Gold Melt Value Calculator — Jewelry, Coins & Bullion
Find the intrinsic metal value of any gold item — jewelry, coins or bullion — by entering its weight, karat purity and the current gold spot price. The melt value is the floor price based on gold content alone.
Weight unit
Gold purity
per troy oz
Intrinsic metal value based on gold content and spot price
- 1
Purity fraction
18 ÷ 24 = 0.75Karat divided by 24 gives the fraction of pure gold. - 2
Weight in troy ounces
10 g ÷ 31.1034768 g/toz = 0.3215 - 3
Pure gold content
0.3215 toz × 0.75 = 0.2411 - 4
Gold melt value
0.2411 toz × 3,000 = 723.39
How does this calculator work?
Gold Melt Value = Weight (troy oz) × (Karat / 24) × Spot Price per troy oz; 1 troy oz = 31.1035 g. Enter the item's weight, karat (24K = 99.9%, 18K = 75%, 14K = 58.33%) and current spot price. Dealers typically pay 70–90% of melt value. Spot price default is a 2025–2026 estimate — update before transacting.
Formula
How this is calculated
Gold purity is measured in karats (K), where 24K is 99.9% pure gold. Each karat represents 1/24 of the total alloy: 18K gold is 18/24 = 75% gold; 14K is 58.33%; 10K is 41.67%; 9K is 37.5%. To find the melt value, the calculator converts the item's weight to troy ounces (1 troy oz = 31.1035 g), multiplies by the purity fraction, and then multiplies by the spot price per troy ounce to get the pure gold content's market value.
The melt value represents the intrinsic metallic value — the minimum a refiner would pay, ignoring craftsmanship, brand, or any numismatic (collectible) premium. Dealers typically offer 70–90% of melt value for scrap gold to cover refining costs and margin. Rare or numismatic coins may trade significantly above melt value depending on rarity and condition.
The spot price used here is an editable estimate (approximately $2,800–$3,400/troy oz in 2025–2026 based on market conditions; actual prices change every trading day). Always enter the current spot price from a live source such as Kitco, APMEX or the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) for an accurate calculation.
Frequently asked questions
A troy ounce (used for precious metals) equals 31.1035 grams, while a standard avoirdupois ounce equals 28.3495 grams — about 10% lighter. Gold spot prices are always quoted in troy ounces, so using regular ounces without conversion would overstate the weight. This calculator converts grams to troy ounces automatically.
Gold spot prices are quoted in USD per troy ounce and change continuously during market hours. Check live prices on Kitco (kitco.com), APMEX, the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) daily fix, or any major financial data provider. The default in this calculator is a 2025–2026 estimate and should be updated before any transaction.
Dealers and refiners pay below melt value to cover refining costs (typically 2–5% for a professional refiner), assay testing fees, overhead and profit margin. Reputable scrap-gold buyers typically offer 70–90% of melt value. Bullion coins in good condition are usually priced much closer to spot.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). Gold Melt Value Calculator — Jewelry, Coins & Bullion [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/gold-melt-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "Gold Melt Value Calculator — Jewelry, Coins & Bullion." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/gold-melt-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "Gold Melt Value Calculator — Jewelry, Coins & Bullion," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/gold-melt-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_gold_melt_calculator, title = {Gold Melt Value Calculator — Jewelry, Coins & Bullion}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/gold-melt-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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