Gold Melt Value Calculator - Melt Value of Gold
Gold melt value is the raw metal value of your gold—weight × purity × spot-derived price—with no craftsmanship or retail markup. It is what refineries use as a baseline before their fee and assay. Use the calculator for any karat; optional scrap percentages model what buyers often pay versus full melt.
Gold Value Calculator
Adjust this price to project a future value. 24K per troy oz.
Melt value vs spot vs scrap
Spot quotes are usually per troy ounce of fine gold. Melt value applies that idea to your actual alloy: 10K–22K jewelry contains less gold per gram than 24K, so melt per gram drops with karat. Scrap payout is what a pawn shop, mail-in buyer, or refinery pays after discount—often 70–90% of melt for consumer scrap, higher for bulk refinery lots.
Our calculator shows full metal value first; turn on scrap options to see a refinery-style percentage (default 92%) or pick another buyer type on the scrap gold calculator.
Gold melt price per gram (sample karats)
Values below match the same spot-derived rates as the calculator—full melt, not a buyer offer. Prices as of Apr 17, 2026, 12:00 AM.
| Karat | Melt / gram | Melt / troy oz |
|---|---|---|
| 10K | $64.17 | $1,996 |
| 14K | $89.84 | $2,794 |
| 18K | $115.51 | $3,593 |
| 22K | $141.18 | $4,391 |
| 24K | $154.01 | $4,790 |
Refinery payouts and fees
Refineries typically pay in the 85–95% range of true melt value for verified scrap, depending on volume, assay method, and contract. Lower percentages often reflect retail scrap buyers who take higher spread for small lots, shipping, and risk.
Gold melt value — FAQ
What is gold melt value?
Melt value is the value of the gold content in an item if it were refined to pure metal—no labor, design, or brand markup. It is based on weight, karat (purity), and the current gold spot price.
Is melt value the same as spot price?
Spot is usually quoted per troy ounce of fine (24K) gold. For jewelry, melt value is spot-derived: multiply fine-gold fraction by weight. So 14K melt is lower per gram than 24K because 14K is about 58.3% gold.
Why would a buyer pay less than melt value?
Refineries and dealers cover assay, shipping, refining loss, and margin. Typical scrap payouts are roughly 70–90% of melt; refinery settlements are often in the 85–95% range depending on volume and terms.
How is melt value different from resale or retail price?
Resale can include craftsmanship and brand. Retail jewelry is priced well above melt. Melt is a floor for the metal only—use it to compare offers on scrap or broken jewelry.
Does this calculator include fees?
The default result is full metal value at our spot-derived rates. Enable scrap options in the calculator to model typical buyer percentages (e.g. refinery ~92%).
⚠️ Disclaimer: Melt value estimates only; actual refinery and buyer terms vary.