Precious metal · Scrap value
Gold Melt Value Calculator
Find out what the gold in your jewelry or scrap is really worth. Enter the weight, karat, and your gold price — get the pure-gold content and melt value for one piece or a whole lot, plus what different buyers typically pay.
1 · Your gold price
Type in a current price from any reputable source. It stays on your device.
2 · Your items
Add each piece separately — karat is stamped inside ring bands, near clasps, or on pendant backs.
3 · Refiner payout
Buyers pay a percentage of melt. Drag to model any offer.
| Item | Weight | Karat | Pure gold | Melt value |
|---|
What different buyers typically pay
Applied live to your total melt value above. Educational ranges, not quotes.
| Buyer type | % of melt | You would get |
|---|
Same weight, every karat
See how purity changes the value of an identical weight at your price.
| Karat | Pure % | Pure gold (g) | Melt value |
|---|
Reference
Standard industry figures used by every calculator on this page.
Karat purity
| Karat | Pure gold | Parts per 24 |
|---|---|---|
| 10K | 41.7% | 10 / 24 |
| 14K | 58.3% | 14 / 24 |
| 18K | 75.0% | 18 / 24 |
| 22K | 91.7% | 22 / 24 |
| 24K | 99.9% | 999 fine |
Hallmark stamps
375 = 9K417 = 10K585 = 14K750 = 18K916 = 22K999 = 24K
Weight units
| 1 troy ounce (ozt) | 31.1034768 g |
| 1 pennyweight (dwt) | 1.55517384 g |
| 1 troy ounce | 20 dwt |
Worked example
Every number below is computed with the same formula as the calculator.
| Item | 10 g, 14K ring |
| Step 1 — purity | 14 ÷ 24 = 0.5833 |
| Step 2 — pure gold | 10 × 0.5833 = 5.833 g |
| Step 3 — melt at $85/g | 5.833 × 85 = $495.83 |
| At a 95% refiner payout | 495.83 × 0.95 = $471.04 |
Frequently asked questions
What is gold melt value?
Gold melt value is the value of the pure gold contained in an item, based on its weight, karat purity, and a gold price you enter. It is a calculation of metal content only. It does not include craftsmanship, brand premium, or gemstones, and it is not an offer to buy.
How do I calculate the melt value of gold jewelry?
Multiply the weight in grams by the purity fraction (karat divided by 24), then multiply by the gold price per gram. For example, a 10 gram 14K ring at $85 per gram: 10 × (14 ÷ 24) × 85 = $495.83 melt value. This calculator does the same math and also handles pennyweights and troy ounces.
What percentage of gold is in 10K, 14K, 18K, and 22K?
10K is 41.7% pure gold, 14K is 58.3%, 18K is 75.0%, 22K is 91.7%, and 24K bullion gold is 99.9% pure (stamped 999 fine). The percentage is the karat number divided by 24, except 24K investment gold which is refined to 99.9%.
What do gold stamps like 585, 750, and 916 mean?
They are millesimal fineness marks: 585 means 58.5% gold (14K), 750 means 75.0% gold (18K), 916 means 91.6% gold (22K), and 999 means 99.9% gold (24K). You will usually find the stamp inside a ring band, near a clasp, or on the back of a pendant.
How many grams are in a pennyweight and a troy ounce?
One pennyweight (dwt) equals 1.55517384 grams, and one troy ounce (ozt) equals 31.1034768 grams. There are exactly 20 pennyweights in one troy ounce. Gold is priced in troy ounces, not regular avoirdupois ounces.
Why do buyers pay less than melt value?
Buyers pay below melt value to cover refining costs, assay testing, and their own margin. Typical payouts are roughly 30 to 50 percent of melt at pawn shops, 60 to 80 percent at local jewelers, and 85 to 95 percent at online refiners. Melt value is the baseline you compare every offer against.
What does 95 percent of melt value mean in dollars?
It means the buyer pays 95 percent of the calculated metal value. For example, a 10 gram 14K ring worth $495.83 at melt would pay $471.04 at a 95 percent payout. Use the payout slider above to model any percentage.
Is melt value the same as resale value?
No. Melt value counts only the gold content. A designer, antique, or collectible piece can sell for more than melt to the right buyer, while plain scrap usually sells for less than melt. Melt value tells you what the metal alone is worth.
Should I remove gemstones before weighing gold to sell?
Yes. Stones, enamel, and non-gold parts like steel spring clasps add weight but contain no gold, so weighing them inflates the melt estimate. Weigh the metal portion only, or subtract a reasonable estimate for the stones. Hollow chains and filled pieces also contain less gold than their total weight suggests.
What is 5 pennyweights of 14K gold worth at $2,650 per troy ounce?
Five pennyweights equals 7.776 grams. At 14K purity (58.33 percent) that is 4.536 grams of pure gold. At $2,650 per troy ounce ($85.20 per gram), the melt value is $386.46.
Can I use this calculator for dental gold or gold coins?
Yes, as long as you know the weight and karat. Dental gold is often 14K to 18K, and bullion coins are commonly 22K or 24K. Note that rare or collectible coins can be worth more than their metal content, which this calculator does not estimate.
Is the gold price in this calculator live?
No. The price is entered by you and never fetched from the internet, so the page works fully offline. Check a current spot price from a reputable source and type it in before making any selling decision.
Free tool by NRTechStudio