Scrap Gold Melt Value Calculator
Enter the weight and karat of your scrap gold to get an instant melt value using live prices. Updated every 60 seconds.
Gold Price by Purity
| Purity | Per Gram | Per Troy Oz |
|---|---|---|
| 24K | $147.00 | $4,572.11 |
| 22K | $134.75 | $4,191.25 |
| 18K | $110.25 | $3,429.08 |
| 14K | $85.74 | $2,666.91 |
| 12K | $73.50 | $2,286.06 |
| 10K | $61.25 | $1,905.20 |
| 9K | $55.12 | $1,714.54 |
| 8K | $48.99 | $1,523.88 |
Gold Coin Melt Values
Enter quantities to calculate total gold coin melt value at today's price
| Coin | Melt Value | Qty | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Gold Eagle (1 oz)1986–present · 1.000 oz t | $4,572.11 | — | |
| American Gold Eagle (½ oz)1986–present · 0.500 oz t | $2,286.06 | — | |
| American Gold Eagle (¼ oz)1986–present · 0.250 oz t | $1,143.03 | — | |
| American Gold Eagle (1/10 oz)1986–present · 0.100 oz t | $457.21 | — | |
| American Gold Buffalo (1 oz)2006–present · 1.000 oz t | $4,572.11 | — | |
| Pre-1933 $20 Double Eagle1849–1933 · 0.968 oz t | $4,423.52 | — | |
| Pre-1933 $10 Eagle1795–1933 · 0.484 oz t | $2,211.99 | — | |
| Pre-1933 $5 Half Eagle1795–1929 · 0.242 oz t | $1,105.99 | — | |
| Pre-1933 $2.50 Quarter Eagle1796–1929 · 0.121 oz t | $552.77 | — | |
| Gold Dollar (Type 1/2/3)1849–1889 · 0.048 oz t | $221.15 | — | |
| First Spouse Gold (½ oz)2007–2016 · 0.500 oz t | $2,286.06 | — |
How Gold Melt Value Is Calculated
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 $2,900 per troy ounce, the melt value is 0.3752 × $2,900 = $1,088.08. That's the starting point for any negotiation with a buyer.
What Each Karat Means
Karat (K) measures the proportion of pure gold in an alloy. Pure gold is 24 karat. Each lower karat represents a smaller fraction of gold mixed with other metals like copper, silver, or zinc for strength and color. Here's what each karat means:
- 24K — 99.9% pure gold. Soft, bright yellow. Common in bullion bars and coins.
- 22K — 91.67% pure. Used in some coins (e.g., American Gold Eagles) and high-karat jewelry common in India and the Middle East.
- 18K — 75% pure. Popular in fine jewelry worldwide. Stamped "750."
- 14K — 58.33% pure. The most common karat in US jewelry. Stamped "585."
- 12K — 50% pure. Found in some European jewelry and older American pieces. Stamped "500."
- 10K — 41.67% pure. The minimum karat that can legally be called "gold" in the US. Stamped "417."
- 9K — 37.5% pure. Common in UK and Australian jewelry. Stamped "375."
- 8K — 33.33% pure. Found in European (especially German and Italian) jewelry. Stamped "333."
See the current gold price per gram for each karat, or use the price table above for per-gram, per-pennyweight, and per-troy-ounce values.
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. Or return to the melt value calculator homepage to calculate both gold and silver items.