Estimated Payout Offer
$0.00
Scrap Gold Calculator
Estimate true melt value and realistic buyer payout based on weight, karat purity, spot price, and payout percentage.
Weight & Purity Inputs
75%
True Melt Value (100%)
$0.00
Pure Gold Weight (t oz)
0
Pure Gold Weight (g)
0
Total Input Weight (t oz)
0
The Ultimate Scrap Gold Calculator: Don't Get Ripped Off
If you have broken chains, single earrings, or outdated jewelry sitting in a drawer, you are sitting on liquid cash. However, the "cash for gold" industry is notorious for taking advantage of uneducated sellers. When you walk into a pawn shop or a jewelry store, the buyer knows exactly what your items are worth down to the penny—but do you?
Our comprehensive Scrap Gold Calculator levels the playing field. By inputting the weight of your items, their karat purity, and the real-time market spot price, this tool calculates the exact intrinsic "melt value" of your gold. More importantly, it features an adjustable "Payout Percentage" slider, allowing you to simulate real-world offers and identify exactly which local buyers are offering a fair deal, and which ones are trying to scam you.
True Melt Value vs. Payout Value
The most important lesson in selling scrap gold is understanding that no business will ever pay you 100% of your gold's calculated melt value.
The True Melt Value
The mathematical worth of the pure gold inside your item based on the global commodities market. If you melted it into a pure bar yourself, this is what it would be worth.
The Payout Offer
The actual cash you receive. Buyers must pay a refinery to extract the alloys (like copper) out of your jewelry, and they need to make a profit margin to keep their lights on.
What is a "Fair" Payout Percentage?
- 70% to 80%: A very fair, standard offer from a reputable local jeweler or specialized precious metals dealer.
- 80% to 90%: Exceptional offers, usually reserved for selling large quantities of heavy gold or highly desirable bullion coins.
- 50% to 65%: The typical lowball offer you will receive from standard pawn shops, mall kiosks, and mail-in "cash for gold" television ads.
Real-World Use Case: Selling a 14K Chain
Let's say you have a heavy, broken 14-Karat gold men's chain. You weigh it on a digital kitchen scale and it weighs exactly 40 grams. The current gold spot price on the news is $2,400 per Troy Ounce. You take it to a local pawn shop, and they offer you $1,100 cash. Is that a good deal? Let's run the math.
- Step 1 (Convert to Troy Ounces): 40 grams ÷ 31.103 = 1.286 Troy Ounces.
- Step 2 (Find Pure Gold Content): 14K is 58.3% pure. (1.286 × 0.5833 = 0.750 Troy Ounces of pure gold).
- Step 3 (Calculate True Melt Value): 0.750 t oz × $2,400 = $1,800 True Melt Value.
The pawn shop offered you $1,100 for an item with $1,800 worth of pure gold inside it.
The Verdict: $1,100 ÷ $1,800 = 61%. The pawn shop is only offering you a 61% payout. You should walk away, find a dedicated gold buyer, and demand at least 75% ($1,350).
Scrap Gold Measurement Cheat Sheet
Jewelers often try to confuse sellers by switching the weighing units on their scales. If you weighed your gold at home in Grams, and the jeweler quotes you a weight in Pennyweights (dwt), you might think they are stealing from you because the number is lower. Understand these standard conversions to protect yourself.
| Unit of Measurement | Conversion to Troy Ounce | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Grams (g) | 31.103 grams = 1 Troy Ounce | The modern, universal standard for weighing scrap jewelry worldwide. |
| Pennyweight (dwt) | 20 dwt = 1 Troy Ounce | An old-school unit heavily favored by traditional American jewelers. (1 dwt = 1.55 grams). |
| Standard Ounce (oz) | 28.349 grams = 1 Standard Ounce | NEVER use this for gold. This is a kitchen weight. Precious metals use heavier Troy Ounces. |
| Grains (gr) | 480 grains = 1 Troy Ounce | Extremely tiny units rarely used today, except occasionally for dental gold or fine flakes. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will buyers pay extra for the diamonds or gemstones in my jewelry?
Usually, no. Scrap gold buyers are solely interested in melting down the precious metal. Tiny accent diamonds (melee diamonds) or semi-precious stones have almost zero resale value to a refinery. In fact, many buyers will subtract weight from your item to account for the heavy stones they cannot melt. If you have a large, high-quality center diamond (over 0.5 carats), you should sell the stone separately to a diamond broker.
What does "GF" or "RGP" stamped on my jewelry mean?
If your jewelry is stamped with "14K GF" (Gold Filled) or "RGP" (Rolled Gold Plate), or "HGE" (Heavy Gold Electroplate), it is not solid gold. It is a cheap base metal (like brass) with a microscopic layer of gold bonded to the outside. Scrap gold buyers will not buy gold-plated or gold-filled jewelry because it costs more to refine the gold out than the gold is actually worth.
Why do buyers test gold with acid?
Because stamps can be faked, professional buyers will never trust the "14K" stamp on a clasp. They will rub your item on a testing stone and apply a drop of nitric acid. The acid dissolves fake gold and base metals instantly. If the gold streak remains on the stone after the acid is applied, it confirms the exact karat purity of the item.
Is white gold worth the same as yellow gold?
Yes. The value of gold is based entirely on its karat purity, regardless of the color. 14K white gold, 14K yellow gold, and 14K rose gold all contain the exact same amount of pure 24K gold (58.3%). The only difference is the cheap alloy metals (like nickel, silver, or copper) mixed in to change the color.