Gold Estimator
Scrap Gold Calculator and Melt Value Tool
Enter your gold's weight and karat to get an instant melt value estimate based on live market prices. This free gold calculator updates every 60 seconds.
Today's Gold Prices by Karat
| Karat | Per Troy Oz | Per Gram | Per Pennyweight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | $4,724.89 | $151.91 | $236.24 |
| 22K | $4,331.74 | $139.27 | $216.59 |
| 18K | $3,544.02 | $113.94 | $177.20 |
| 14K | $2,756.30 | $88.62 | $137.81 |
| 10K | $1,969.06 | $63.31 | $98.45 |
| 9K | $1,772.01 | $56.97 | $88.60 |
Prices update automatically every 60 seconds. See detailed prices for 14K gold, 10K gold, and 18K gold.
How to Calculate the Value of Scrap Gold
Three things determine what your gold is worth: the weight, the karat (purity), and the current spot price. Weigh your gold on a digital scale accurate to 0.01 grams. Identify the karat by looking for a stamp on the piece. Common stamps are 10K, 14K, 18K, 24K, 417, 585, 750, and 999.
Apply the formula: Weight (troy ounces) × Spot Price × Karat Purity = Melt Value. A troy ounce is 31.1035 grams.
Example: A 14K gold chain weighing 15 grams with a spot price of $5,300 per troy ounce. 15 ÷ 31.1035 = 0.4823 troy ounces. 14K gold is 58.3% pure. 0.4823 × $5,300 × 0.583 = $1,490 melt value.
Or enter your numbers into the gold estimator above for an instant result.
Gold Karat Purity Explained
24K (99.9% pure) is the purest form of gold. Too soft for most jewelry, used for bullion bars and coins.
22K (91.7% pure) is popular in Indian and Middle Eastern jewelry.
18K (75% pure) is the standard for fine jewelry worldwide. Balances purity with durability.
14K (58.3% pure) is the most common karat for jewelry in the United States. Durable and affordable.
10K (41.7% pure) is the minimum karat that can be legally called gold in the US. Most affordable gold jewelry.
9K (37.5% pure) is common in the UK and Australia. Not legally "gold" in the US.
The karat number divided by 24 gives the purity percentage. 14 ÷ 24 = 0.583 = 58.3% pure gold. Use our karat calculator for quick conversions.
Gold Hallmarks and Stamps
How to identify your gold's karat: 24K or 999 = pure gold. 22K or 916 = 91.6% gold. 18K or 750 = 75% gold. 14K or 585 = 58.3% gold. 10K or 417 = 41.7% gold. 9K or 375 = 37.5% gold.
Look inside rings, on necklace clasps, bracelet catches, and earring posts. Some pieces have additional stamps like the manufacturer's mark or country of origin. If no stamp is visible, the piece may be plated, filled, or unmarked. A jeweler can test it.
Gold Filled vs Gold Plated vs Solid Gold
Solid gold (10K–24K) has scrap value based on weight and karat.
Gold-filled items have a thick layer of gold bonded to a base metal. Stamps include 1/20 14K GF or 14/20 GF. Gold-filled has very little gold content and minimal scrap value.
Gold-plated items have a thin coating of gold over base metal. Stamps include GP, GEP, HGE, or RGP. Gold-plated items have essentially zero scrap value.
If your item says "gold-filled" or "gold-plated" anywhere, the melt value calculator does not apply. Only solid gold (stamped 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, 24K, or their numeric equivalents) has meaningful scrap gold value.
How to Test if Your Gold Is Real
The magnet test is the quickest check. Gold is not magnetic. If a magnet sticks, it's not solid gold (though gold-plated items over non-magnetic base metals will also pass this test).
The weight test helps identify gold-plated fakes. Gold is dense (19.32 g/cm³). Real gold feels heavier than it looks.
An acid test kit gives you a definitive answer. Apply testing acid to a scratch mark on the gold. The reaction color tells you the approximate karat. Kits cost around $15–20 and are available online.
For high-value items, visit a jeweler with an XRF analyzer for exact purity readings.
Tips for Selling Scrap Gold
Sort by karat before you sell. Mixing 10K, 14K, and 18K together means you'll get paid at the lowest karat rate for the whole lot.
Know the spot price before walking in. Check the live gold price on this page. Dealers typically pay 70–85% of melt value for scrap gold. See today's scrap gold prices for reference.
Get quotes from at least three buyers. Prices vary between pawn shops, jewelers, online gold buyers, and local precious metals dealers.
Mail-in gold buyers often advertise heavily but may offer lower prices than local dealers. Compare carefully.
Never sell designer or antique pieces as scrap without getting an appraisal. Signed pieces from brands like Tiffany, Cartier, Van Cleef, or David Yurman are often worth far more than their melt value.