Gold IRA Fee Calculator
Straight answer
A Gold IRA costs more than a regular IRA because of the dealer spread on the metal plus ongoing custodian and storage fees. Enter your investment and the quoted fees, and this tool totals the all-in cost over your holding period and shows the yearly drag as a percentage. On smaller accounts those flat fees bite hardest — that’s the number the ads leave out.
The pitch is usually “tax-advantaged gold.” The cost is a one-time spread to buy the metal, an annual custodian fee, and annual storage at an approved depository — every year, whether the metal rises or not. Here’s what it adds up to.
Some custodians charge flat fees, others scale with account size — get the schedule in writing. Home storage of IRA metal is prohibited; “home storage IRA” pitches are a red flag.
The four costs of a Gold IRA
First, the dealer spread: you buy metal above spot and the account is worth its resale value immediately, so a 5–15% spread is a real upfront cost. Second, a small setup fee to open the self-directed account. Third, an annual custodian fee for administration. Fourth, annual storage at an IRS-approved depository, since you can't legally keep IRA metal at home. The full breakdown is in our gold and silver IRA guide.
Why flat fees punish small accounts
A $250 yearly custodian-plus-storage bill is 0.25% on a $100,000 account but 2.5% on a $10,000 one. Because much of the cost is fixed in dollars rather than a percentage, Gold IRAs make more sense at larger balances. Below roughly $25,000, the drag often outweighs the benefit.
Compare the alternative
A low-cost gold ETF held in an ordinary IRA gives gold exposure with a tiny expense ratio and no storage fee — though you don't own physical metal, and ETF gains are still taxed as collectibles. Whether the physical version is worth its extra cost is a personal call; size it honestly here first, and watch for the sales red flags common in this corner of the market.
How much does a Gold IRA cost per year?
Beyond the one-time dealer spread of roughly 5–15%, expect a setup fee around $50–100 and combined custodian-plus-storage fees of roughly $150–300 a year. On a larger account that's well under 1% annually; on a small one it can exceed 2%.
Can I store my Gold IRA metal at home to save fees?
No. IRS rules require IRA metal to be held by an approved custodian at an approved depository. "Home storage IRA" schemes risk having the whole account treated as a taxable distribution plus penalties — treat them as a red flag.
Is a Gold IRA worth the fees?
It can be for a larger, long-term allocation where the percentage drag is small and you specifically want physical metal in a retirement account. For smaller balances or pure exposure, a low-cost gold ETF in a regular IRA is usually cheaper.