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14K Gold Melt Value Calculator
Gold Melt Value Calculator
Enter your gold’s weight and karat. Get the melt value in seconds — based on today’s live spot price.
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1. Weigh Your Gold
Use a digital kitchen scale or jewelry scale accurate to 0.1 grams. Always measure in grams. It is the most precise unit for gold. If your scale shows troy ounces, select “Troy Oz” in the unit dropdown. One troy ounce equals 31.1035 grams.
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1. Find the Karat Stamp
Look on the inside of ring bands, chain clasps, or the back of pendants. “14K” and “585” both mean 14 karat. “18K” and “750” mean 18 karat. “10K” and “417” mean 10 karat. No stamp? A jeweler can acid-test it for $5–10.
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3. Get Your Melt Value
Enter the weight, select the karat, and hit Calculate. The result is the melt value, the raw gold content in dollars at today’s live price. Gold buyers pay 75–90% of this number. Anything below 65% is low, so get another quote.
Gold Hallmark Reference
What Does the Stamp on Your Gold Mean?
Every piece of real gold jewelry sold in the US carries a hallmark stamp. Find it on the inner band of rings, the clasp of necklaces, or the back of earring posts. Here is what each stamp means and what it is worth at today’s live gold price:
| Stamp | Karat | Purity | Price Per Gram Today | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 417 | 10K | 41.7% | Budget rings, children’s jewelry | |
| 585 | 14K Most Popular | 58.5% | Most US engagement rings, chains, everyday jewelry | |
| 750 | 18K | 75.0% | European fine jewelry, luxury pieces | |
| 916 | 22K | 91.6% | Indian gold jewelry, some coins | |
| 999 | 24K | 99.9% | Investment coins, bars, bullion |
Prices update automatically from live COMEX/LBMA spot data via GoldAPI.io · GP (Gold Plated), GF (Gold Filled) and RGP stamps indicate non-solid gold with no melt value.
GP (Gold Plated), GF (Gold Filled), and RGP (Rolled Gold Plate) stamps mean the piece is NOT solid gold and has no meaningful melt value.
What Is Gold Melt Value?
Melt value is the dollar value of the pure gold content inside a piece of jewelry, calculated at the current spot price. It answers one question: how much gold is actually in this piece, and what is that gold worth today?
It is called melt value because it represents what you would get if you melted the piece down, refined it to pure gold, and sold the result at today’s market price. This is not the retail price, the resale price, or what you paid for it — it is the raw metal value of the gold inside.
Melt Value vs. What Buyers Actually Pay
Knowing the melt value is your negotiating floor before you sell anything. Here is what different buyers typically pay as a percentage of melt value:
Pawn shops — 40–65% of melt value. Convenient but the lowest payout. Only use if you need cash immediately.
Local jewelers buying scrap — 55–75% of melt value. Better than pawn shops but varies widely.
Dedicated gold buying shops — 70–85% of melt value. Competition keeps rates higher.
Mail-in online refiners — 85–93% of melt value. The best rates for private sellers. Allow 5–10 business days.
Always get at least three quotes before selling. The difference between a pawn shop and a mail-in refiner on a $500 piece can easily be $150–200 in your pocket.
Grams vs. Troy Ounces vs. Pennyweight
Gold buyers work in grams. Gold spot prices are quoted in troy ounces. Some US jewelers use pennyweight (dwt). Our calculator handles all three — just select the right unit from the dropdown.
1 troy ounce = 31.1035 grams
1 pennyweight (dwt) = 1.55517 grams
1 gram = 0.643 pennyweight
Tip: always confirm which unit a buyer is using when they quote you. Some less reputable buyers quote in pennyweight without telling you — the number looks bigger, making their offer sound better than it is.
Does Condition Affect Melt Value?
No. A broken chain, a bent ring, and a scratched bracelet all have the exact same melt value as perfect pieces of identical weight and karat. Gold buyers melt everything down regardless of condition. Only weight and purity determine melt value.
The only exception: pieces with significant diamonds or other gemstones should be appraised before selling as scrap. A 1-carat diamond can be worth $2,000–6,000 on its own — selling the whole piece as scrap gold would destroy that value entirely.
How to Weigh Gold at Home
You need a digital scale that reads in grams. A jewelry scale accurate to 0.01g costs $12–25 on Amazon. Kitchen scales that read to 0.1g work fine for larger pieces like chains over 10 grams.
Always zero (tare) the scale before placing gold on it.
Place the scale on a hard flat surface — soft surfaces give uneven readings.
Weigh in grams, not ounces or carats.
Replace the battery before important weighings — low battery causes erratic readings.
For more detail, read our full guide: How to Weigh Gold at Home →
Disclaimer: Melt values shown by this calculator are based on live spot (melt) prices from COMEX/LBMA markets via GoldAPI.io. They represent the raw gold content value only and do not include dealer premiums, fabrication costs, retail markups, or refining fees. Actual buy/sell prices will differ. This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
Find out what your pieces are worth before visiting any buyer. Most sellers get 15–20% more just by knowing their melt value first.
Calculate Melt Value →Common Questions
