stamped "333"), found in German and Italian jewelry but not legally "gold" in the US. The gold calculator above handles all of these karats, plus a custom purity option for unusual alloys.

Gold Price Per Gram, Pennyweight, and Troy Ounce

Gold trades in three weight units depending on context. Per gram is the most common reference for scrap gold and jewelry sellers. Per pennyweight (dwt) is used by jewelers, pawn shops, and refiners. Per troy ounce is the global spot price quoted on COMEX and used for bullion. The price table above shows all three for every karat. Use the gold calculator at the top of the page to convert your weight to any unit and apply the karat purity automatically.

Gold Price Per Pennyweight (DWT)

A pennyweight is 1.555 grams, or 1/20 of a troy ounce. At today's spot price, pure 24K gold is worth $227.08 per pennyweight, and 14K gold is worth $132.46 per pennyweight. Most US pawn shops and jewelers weigh gold in pennyweights when making offers, so converting your gram weight to pennyweights helps verify their math.

What Dealers Pay vs. Melt Value

No dealer pays 100% of melt value. Dealers must cover refining costs (the process of melting down and purifying gold to .999 fineness), assaying fees, shipping, insurance, and their operating expenses. Most reputable gold buyers pay between 70% and 90% of melt value, depending on the quantity, purity, and current market conditions.

Higher-karat items and larger lots typically get better offers because they're cheaper to refine. A 100-gram lot of 18K gold will get a better percentage than five small 10K rings. Always get quotes from at least three buyers and compare each offer to the melt value from this calculator.

How to Weigh Gold at Home

Use a digital kitchen scale that reads in grams (most do). For more precision, use a jeweler's scale that reads to 0.01 grams — available for under $20. Remove any non-gold components (clasps, stones, non-gold findings) before weighing if possible. If you're weighing multiple items, separate them by karat. A 14K chain and a 10K ring have different melt values per gram and should be calculated separately.

How to Test Gold Purity

The easiest method is to look for the karat stamp. If there's no stamp, you have several options: a magnet test (gold is not magnetic), an acid test kit ($10–$20, uses nitric acid to test different karats), or an electronic gold tester (more expensive but non-destructive). Jewelers and coin dealers can test your items for free or a small fee. When in doubt, assume the lowest likely karat to avoid overestimating.

For gold coins, visit our US gold coin melt values page for a complete table with every coin type. See the current gold price per gram for each karat, or return to the melt value calculator homepage.