Scrap Gold Calculator
Melt value = weight × purity × spot price. Enter your item’s weight and karat below; the spot field is prefilled with a recent price ($4,100/ozt as of July 12, 2026) — update it with today’s spot before selling. Expect dealers to pay 60–90% of melt.
One gram of 14K gold is worth about $76.85 in melt value at a $4,100/ozt spot; 18K is $98.86/g and pure 24K is $131.69/g. Dealers typically pay 60–90% of melt.
- Spot used (editable below)$4,100/ozt (July 12, 2026)
- 14K per gram$76.85
- 18K per gram$98.86
- Grams per troy ounce31.1035
Update the spot price before relying on a figure — gold moves daily.
Melt value per gram by karat
| Karat | Purity | Per gram @ $4,100/ozt | Per pennyweight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.9% | $131.69 | $204.79 |
| 22K | 91.7% | $120.88 | $187.98 |
| 18K | 75.0% | $98.86 | $153.75 |
| 14K | 58.3% | $76.85 | $119.51 |
| 10K | 41.7% | $54.97 | $85.48 |
Table computed at $4,100/ozt (July 12, 2026). Prices move constantly — the calculator uses whatever spot you enter.
Why nobody pays 100% of melt
Refiners charge to assay and melt, and dealers carry price risk between buying your gold and selling it on. Mail-in TV buyers historically pay the worst (sometimes under 50%); local coin shops and refiners commonly land between 70% and 90% of melt for clearly-marked karat gold. Get two quotes, know your melt number before you walk in, and remember gemstones are weighed out — pry-out weights, not the sticker weight.
Frequently asked questions
How much is scrap gold worth per gram?
At a $4,100/ozt spot, pure gold runs about $131.82/gram — so 14K (58.3% pure) is roughly $76.85/g and 18K about $98.86/g in melt value. Always recompute at today's spot.
What percentage of melt value do gold buyers pay?
Typically 60–90%. Local refiners and coin shops pay the high end for hallmarked jewelry; mail-in buyers pay the low end. The calculator's payout slider shows the realistic offer.
Is 14K or 18K worth more?
Per gram, 18K — it's 75% gold vs 58.3%. A heavier 14K piece can of course be worth more in total.
Do I get paid for gemstones?
Scrap buyers pay for metal only and deduct stone weight. Significant diamonds are worth removing and selling separately.
Sources & methodology
Sources: JM Bullion live gold spot · APMEX gold price.
Default spot price entered July 12, 2026; always update to the live price. Purity per karat is standard (karat/24). Not an offer to buy — dealer payouts vary.