Cash-for-Gold Payout Calculator
Straight answer
A buyer pays you a percentage of your gold’s melt value (spot × weight × purity), not the full melt. Refiners and top buyers pay most (~90–95%), local coin shops and jewelers 75–90%, and pawn shops the least (~40–70%). Enter your item’s weight, karat, and the metal’s spot price; this shows the melt value and the realistic payout range by buyer type — so you’ll know a lowball when you see one.
Knowing your melt value and what each buyer typically pays is the single best defense against getting underpaid for scrap or jewelry. Run the numbers before you walk in.
Melt is the ceiling for scrap and jewelry, not the offer. Recognized bullion sells closest to melt; jewelry/scrap sells below it. Get 3+ quotes — see who pays the most.
How payout is calculated
First the melt value: spot price × weight in troy ounces × purity (a 14k piece is 0.585 pure). Then the buyer applies their margin. A refiner melting in bulk can pay 90%+; a pawn shop reselling or refining at retail markup pays much less. The metal content is the same — the spread is all margin.
Get the most for your gold
Know your melt value first, separate items by karat, and get at least three quotes the same day. Sell recognized bullion coins as bullion (near spot), not as scrap. Read how to sell without getting ripped off and skip the cash-for-gold mailers unless they publish transparent rates.
How much does a pawn shop pay for gold?
Typically 40–70% of the melt value — sometimes less. They need resale margin, so for scrap or jewelry you’ll usually do better at a coin shop, jeweler, or refiner. Always compare quotes.
What percentage of melt should I expect?
Refiners and top mail-in buyers ~90–95%, coin shops/dealers ~80–92%, jewelers ~70–85%, pawn shops ~40–70%. Recognized bullion trades closest to melt; generic scrap and jewelry sit lower.
How do I find my gold’s melt value?
Multiply the spot price per troy ounce by the weight in troy ounces by the purity (e.g., 0.585 for 14k). This tool does it for you; the dedicated melt-value calculator handles more units and karats.