Free Tool
Gold Value Calculator
How much is your gold worth? Enter the weight and karat to see the current melt value and estimated pawn shop offer based on live gold prices.
How the Gold Value Calculator Works
Our gold calculator uses live spot prices updated daily from the metals market. Enter the weight of your gold in grams, select the purity (karat), and the calculator determines the melt value — the raw metal content of your gold at today's prices. It then estimates the pawn value range based on typical pawn shop offer percentages.
Gold Purity and What It Means
Karat measures the proportion of pure gold in an alloy. Pure gold is 24 karat. Common purities for jewelry sold in the United States include:
| Karat | Purity | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
| 24k | 99.9% | Bullion bars, coins, some Asian jewelry |
| 22k | 91.7% | Indian/Middle Eastern jewelry, some coins |
| 18k | 75.0% | Fine jewelry, luxury brands (Cartier, Tiffany) |
| 14k | 58.3% | Most US jewelry, engagement rings |
| 10k | 41.7% | Budget jewelry, class rings |
To identify your gold's karat, look for a stamp on the piece. Common stamps include “14K”, “585” (meaning 58.5% gold), “750” (75% gold / 18k), or “375” (37.5% gold / 9k). If there is no stamp, a jeweler or pawn shop can test the purity using an acid test or electronic gold tester.
Melt Value vs. Pawn Value vs. Retail Value
Melt value is the raw gold content at today's spot price. This is the floor price — what a refiner would pay to melt the piece down. No buyer will offer less than melt value for gold.
Pawn value is what a pawn shop will lend you against the gold. This is typically 40 to 60 percent of melt value, because the shop needs margin for overhead, interest income, and the risk that you will not repay the loan.
Retail value is what you would pay buying the piece from a jeweler. It includes design, craftsmanship, brand markup, and store overhead. Retail value is typically 2 to 5 times the melt value, which is why the gap between what you paid and what a pawn shop offers can feel significant.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is my gold worth?
The value depends on weight, purity (karat), and the current gold spot price. Multiply weight by purity percentage by spot price per gram to get the melt value. Pawn shops typically offer 40 to 60 percent of melt value. Use our calculator above for an instant estimate with live prices.
How much do pawn shops pay for gold?
Pawn shops typically pay 40 to 60 percent of the gold's melt value for a pawn loan, and 50 to 75 percent for an outright purchase. The percentage varies by shop, gold purity, weight, and whether the piece has additional value beyond its gold content.
How much is 14k gold worth per gram?
14k gold is 58.3 percent pure gold. Multiply the current 24k gold spot price by 0.583 to get the melt value per gram. Our calculator uses live spot prices for an accurate, up-to-the-minute estimate.
Is it better to sell gold to a pawn shop or a gold buyer?
Dedicated gold buyers and refiners often pay closer to melt value (70 to 85 percent) than general pawn shops (40 to 60 percent), but pawn shops offer the option of a loan instead of a sale. If you want to keep your gold long-term, pawning gives you the option to reclaim it. If you want maximum cash, compare offers from both.