Why buyers pay less than the spot price
The spot price is the value of pure, refined gold traded on global markets. A scrap buyer can't pay you spot because they take on real costs and risk between your kitchen table and the refinery:
- Refining & assay: scrap must be melted, tested and purified before it can be resold.
- Margin: the buyer is a business and needs a profit on each transaction.
- Market risk: the gold price can move between purchase and resale.
Typical scrap payouts range from about 70% to 90% of spot for the pure gold content. Use the payout control above to model different offers.
Worked scenarios
| Item | Karat | Weight | Typical payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broken chain | 14K | 8 g | 80% of spot |
| Single ring | 18K | 4 g | 85% of spot |
| Mixed scrap lot | 10K–14K | 25 g | 75% of spot |
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Frequently asked questions
How much do scrap gold buyers actually pay?
Most pay roughly 70% to 90% of the spot value of your gold's pure content. The rest covers refining, assay, business margin and market risk. Use the payout control to model different offers.
Is the scrap gold calculator accurate?
It gives an accurate estimate of the metal value from the live gold price, your karat and weight. The final offer depends on the buyer's payout percentage and their own testing of your items.
Should I weigh my gold before selling?
Yes. Group items by karat and weigh each group in grams, then enter them here so you know the value range before visiting a buyer.