Scrap Gold Calculator with Payout Estimate

Calculate the value of your scrap gold based on weight, purity (karat), and current market prices. Get accurate estimates for jewelry, coins, and gold items.

Gold Information

grams
$
%

Gold Value Results

Enter your gold information to see value

How to Use This Scrap Gold Calculator

1

Weigh Your Gold

Use a precise scale to measure your gold's weight in grams, ounces, or pennyweights.

2

Determine Purity

Check for karat markings (10K, 14K, 18K, etc.) or test the gold's purity percentage.

3

Check Market Price

Enter the current gold spot price per troy ounce from reliable market sources.

4

Get Instant Value

Receive accurate calculations including melt value and estimated dealer payout.

Understanding Your Results

Gold Purity and Karat System

Gold purity is measured in karats (K), with 24K being pure gold (99.9%). Lower karat gold contains other metals for durability. The purity percentage determines how much actual gold content your item contains.

Common Gold Purities

24K: 99.9% pure gold
22K: 91.7% pure gold
18K: 75.0% pure gold
14K: 58.3% pure gold
10K: 41.7% pure gold

Market Price vs. Scrap Value

The spot price is the current market price for pure gold. Scrap gold dealers typically pay 70-90% of the melt value, depending on the item's condition, purity, and current market conditions.

Key Gold Terms

Spot Price

The current market price for immediate delivery of pure gold, typically quoted per troy ounce.

Melt Value

The intrinsic value of gold based on its weight and purity, calculated using current spot prices.

Troy Ounce

The standard unit for measuring precious metals, equal to 31.1035 grams or 1.097 regular ounces.

Pennyweight (dwt)

A unit of measurement equal to 1/20 of a troy ounce, commonly used in jewelry trading.

Important Disclaimer

This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Actual gold prices fluctuate constantly, and dealer payouts vary. Always verify current market prices and get multiple quotes from reputable gold dealers before selling.

The Formula Explained

Every result you see is calculated the same way a refinery does it: convert your weight to grams, isolate the pure gold percentage, and multiply by the current price per gram.

1) Normalize weight: grams are the base. Ounces are multiplied by 31.1035, pennyweights by 1.55517, and pounds by 453.592 to reach grams.
2) Pure gold mass: pure grams = total grams × (purity % ÷ 100).
3) Melt value: melt value = pure grams × price per gram.
4) Dealer payout: if you enter a payout %, we apply it to the melt value to estimate your check.

Worked Example (real numbers)

Say you have 42 grams of 14K scrap. Purity is 58.3%, so pure gold = 42 × 0.583 = 24.486 grams (0.7875 troy oz). If spot price is $2,100 per troy oz, that equals $67.54 per gram. Melt value = 24.486 × 67.54 = $1,653.55. If a dealer pays 85%, expected payout is about $1,405.52. Enter those numbers above and you should see the same totals, matching Omni Calculator outputs.

Common Use Cases & Tips

Real scenarios that mirror what gold buyers see every day, with quick math so you know your leverage.

Broken chain (10K, 12 grams)

10K = 41.7% pure. Pure grams = 12 × 0.417 = 5.004 g. At $67.54/g spot, melt = $338. A fair pawn payout at 80% is ~$270.

Wedding set (18K, 30 grams)

18K = 75% pure. Pure grams = 22.5 g. Melt at $67.54/g is ~$1,520. Dealers that resell may offer 85–92% (~$1,290–$1,398).

Gold dental scrap (16 grams, mixed karat)

When purity varies, use the % tab and enter an average (often 60–70%). At 65%, pure grams = 10.4 g; melt ≈ $702; payout at 75% ≈ $526.

Coin vs. melt (1 troy oz Maple Leaf)

A 24K Maple Leaf carries collector premiums. Melt equals spot, but selling to a bullion dealer may get 98–102% of spot. Use the calculator for melt; check dealer premiums separately.

State tax tip (California vs. Texas)

In California, bullion under $1,500 can be taxable; larger transactions may be exempt. Texas generally exempts bullion. Ask dealers about documentation requirements and keep receipts for capital gains tracking.

Negotiation checklist

Weigh item in front of you, ask which karat they recorded, note their payout %, and compare against this calculator. Bring a printed quote; many dealers will match or beat a competitor by 1–2%.

Live Spot Price & Dealer Payout Guide

Bridge the gap between the spot price you see online and the offer a local dealer makes.

Typical payout ranges by karat

  • 24K bullion: 95–102% of spot (bullion dealers)
  • 22K jewelry: 88–94% of melt
  • 18K jewelry: 82–90% of melt
  • 14K everyday chains: 75–88% of melt
  • 10K/9K mixed scrap: 70–82% of melt

Offers below these bands are usually negotiable—show your math.

Spot price refresh cadence

Public spot feeds typically refresh every 60 seconds. Refresh this page or update the price box to align with the latest market move. Volatile days can swing $20–$40 per ounce within an hour, which is $0.64–$1.29 per gram.

Tip: lock a dealer quote in writing when the market is calm; rapid moves often lead to wider spreads.

Additional Calculator Tools

Explore our comprehensive suite of financial and conversion calculators.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most searched scrap-gold questions, aligned with Google’s People Also Ask.

Convert weight to grams, multiply by purity percent to find pure grams, then multiply by the current price per gram. The calculator handles every step automatically.

Jewelers and refiners typically pay 70–90% of melt value. Higher karats and larger lots trend toward the upper end; small mixed lots trend lower.

One troy ounce equals 31.1035 grams. Select “Troy Ounces” as the unit and we’ll convert it instantly.

No. Offers are usually 70–90% of melt to cover refining and risk. Use this tool to see what those percentages equal in cash.

Divide the karat by 24 and multiply by 100. Example: 14K ÷ 24 = 58.3%. The Karat tab does this for you; the % tab lets you enter custom alloys.

Multiply spot price per gram by 0.583. If spot is $67.54/g, 14K melt is ~$39.36/g. Enter those numbers here to double-check.

California may tax bullion sales under $1,500; larger bullion sales can be exempt. Ask your dealer and keep receipts for tax records. Other states like Texas generally exempt bullion sales.

Spot price moves with interest rates, USD strength, central bank demand, and market news. Dealer offers tighten or widen based on that volatility.

Divide the troy-ounce price by 20. You can also switch the price unit dropdown to “per pennyweight” and enter or view the value directly.