Scrap Silver Melt Value Calculator

Silver melt value is the intrinsic worth of the pure silver content in any item — flatware, jewelry, coins, bars, or industrial scrap. The calculation is straightforward: weigh the item, determine its purity (fineness), convert the pure silver weight to troy ounces, and multiply by the current silver spot price. This calculator handles all of that instantly.

For example, if you have a sterling silver tray that weighs 500 grams, the pure silver content is 500 × 0.925 = 462.5 grams. Converting to troy ounces: 462.5 ÷ 31.1035 = 14.87 oz t. At a silver spot price of $32 per troy ounce, the melt value is 14.87 × $32 = $475.84. That's the baseline — what the raw silver is worth before any craftsmanship or antique premium.

What Each Silver Purity Means

• .999 Fine Silver — 99.9% pure silver. Found in bullion bars, rounds, and American Silver Eagle coins. This is the purest commercially available silver. Sometimes marked "Fine Silver" or ".999."
• .925 Sterling Silver — 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper (or other alloy). The standard for silver jewelry, flatware, tea sets, and decorative items worldwide. Marked "Sterling," "925," or "Ster." This is the most common purity you'll encounter in household silver items.
• .900 Coin Silver — 90% silver, 10% copper. The composition of all US dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars minted before 1965. Also used in early American flatware (pre-1860). Marked ".900" or "COIN."
• .800 European Silver — 80% silver. Common in Continental European silverware, especially German, Italian, and Dutch pieces. Marked "800." Less common in the US but found in imported items and estate collections.
• .500 Half Silver — 50% silver. Found in some post-1964 foreign coins (Canadian coins 1967–1968), certain US commemorative coins, and Kennedy half dollars from 1965–1970 (which are technically 40% silver, but .500 is the closest standard button).

Common Sterling Silver Items Worth Checking

Many households have sterling silver items they don't realize are valuable: flatware sets (forks, knives, spoons), serving trays and platters, candlesticks, picture frames, baby cups and rattles, jewelry (chains, bracelets, rings), cigarette cases, and tea services. Check the bottom or back for "Sterling" or "925" marks. Even damaged or tarnished pieces have full melt value — dealers don't care about appearance when buying for melt.

The Magnet Test

Silver is not magnetic. Hold a strong magnet (a neodymium magnet works best) against your item. If it sticks firmly, it's not silver — it's likely stainless steel or a plated base metal. If the magnet slides off slowly, the item may be plated. If the magnet has no attraction at all, the item is likely real silver, but you should confirm with a hallmark check or acid test for certainty.

What Dealers Pay for Scrap Silver

Dealers typically pay 75–90% of melt value for scrap silver. The percentage depends on quantity, purity, and current market conditions. Large lots of .999 bullion get the best percentages (often 90%+) because they require no refining. Mixed sterling flatware typically gets 80–85%. Small quantities under 10 troy ounces may get lower offers due to fixed transaction costs. Always compare dealer offers to the melt value shown on this calculator.

For a per-gram breakdown of silver prices by purity, see our silver price per gram page. For a detailed coin-by-coin table, visit US silver coin melt values. Or return to the melt value calculator homepage for both gold and silver.