Scrap gold value estimator
Scrap gold calculator
This scrap gold calculator estimates what broken gold jewelry, rings, chains, dental gold and mixed karat lots are worth before you accept an offer. Add each item separately, then compare the melt value against typical buyer payout ranges.
Scrap gold worksheet
Add each item, then compare the offer
| Item | Gross grams | Pure gold grams | Melt value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ring | 10.00g | 5.83g | $809.90 |
| Broken chain | 6.00g | 4.50g | $625.14 |
Selling flow
How to compare a scrap gold offer
Step 1
Weigh each item
Step 2
Sort by karat
Step 3
Calculate melt value
Step 4
Compare payout %
What scrap gold buyers usually pay
The exact payout depends on testing, lot size, refining costs and competition. Use these ranges as a practical benchmark, not a guaranteed quote.
| Buyer type | Typical payout | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Pawn shop | 50% - 75% | Fast cash, usually the lowest payout range. |
| Local jeweler | 70% - 88% | Convenient for jewelry, but offers vary widely. |
| Online gold buyer | 80% - 95% | Often stronger offers, but shipping and trust matter. |
| Refiner / dealer | 90% - 98% | Best for larger lots or repeat sellers. |
A scrap gold calculator should separate each item by karat because a 10K ring and an 18K chain do not contain the same amount of pure gold. If you weigh them together without sorting, your estimate can be materially wrong.
When asking for quotes, request the exact spot price timestamp, payout percentage, testing method and all deductions. A written quote with those details is easier to compare than a single cash number.
Before selling, check the hallmark on every item, weigh only the gold portion where possible, and compare at least two buyer offers. If an item may have designer, antique or gemstone value, get a jewelry appraisal before treating it as scrap.
How to prepare a scrap gold lot before using a scrap gold calculator
A scrap gold calculator is most accurate when the inputs match the way a buyer will test the lot. Start by separating obvious non-gold items from solid karat gold. Then group the remaining pieces by stamp: 999 or 24K, 916 or 22K, 750 or 18K, 585 or 14K, 417 or 10K, 375 or 9K, and 333 or 8K. If a clasp, spring or watch movement is not gold, do not include that weight in the estimate.
For each group, weigh the pieces on a jewelry scale and add them as separate rows in the scrap gold calculator. This matters because mixed karats do not have the same gold content. Ten grams of 18K gold contains much more pure gold than ten grams of 10K gold. A calculator that supports multiple rows helps you see the individual item value, total melt value and likely payout range without averaging everything together.
What buyers include and exclude
Scrap buyers usually pay for recoverable metal, not for the original retail price. They may ignore or deduct stones, enamel, glue, steel, watch parts and non-gold findings. Dental gold can be valuable, but it often needs an assay because the alloy may contain gold, platinum, palladium or base metals in unknown proportions. Gold-filled, rolled gold and plated items are normally handled separately because they contain only a thin layer of gold.
Before accepting an offer, ask the buyer to explain the spot price used, the weight they measured, the karat or assay result, the payout percentage and any fees. If the buyer will not show the calculation, use the scrap gold calculator again with their numbers and compare the result. A fair offer can still be below melt value, but the difference should be understandable.
When melt value is not the best selling price
Melt value is a strong baseline for broken chains, single earrings, damaged rings and outdated jewelry. It may be too low for signed designer jewelry, antique pieces, collectible coins or jewelry with meaningful gemstone value. In those cases, the item could be worth more as a finished piece than as scrap metal. Use melt value as the floor, then decide whether a retail resale, auction or specialist appraisal makes more sense.
Cash for gold calculator
Model a realistic cash offer after buyer payout percentage.
Gold melt value calculator
Focus on recoverable gold content before buyer deductions.
Gold price per gram
Check the live gram price behind every melt value calculation.
Gold hallmark lookup
Identify 585, 750, 916, 999 and other stamps before sorting scrap.
Scrap gold calculator FAQ
How do I calculate scrap gold value?
Weigh each gold item, select its karat, convert the weight to grams, multiply by the current 24K gold price per gram, then multiply by the gold purity percentage.
Why is a buyer offer lower than melt value?
Melt value is the intrinsic gold value. Buyers usually pay less because they need to test, refine, hedge price risk, remove stones or non-gold parts, and make a margin.
Does gold-filled or gold-plated jewelry count as scrap gold?
Usually no. Gold-filled and gold-plated items contain only a thin layer of gold over base metal, so most buyers value them differently from solid karat gold.
Should I remove stones before selling scrap gold?
Ask the buyer first. Some buyers ignore stone weight, while others deduct it. For accurate melt value, only the gold weight should be counted.
What payout percentage is a fair scrap gold offer?
A fair offer depends on lot size, testing cost and competition. Small pawn shop offers may be 50% to 75% of melt value, while stronger online or refiner offers can be 85% to 95% before fees.
Can I mix different karats in one calculation?
Yes. Add each item as a separate row and choose the correct karat for each one. Mixing 10K, 14K and 18K together without sorting can make the estimate inaccurate.
Is dental gold valued the same as jewelry scrap?
Dental gold can contain gold plus other metals, and its exact purity is not always obvious. Use the calculator only when you know the karat or have a reliable assay result.
Why does the calculator show melt value instead of resale value?
Scrap buyers normally pay for recoverable metal, not retail jewelry resale value. Designer pieces, gemstones or collectible coins may need a separate appraisal.