All-In Gold Purchase Cost Calculator
Straight answer
Your real cost to buy bullion is more than spot: it’s spot + dealer premium + shipping + any payment-method fee + your state’s sales tax (if it taxes bullion at all). Enter the spot, weight, and premium, pick your payment method and state, and this adds it all up — including the correct sales-tax treatment for your state — and shows your true effective premium over spot.
Two “great prices” can land very differently once shipping, card fees, and sales tax are in. This calculator gives you the all-in number, using the same state sales-tax rules from our sales-tax-by-state guide.
Sales tax applies to the metal subtotal here; jewelry/accessories and local rates can differ. Tax rules change — confirm with your state’s revenue department. Spot is a reference; not tax advice.
What goes into your all-in cost
- Premium over spot — the dealer markup; see premiums explained.
- Payment method — bank wire/ACH/check usually free; credit cards add ~3–4%.
- Shipping & insurance — often free over a threshold, otherwise a flat fee.
- State sales tax — most states exempt bullion, a few tax it, and some only exempt above a dollar threshold. This tool applies your state’s rule automatically — details on the sales tax by state pages.
The effective premium is the number that matters
Add everything up and divide by the pure metal value (spot × weight): that’s your true premium. A “low premium” product bought on a credit card and shipped to a taxing state can cost more all-in than a slightly higher-premium product paid by wire in an exempt state. Use the break-even calculator to see how far the price must rise to recover it.
Do I pay sales tax when buying gold?
It depends on your state. Most US states exempt investment bullion, a few tax it, and some (like California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia) only exempt purchases above a dollar threshold. This calculator applies your state’s current rule; always verify with your state’s revenue department.
Why does paying by credit card cost more?
Dealers pass on card processing fees, typically ~3–4%, and often cap card orders. Bank wire, ACH, or check usually costs nothing — which is why those are the cheapest ways to pay.
What’s an “effective premium”?
Your total all-in cost divided by the pure metal value, minus one. It folds premium, shipping, payment fees, and sales tax into a single percentage so you can compare offers fairly.