How Much Will a Pawn Shop Pay for 18K Gold?
Live melt reference in USD — illustrative payouts only.
Illustrative percentages only—not a quote from any specific shop. Offers vary by location and item.
Pawn shops usually pay a percentage of melt value, not a fixed list price. A common range is about 50–70% of melt for gold they buy outright (varies by shop). At the current USD spot used on this site, 18K is roughly $108.74/g melt before any discount.
The actionable part of “pawn shop price” is the payout percentage. Know your 18K melt per gram first, then compare offers across buyers.
Scrap gold calculator
Model melt vs buyer payouts for 18K—same spot basis as above. Pawn Shop uses the typical range we discuss on this page.
Scrap Gold Calculator
See what different buyers might pay based on market value
Adjust this price to project a future value. 24K per troy oz.
Typical ranges: pawn shops pay about 50–65% of melt value, online gold buyers about 80–92%.
Formula: weight × karat multiplier × spot price. 14K = 0.585, 18K = 0.75, 10K = 0.417.
Loading gold prices…
Pawn vs other channels (per gram, illustrative)
Melt per gram for 18K at this snapshot: $108.74/g. Other columns are typical % of that melt.
| Channel | Typical % of melt / g | Est. $/g (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Pawn shop | 50–70% | $54.37 – $76.12 |
| Local gold buyer / jeweler | 65–80% | $70.68 – $86.99 |
| Online / mail-in buyer | 80–92% | $86.99 – $100.04 |
| Refinery (bulk / high volume) | 88–95% | $95.69 – $103.30 |
Per-gram melt here is for this karat at our spot snapshot. Offers vary—not a quote.
Illustrative payouts by weight (pawn ~50% of melt)
| Weight | Melt (USD) | ~Pawn (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 g | $54.37 | $27.18 |
| 2 g | $217.48 | $108.74 |
| 4 g | $434.96 | $217.48 |
| 8 g | $869.92 | $434.96 |
| 15 g | $1,631.10 | $815.55 |
| 25 g | $2,718.50 | $1,359.25 |
| 40 g | $4,349.60 | $2,174.80 |
Before you walk in (quick tips)
- Clarify whether you’re doing a pawn loan or a straight buy—those are different transactions with different math.
- Confirm what they are paying for: metal only vs stones vs branded resale value.
- For mixed lots, ask if they’re itemizing by karat/stamp or giving one blended number.
- Know common 18K marks (karat + fineness) so you can catch a stamp misread quickly.
How to sanity-check the offer
- Compute melt for 18K (weight × 18K $/g).
- Translate the offer into an implied % of melt (offer ÷ melt).
- If it’s a pawn loan, compare the buyback amount to the cash you receive (fees/interest can dwarf the spread).
A practical 18K check
18K can have richer color, but color is not proof. Confirm stamps (750, 18K) and ask for an XRF read if the value is high.
Red flags
- They present “fees” only after you’ve agreed (testing/handling/loan fees should be disclosed upfront).
- They won’t itemize a mixed-karat lot but still insist on one low blended number.
- They won’t put the offer and terms on paper (ticket/receipt), especially for a pawn loan.
FAQ
- How much do pawn shops pay for 18K gold?
- Many pawn shops pay roughly 50–70% of melt for gold they buy outright, but it varies. At about $108.74/g melt for 18K, a 10 g item would be near $1,087.40 melt before any discount.
- Is the pawn shop price the same as melt value?
- No. Melt value is the full gold value at spot; pawn shops need margin and cover costs, so offers are usually lower.
- Do pawn shops pay by grams or pennyweight for 18K?
- Ask what unit they weigh in (grams vs dwt) and what percentage of melt they’re paying. If the first offer is low, reference melt and ask if they can move closer to typical bands. Get at least one other quote if you have time.
For per-gram melt tables, see 18K gold value by weight or the main pawn shop guide.