Guide · Selling
What is a fair price for gold?
A fair gold offer is usually 60% to 85% of melt value. How to work out melt value, what each kind of buyer pays, and when to walk away.
Last updated October 23, 2026
A fair price for gold you sell is usually 60% to 85% of its melt value. An offer under 50% of melt is very low. Get a second offer before you accept it.
Melt value is what the pure gold in your item is worth at today’s gold price. No buyer pays all of it: the shop has to test the gold, melt or resell it, and make a profit. A small gap is normal. A big gap is not.
Step 1: Work out the melt value
Melt value = weight in grams × purity × gold price per gram.
| Stamp | Karat | Pure gold |
|---|---|---|
| 10K, 417 | 10 karat | 41.7% |
| 14K, 585 | 14 karat | 58.3% |
| 18K, 750 | 18 karat | 75.0% |
| 22K, 916 | 22 karat | 91.7% |
| 24K, 999 | 24 karat | 99.9% |
Our calculator does the math with the live gold price. Enter the weight and karat, and it shows the melt value in US dollars.
Step 2: Turn an offer into a percent of melt
Divide the offer by the melt value. A $600 offer on gold with a $1,000 melt value is 60% of melt.
Compare offers by this percent, not by the dollar amount. Two shops can quote different dollar figures because they used different gold prices or weighed differently. The percent shows which offer is really better. Type any offer into the calculator and it does this for you.
| Offer as % of melt | What it means |
|---|---|
| Under 50% | Very low. Ask at least one other buyer. |
| 60% to 85% | The usual range. Higher is better. |
| Over 85% | A strong offer, most often from a refiner or for larger amounts. |
These ranges are a rough guide drawn from what US gold buyers publish, not an official figure.
What different buyers tend to pay
- Pawn shops usually pay the lowest share of melt. They are quick and local.
- Jewelers and gold buyers usually land in the middle of the range. Get the offer in writing.
- Refiners and mail-in buyers often pay the most, especially on larger amounts, but you wait for payment and the item is out of your hands.
- Coin and bullion dealers pay close to spot for well-known coins and bars. See selling gold coins.
Our directory lists buyers near you. Check the dealer’s license before you go.
When a piece is worth more than its gold
Melt value is the floor, not always the ceiling. Signed designer jewelry, antique pieces, real gemstones and rare coins can be worth more to a jeweler, auction house or coin dealer than to a scrap buyer. Get one opinion before you sell these for melt.
Signs an offer is not fair
- The buyer will not say which gold price they used, or when it was set.
- You cannot see the scale, or they weigh all your karats together.
- There is a testing fee that only applies if you say no.
- They push you to decide now. A fair offer will still be fair tomorrow, give or take the gold price.
Ready to sell? Follow the full plan in how to sell gold jewelry.