Gold Melt Value Calculator
From weight, purity (karat) and gold price, compute the pure-gold weight and melt value — the metal-only worth without brand or craft.
Input Data
Results
At a glance:Gold melt value = pure gold content × spot price of pure gold, ignoring brand and craft. Pure gold weight = total weight × (purity% ÷ 100); melt value = pure weight × price per unit. Purity from karat: 24K≈99.9%, 22K≈91.67%, 18K=75%, 14K≈58.33%, 9K=37.5% (1K=1/24). Weight and price must share the same unit (grams or troy ounces). The melt value is the floor before selling — buyers pay a discount of it; knowing it guards against lowball offers. For estimates only, not trading advice.
Formula
Pure weight = total weight × (purity% ÷ 100).
Melt value = pure weight × price per unit.
$$W_{pure} = W_{total} \times \dfrac{purity\%}{100}$$$$Melt = W_{pure} \times Price_{per\,unit}$$How to Use
- Enter total weight in a unit (e.g. grams).
- Enter purity (from karat: karat ÷ 24 × 100%).
- Enter the 24K gold price in the same unit to get pure weight and melt value.
10g gold melt value by karat (price HK$600/g)
| Karat | Purity | Pure weight (g) | Melt value (HK$) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.9% | 9.990 | 5,994.00 |
| 22K | 91.67% | 9.167 | 5,500.20 |
| 18K | 75% | 7.500 | 4,500.00 |
| 14K | 58.33% | 5.833 | 3,499.80 |
| 9K | 37.5% | 3.750 | 2,250.00 |
At 10g, higher karat → more pure gold and higher melt value: 24K ~6,000, 9K ~2,250, over 1× apart. Confirm karat before selling. Price HK$600/g is illustrative.
Case Studies
Case 1: Floor price of a gold chain
Madam Chan has an 18K chain, 10g, spot 24K ~HK$600/g. Pure weight = 10 × 75% = 7.5g; melt value = 7.5 × 600 = HK$4,500.
That 4,500 is the metal floor. Buyers pay ~70%–90% of melt; at 80% she gets 3,600. Quoting two shops (one 80%, one 75% = 3,375) shows the former is better. Knowing melt value guides negotiation.
Case 2: Karat and price moves
Same 10g: 24K melt = 10 × 99.9% × 600 = 5,994; 9K = 10 × 37.5% × 600 = 2,250 — over 1× apart at the same weight.
Gold price also moves daily: if 18K at 700/g, melt = 7.5 × 700 = 5,250 (+750); at 500/g, 3,750. Melt = pure weight × spot, so either changing moves value.
Tips: confirm karat (stamp or assay); stones/clasps are not gold — separate them; ask whether the quote is per gram, tael or troy ounce (1 troy oz ≈ 31.1035 g); melt is a floor, not a deal — quote several. Pair with the scrap-gold and silver-melt calculators. Estimate only.
FAQ
How to convert karat to purity?
Purity% = karat ÷ 24 × 100%. 18K = 18÷24 = 75%, 22K≈91.67%, 14K≈58.33%, 9K=37.5%. 24K is near-pure gold (~99.9% in practice).
Is melt value what I will actually get?
Not necessarily. Melt value is the theoretical metal value — the floor. Buyers cover refining and operating costs, so they usually pay a percentage of it (commonly 70%–90%). Knowing the melt value lets you judge if an offer is fair.
Hong Kong quotes per tael — what to do?
As long as weight and price share a unit. If the shop quotes per tael, use taels for weight; if per troy ounce or per gram, convert weight to the same unit (1 troy oz ≈ 31.1035 g). This calculator is unit-agnostic; the key is consistency.
Why is the buyer's price below my melt value; am I cheated?
A common worry — you compute melt at 4,500 but the shop offers 3,600 or less. A discount below melt is normal industry practice, for legitimate cost reasons; the question is whether it is 'reasonable', not whether there is a discount. Melt value is the theoretical price if the gold were fully refined and sold at the pure-gold spot — a floor/reference, not your cash. Buyers of old/scrap gold cannot resell at spot directly; they bear: (1) refining cost — old jewellery is an alloy (copper, silver), needing melt, assay, purify, with cost and loss; (2) price risk — gold may fall between paying and reselling; (3) overhead and margin — rent, labour, assay equipment, fair profit. So the offer is usually a % of melt, commonly 70%–90%; the closer to pure (bars, grains) the smaller the discount, the more complex the old jewellery the larger. To judge fairness: (1) compute the melt floor here first; (2) quote several shops and compare their % of melt; (3) confirm the basis is 24K pure, not a mis-stated karat; (4) watch hidden 'handling/assay fees'. A reasonable discount is normal; if one shop is far below peers (e.g. only 50%), be alert. Melt value + multiple quotes is the best defence against lowballing. Estimate only, not advice.
Gold melt vs scrap-gold vs silver melt — which to use?
Their math is identical — weight × purity × price per unit of precious metal — differing only in context and metal. Gold side: 'Gold Melt Value' and 'Scrap Gold' use the same formula; the difference is context — melt value is the theoretical metal floor of any gold item (jewellery, coin, bar), good for 'what is this worth'; scrap-gold focuses on selling old/ broken gold with a buyer discount and multiple karat batches. Metal side: gold and silver share logic but differ in purity notation — gold uses karats (24K/18K/9K), silver uses fineness (.999/925/800); and their unit prices differ hugely (gold far above silver), so small silver amounts yield little. Choose: (1) floor price of your gold item/coin → Gold Melt; (2) selling old gold, with discount and batches → Scrap Gold; (3) silver items → Silver Melt or Scrap Silver. The four pair well when clearing both gold and silver. Estimate only.
Related Tools
References
Content review: Calculatorism Finance Team. Results are for reference only; please refer to the relevant authorities for the official figures.