Scrap Gold Calculator
Calculate your gold jewelry value
This calculator shows the melt value of scrap gold based on live spot prices. Actual buyback prices from dealers are typically 70-95% of spot price depending on purity and quantity.
Scrap gold price per gram by karat (USD)
How the scrap gold calculator works
Gold jewelry is never pure gold. It is an alloy, and its karat tells you how many parts out of 24 are gold. The calculator takes the weight you enter, converts it to grams, multiplies it by the purity of the karat you choose and then by the live price of one gram of pure gold. The result is the melt value — what the gold inside your item is worth on the world market today.
Example: you have a 14k bracelet weighing 12 grams and an 18k ring weighing 4 grams. The bracelet holds 12 × 0.585 = 7.02 g of pure gold, worth —. The ring holds 4 × 0.75 = 3 g, worth —. Together the lot has a melt value of about —. Valuing each karat separately, as here, is more accurate than averaging.
Before you sell scrap gold
- Sort items by hallmark (375, 417, 585, 750, 875, 916, 999) and weigh each group on a kitchen or jewelry scale that reads to 0.1 g.
- Remove stones, pearls and steel clasps where you can — they add weight but no gold value.
- Get at least two written offers and ask each buyer what percentage of melt value they pay.
- Keep branded or antique pieces aside: they can be worth more sold whole than melted.
- Check the price on the day you sell, as gold can move 1–2% in a single trading session.
Which karat do I have?
Stamps vary by country. American jewelry is mostly 10k and 14k, British and Australian pieces are often 9k, Italian and French jewelry is usually 18k, Middle Eastern gold is 21k, and Indian and Gulf jewelry is typically 22k. Bullion bars and coins are 24k. Open the page for your karat for a dedicated price table, hallmark guide and selling tips, or use the jewelry calculator to add up to 20 items at once.
Prices on this site come from MetalflowAPI market data and are indicative. They are not a buying or selling offer.
Scrap Gold FAQ
How do I calculate the value of scrap gold?
Weigh each item in grams, multiply by its purity (for example 0.585 for 14k), then multiply by the live price of one gram of pure gold. The calculator does this automatically for any karat, weight unit and currency.
What is melt value?
Melt value is the worth of the pure gold inside an item at today's spot price. It ignores design, brand, gemstones and labour, so it is the floor value a refiner works from.
How much of the melt value will a buyer pay?
Most scrap buyers pay 70–92% of melt value depending on karat, quantity and whether the gold must be refined. Bullion-grade 24k usually sells closest to spot.
How can I tell what karat my gold is?
Look for a stamp inside rings or on clasps: 375 = 9k, 417 = 10k, 585 = 14k, 750 = 18k, 875 = 21k, 916 = 22k and 999 = 24k. If there is no stamp, ask for an acid or XRF test.
Should I remove stones before weighing?
Yes, if possible. Stones, pearls and steel parts add weight but no gold value. If you cannot remove them, ask the buyer to estimate and deduct their weight.
Is gold-plated or gold-filled jewelry worth anything?
Very little. Plated (GP, GEP) items have a microscopic gold layer and gold-filled (GF) items only about 5% gold by weight, so most buyers decline them or pay a few cents per gram.
How often is the gold price updated?
The spot price and exchange rates come from MetalflowAPI and refresh every 5 minutes, so the calculator always uses a current market price.