Gold Filled vs Solid Gold — What's the Difference?

Solid Gold — What It Is and How It's Marked

Solid gold means the entire piece (aside from small solder joints in some cases) is an alloy of gold and other metals. The purity is stamped as karat (10K, 14K, 18K, etc.) or as parts per thousand (417, 585, 750). The whole item has that gold content, so its scrap value is based on weight and purity. Our scrap gold calculator and other gold value tools are designed for solid gold only.

Gold-Filled — A Gold Layer on Base Metal

Gold-filled (GF) items have a layer of gold mechanically bonded to a base metal (often brass). The layer is much thicker than plating — often 5% or 1/20 of the total weight by definition in the US. You might see stamps like "14K GF" or "1/20 14K GF". Gold-filled jewelry holds its look longer than gold-plated but is not solid gold. Scrap buyers may pay a small amount for the gold content, but it's usually a fraction of what solid gold would bring; many refiners don't want small lots of gold-filled scrap.

So: is gold filled worth anything? Yes, but much less than solid gold of the same weight. Don't use a solid-gold calculator for gold-filled pieces — the result will be wrong.

Gold-Plated — Thin Gold Coating

Gold-plated (GP) or gold electroplated (GEP) pieces have a thin layer of gold over a base metal (often brass or copper). The layer is usually microns thick and wears off over time. Vermeil is gold plating over sterling silver. Plated items may be marked "GP", "GEP", "HGE" (heavy gold electroplate), or have no purity stamp. Scrap value is typically negligible — refiners rarely pay for plated scrap in small quantities. Gold plated vs gold filled: filled has more gold and lasts longer; plated is the cheapest option and has almost no resale value as scrap.

How to Tell Them Apart

• Stamps: Solid gold: 10K, 14K, 18K, 417, 585, 750, etc. Gold-filled: "GF", "1/20 14K GF". Gold-plated: "GP", "GEP", "HGE", or no stamp.
• Wear: Plating can wear off at edges and high spots; you may see a different color underneath. Solid gold and gold-filled are more uniform.
• Magnet: Solid gold is not magnetic. Gold-filled and gold-plated often have a base metal that can be magnetic — if a magnet pulls the piece, it's not solid gold.

For more on reading stamps, see our gold hallmarks guide and how to test gold at home.

Why Our Calculator Is for Solid Gold Only

The scrap gold calculator uses weight and purity (karat) to estimate melt value. That formula assumes the entire piece is that purity. Gold-filled and gold-plated items have only a small amount of gold; the rest is base metal. Entering their total weight as if they were solid gold would massively overstate their value. So: use the calculator only for items you know or strongly believe are solid gold (stamped 8K–24K or 333–999). For GF or GP, the calculator does not apply.