What is scrap gold worth per gram?

The worth of scrap gold per gram depends on its karat purity and the current spot price. 9ct is worth 37.5% of spot price per gram, 14K is 58.33%, 18K is 75%. Use the live calculator above for today's exact value.

How do I know if my gold is worth selling?

Calculate the melt value using our calculator. If the offer you receive is 70-90% of that value, it's a fair deal. If you're offered less than 65% of melt value, shop around for better quotes.

What affects scrap gold value most?

The four main factors are: 1) Spot price (market), 2) Karat purity (higher = more valuable), 3) Weight (heavier = more valuable), 4) Dealer margin (varies 70-90%).

Is there a minimum weight to sell scrap gold?

Most dealers have no minimum. However, very small quantities (under 1g) may not be worth the effort. Online buyers typically accept any amount, though larger quantities generally get better percentage rates.

Should I clean gold before selling?

You don't need to clean gold before selling as scrap — dealers weigh and test it regardless. However, cleaning helps you read hallmarks clearly so you can verify the karat yourself.

What Is Scrap Gold Worth Today?

Live prices by karat • Melt value vs. dealer offer • 2026 market context

Gold Spot: Loading… troy oz

Live Spot: Loading… | Updated: --:--

Gold is one of the few assets that holds its value across centuries. In 2026, with gold trading at or near historic highs, scrap gold — broken chains, old rings, mismatched earrings, dental crowns — can be worth substantial sums. The current live spot price is shown above, updating every 60 seconds.

Today's Scrap Gold Prices by Karat

Karat	Purity	Hallmark	Per Gram	Per Troy Oz
24K	99.99%	999	—	—
22K	91.67%	916	—	—
18K	75.00%	750	—	—
14K	58.33%	585	—	—
10K	41.67%	417	—	—
9K / 9ct	37.50%	375	—	—

Melt Value vs. Dealer Offer – What's the Difference?

Melt value is the theoretical maximum you could receive if you personally refined the gold and sold it on the commodity market. It assumes 100% recovery of the pure gold content at current spot prices. Think of it as the ceiling.

Dealer offer is what a real buyer will pay you. Dealers deduct costs for:

Refining fees: 1–3% to process mixed scrap into pure gold
Business overhead: Staff, premises, testing equipment
Profit margin: Dealers are businesses, not charities
Market risk: Gold price could fall before they resell

The result: expect to receive 70–90% of melt value, depending on the dealer type and quantity. Use our dealer percentage slider to model different scenarios.

Example: A 10g 18K gold bracelet has a melt value of approximately $771.70 at $3,200 spot.
• Refinery: ~$732 (95%)
• Online buyer: ~$617–$694 (80–90%)
• High street: ~$540–$617 (70–80%)
• Pawnbroker: ~$386–$540 (50–70%)

What Affects Scrap Gold Value?

Four key factors determine what your scrap gold is worth:

Spot Price: The global gold market price in USD per troy ounce. Driven by macroeconomics, inflation, currency movements, geopolitical events. This is the biggest variable — check the live rate above.
Karat Purity: Higher karat = more gold per gram = more value. 24K is 100% gold; 9ct is 37.5%. The difference between 9ct and 18ct per gram is approximately 2x.
Weight: Simple — more grams means more value. Use an accurate digital scale (0.01g precision recommended).
Dealer Margin: Varies significantly. Always compare quotes. Online specialist buyers almost always beat local pawnshops.

Calculate Your Gold's Value Now

⚖️ Gold Scrap CalculatorLIVE

Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on karat: 9ct ≈ 37.5% of spot/31.1035, 14K ≈ 58.33%, 18K ≈ 75%. See the live table above for today's exact per-gram values in USD, GBP, AUD, and more.

Calculate melt value first using our calculator. If the dealer's offer is 70–90% of that number, it's fair. Under 65%? Shop around — you can almost certainly get more.

The four main factors are: spot price (market forces), karat purity (higher = more valuable), weight (more = more), and dealer margin (varies 50–95%). Spot price is the biggest variable day to day.

Most dealers have no minimum, but very small quantities (under 1g) may not justify the effort or shipping cost. Larger quantities often attract better payout percentages from dealers.

No need to professionally clean it. However, wiping it clean helps you clearly read the hallmarks so you can verify the karat before selling — a worthwhile step to ensure you're being quoted on the right purity.