Describe your gold
What your gold would be worth if it were 100% pure at today's spot price. Reality is below because pure 24k gold is rare in jewelry.
Spot value of the gold metal in your item (weight x purity x spot). This is the absolute melt floor before any buyer margin.
Because you marked karat as unknown, this shows the realistic range from 10k (low) to 24k pure (high). Determine the karat to narrow this down.
Your position is in the green vs. what you paid. Today's melt value alone covers your cost basis. Premium buyers (online dealers, recognized brands) typically pay slightly above melt for bullion.
Your position is below your cost basis at today's spot. Gold spot moves, so this is a snapshot. If you bought during a premium spike, the loss can shrink when premiums normalize.
Already got an offer? Check if it is fair (optional)
Enter the offer a pawn shop, jeweler, or online buyer has given you. We will tell you in 1 second whether it is fair, low for the channel, or a walk-away lowball.
Disclaimers & sources
Educational only. This calculator is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a CPA or attorney before any major sale or rollover.
Heads up: Sales of certain bullion (25+ oz gold bars, 25+ Krugerrands or Maples) trigger a dealer-issued Form 1099-B. Gains are taxed as 28% collectibles rate, not long-term capital gains. See IRS Pub 544.
State law notice. California, New York, Florida, and Texas (and others) require precious metals dealers to register and observe holding periods (CA 30 days, FL 15 days). Verify a dealer's state license before mailing items.
Sources. Channel payout ranges reflecting published pawn-industry payout data, refiner and dealer rate cards, and the published buy-back prices of Worthy, CashforGoldUSA, APMEX, JM Bullion, SD Bullion (retrieved Mar to May 2026). Updated quarterly.
How we make money. Goldiew may earn a referral fee if you click through and request a kit or quote from a partner. We never adjust the calculator math or the channel ranges based on these relationships.
Next steps Pick your next move
Not sure it is real gold yet? Run our 5 free home tests (magnet, hallmark, ceramic, density, acid) before you sell.
Saving keeps your weight, karat, and any offer on this device, so your numbers are ready the next time you open this page. Nothing leaves your browser.
How this calculator works
Where the spot price comes from
Spot gold is pulled from goldapi.io, which references COMEX (the US futures market that sets the global gold benchmark). The current spot is shown at the top of this calculator with a freshness timestamp so you always know how recent the price is. Spot is refreshed at least once a day; intraday moves of less than 1% rarely change the verdict materially for jewelry-scale sums.
Why we show a range, not an exact price
Every buyer adds a margin. Refiners deduct 0.5 to 2% as melt loss (gold lost in slag and oxidation) plus a fixed assay fee. Major US refiners (Garfield, Manhattan Gold, PMR) settle in 5 to 10 business days, not 3 to 6 weeks. On top of this, the buyer adds their own margin for overhead, inventory turn, and dealer risk. Pawn shops, online mail-in buyers, and local jewelers each have typical margin ranges based on industry-reported documentation. The numbers here reflect those ranges, not promises.
What this calculator estimates
Strictly melt value – the value of the gold metal alone. It does not account for: numismatic premium (rare or collectible coins), brand premium on bullion (some recognized brands trade slightly higher), gemstone or enamel weight on jewelry (subtract roughly 5 to 10% from your total weight), or wearable jewelry resale (driven by design and brand, not metal).
For karat = unknown
The output shows a range from 10k (low) to 24k pure (high). A jeweler can confirm karat in 30 seconds with a free acid or electronic test. We recommend doing this before accepting any offer over $500.
Academic source for allocation guidance
For the role of gold in portfolio construction, see Erb & Harvey (2013), "The Golden Dilemma", Financial Analysts Journal 69(4): 10-42. This Duke University CFA-Institute peer-reviewed paper provides the empirical basis for the 3 to 7% suggested gold allocation range used in our tier guidance for high-value bullion holdings.
Your inputs stay in your browser. We never store the weight, karat, buy price, or offer values you type. Privacy policy · Your Privacy Choices (CCPA).
Live spot from goldapi.io (COMEX-referenced), with realistic payout percentages sourced from dealer rate cards and pawn industry data. No signup, no email; your inputs stay in your browser.
Use the tool above to estimate the gold-content value of your jewelry, coins, or bullion, see what each type of buyer typically pays, and (if you already have an offer) check whether it is fair before you sign anything.
How to estimate your gold value in 5 steps
- 1Weigh your goldUse a kitchen scale that reads to 0.1 grams. A $12 scale on Amazon is enough. Weigh each piece on its own if you can.
- 2Find the karat stampLook inside a ring band, on a necklace clasp, or behind an earring. You will see 375 (9k), 417 (10k), 585 (14k), 750 (18k), 916 (22k), or 999 (24k). No stamp? Pick Unknown in the calculator and we will show you a range from 10k to 24k.
- 3Pick what kind of gold it isScrap jewelry, wearable jewelry, a bullion coin (Eagle, Maple, Krugerrand), or a bullion bar.
- 4Read your four offersThe calculator shows what pawn shops, local jewelers, online mail-in buyers, and gold dealers typically pay. Pick the channel that matches your speed-versus-payout preference.
- ✓Got an offer already? Check itScroll to Quote Check, paste the dollar amount, and see in one second whether it is fair, low for the channel, or a walk-away lowball.
Four buyer channels: who pays what for gold
The same gold piece can fetch wildly different prices depending on where you sell. The calculator shows the realistic range for each of these four channels, based on industry-reported margin documentation from the National Pawnbrokers Association (NPA), the Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA), and published payout disclosures from Worthy, CashforGoldUSA, APMEX, JM Bullion, and SD Bullion.
| Channel | Scrap jewelry | Bullion coins | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pawn shop | 20 to 55% of melt | 75 to 92% of spot | Cash same day | Fast cash, low-value scrap |
| Local jeweler | 40 to 70% of melt (up to 100%+ for wearable like-new) | Often declined; 78 to 90% if offered | Same day or 1 to 3 days | Like-new branded pieces, antiques |
| Online mail-in buyer | 65 to 88% of melt (Worthy auction can hit 90%) | 85 to 95% of spot | 5 to 7 days | Average scrap, no local options, $500+ lots |
| Bullion dealer (APMEX, JM Bullion, SD Bullion) | Usually declined (scrap not accepted) | 95 to 102% of spot | 1 to 5 days | Bullion coins, bars, recognized brands |
Ranges sourced from National Pawnbrokers Association (NPA, 2026 industry data), Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA, Q1 2026), and published payout disclosures from the named buyers above. Last methodology review: June 2026. Full sourcing in the calculator methodology card.
Why do pawn shops pay so much less than gold dealers?
Pawn shops are not the villain in this story. They are running a different business model than a refiner or a dealer, and the math behind their offer is structural, not personal. Here is what is actually happening behind the counter.
- 1The pawn shop is not the end buyerThey do not melt gold. They accumulate scrap for two to six weeks, then ship a sealed lot to a refiner (Garfield, Manhattan Gold, PMR) who pays them 92 to 96% of melt after assay. The ceiling on what they could ever pay you is already in the mid-90s of melt before they earn a dime.
- 2Refining loss is realKarat scrap loses 1 to 2% during melting and assay. Mixed-karat lots lose more. The shop prices it in upfront because they cannot send the chain back if it under-yields.
- 3Cash conversion is not freeThat $400 in their till is working capital. It sits in your chain for three to six weeks before the refiner check clears. That is 30%+ annualized cost of capital, the same as any short-term lender.
- 4Lending arbitrageA pawn loan is the higher-margin product. Every chain bought outright is a chain that did not generate 20% monthly interest as loan collateral. They underprice outright purchases on purpose, hoping to nudge you toward a loan instead.
- 5Storefront overheadLease, loose-asset insurance, security, BWC compliance, state pawnbroker reporting. Add $40 to $80 in fixed cost per transaction.
- 6Walk-out psychologyAbout 70% of sellers do not drive to a second shop. The lowball works because friction is the seller’s enemy and the buyer’s friend.
Gold dealers like APMEX or JM Bullion can pay 95 to 102% of spot because they skip the storefront, take volume from refiners directly, and resell to investors at a premium. Their margin lives in the spread between spot and the retail premium they charge on new sales, not in lowballing buybacks.
Worked example: what is a 12-gram 14k chain worth today?
Before you sell: 5 things to verify
- 1Weigh in front of youWatch the buyer weigh your gold on a calibrated scale. Do not let pieces leave your sight before pricing.
- 2Confirm the karat test methodA reputable buyer uses an acid test, an electronic tester, or X-ray fluorescence. Ask which method and watch it.
- 3Get a written offerDemand the offer in writing with weight, karat, and spot price referenced. A verbal offer is not an offer.
- 4Ask for the fee breakdownSome buyers deduct an “assay fee” or “refining fee” of 5 to 15% off the top. Confirm before signing.
- ✓Know your walk-away numberUse the calculator above before you walk in. If the offer is below the bottom of the channel range, walk.
When this calculator is not the right tool
This calculator estimates the gold-content value only, the value of the gold metal alone. It cannot value rare or graded coins (numismatic premium), luxury watches (the case might be gold but the value is in the brand and movement), or gemstones (a 14k pendant with a 1-carat diamond is mostly diamond value).
For rare or collectible coins, check the PCGS or NGC price guide before melting anything. For luxury watches (Rolex, Cartier, Patek), get an authenticated appraisal from a watchmaker. For gemstones, ask a GIA-certified appraiser. If you are not sure whether your piece is actually gold (rather than gold-plated or fake), run our 5 home tests first.
Frequently asked questions
Do pawn shops pay spot price for gold?
No. Pawn shops almost never pay spot. The typical pawn payout is 20 to 55% of the gold-content value for scrap jewelry. The reasons are structural (refiner margin, capital cost, overhead, lending arbitrage). For something closer to spot, sell to a bullion dealer (95 to 102% of spot for bullion) or an online mail-in buyer (65 to 88% for scrap).
How much is 1 gram of 14k gold worth today?
At current spot near $4,393.64 per troy ounce, 1 gram of 14k gold has a melt value of about $82.64 (spot per gram is $141.26, multiplied by 58.5% purity). A pawn shop would typically pay $16.53 to $45.45 per gram, an online mail-in buyer $53.71 to $72.72, and a bullion dealer would not buy scrap jewelry. These values update daily with the gold market; use our calculator above for the exact current pricing.
Is it better to sell gold to a pawn shop or to a jeweler?
For scrap jewelry, a local jeweler typically pays 40 to 70% of gold-content value, versus 20 to 55% for a pawn shop. A jeweler with a refiner relationship and an estate-jewelry counter can sometimes pay close to 100% of value for like-new branded pieces because they resell rather than melt. A pawn shop is faster (same-day cash) but lower payout. For bullion coins, a bullion dealer beats both.
What is the markup on gold jewelry retail?
Retail markup on gold jewelry is typically 2 to 4 times the gold-content value, sometimes higher for branded or designer pieces. This covers design work, manufacturing, retail margin, and gemstones. When you sell back, you receive only the gold-content value minus the buyer margin, never the retail markup. This is why jewelry rarely resells anywhere near its original purchase price unless it has strong brand demand (Cartier, Tiffany, Bulgari) or it is a recognized antique.
Will pawn shops or jewelers buy broken gold jewelry?
Yes. Both will buy broken, damaged, single-earring, or scrap jewelry as long as the metal is real gold. They pay for the gold content alone, not the original retail value. Expect 20 to 55% of value at a pawn shop and 40 to 70% at a jeweler. Online mail-in buyers also accept broken jewelry and typically pay 65 to 88%.
How is the gold spot price calculated?
Spot gold is the live per-ounce price set by the COMEX futures market, the global benchmark for gold pricing. Our calculator pulls spot from goldapi.io, which references COMEX, and shows it at the top of the tool with a freshness timestamp so you always know how current it is. The price updates multiple times per day.
Why does the calculator show a range instead of an exact price?
No buyer pays exact spot. Every buyer adds a margin to cover refining costs, refining time, overhead, and market risk. For scrap jewelry, pawn shops typically pay 20 to 55% of the gold-content value, online mail-in buyers pay 65 to 88%, and for recognized bullion coins online dealers pay 95 to 102% of spot. The range shown for each channel reflects industry-reported norms, not a promise.
How do I find the karat of my gold?
Look for a small hallmark stamp inside a ring band, on a necklace clasp, or behind an earring. Common gold hallmarks are 375 (9k), 417 (10k), 585 (14k), 750 (18k), 916 (22k), and 999 (24k). If no stamp is visible, pick Unknown in the calculator and it shows a range from 10k to 24k. Any jeweler can confirm karat in about 30 seconds with a free acid or electronic test.
How much do pawn shops vs online buyers pay for gold?
For scrap jewelry, pawn shops typically pay 20 to 55% of the gold-content value with same-day cash, while online mail-in buyers pay 65 to 88% with a 5 to 7 day turnaround. For recognized bullion coins, online dealers pay 95 to 102% of spot in 1 to 3 days, while pawn shops pay less. The trade-off is always speed versus payout: pawn is fastest, online is highest.
How accurate is this gold value calculator?
The gold-content value is exact: weight times purity times spot price. The channel payout ranges are based on industry-reported margins. The calculator does not account for numismatic premium on rare coins (which needs NGC or PCGS grading), brand premium on bullion (PAMP, Valcambi, Credit Suisse trade slightly higher), gemstone or enamel weight on jewelry (subtract roughly 5 to 10% of total weight), or the resale value of wearable designer jewelry.