Is melt value the amount a gold buyer will pay?

No. Melt value is a reference estimate. Buyers may deduct refining, testing, operating costs and margin, so offers are commonly below melt value.

Does KaratLedger buy gold?

No. KaratLedger is an independent calculator and does not make buy offers or execute transactions.

Transparent scrap gold calculator

Know the metal value before you sell.

Q: How is scrap gold value calculated?

Convert the item weight to grams, multiply by karat purity, then multiply the pure-gold weight by the spot price per gram. A buyer payout percentage can then be applied.

See the melt value, expected payout, and buyer spread for 10K, 14K, or 18K gold—with every part of the calculation visible.

Calculate gold value See the formula →

No sign-up
Manual fallback
Private by default

Free calculator

Gold value, with the math visible

Manual spot

Estimated payout$0.00

Melt value$0.00

Pure gold0.000 g

Spot / gram$0.00

Buyer spread$0.00

Using the spot price you entered. Estimate only—not a guaranteed offer.

10K–24Kcommon purities

g · dwt · oztrade weight units

100%visible math

How the estimate works

Four numbers. No mystery.

KaratLedger keeps purity, unit conversion, spot price, and payout separate so you can challenge each assumption.

Normalize the weight

Grams, pennyweight, and troy ounces are converted to grams without early rounding.

Apply purity

14K means 14/24 pure gold. The calculator shows the resulting pure-gold weight.

Use your spot price

Fetch a recent reference price or enter the number your buyer uses. The source and time stay visible.

Compare the payout

Set the expected payout percent to see the offer estimate and spread below melt value.

Gold value guides

Start with the stamp on your piece.

Each guide opens the same transparent calculator with the matching purity selected.

10K goldValue per gram →14K goldValue per gram →18K goldValue per gram →

Straight answers

Before you compare an offer

How is scrap gold value calculated?

Pure-gold grams = item grams × karat ÷ 24. Melt value = pure-gold grams × the selected spot price per gram.

Is melt value what a shop must pay?

No. Testing, refining, risk, operations, and margin can reduce an offer. The payout control helps you compare an offer with the calculated melt value.

Is the live price a tradable quote?

No. It is an indicative reference rate. Always confirm the price, unit, scale accuracy, and buyer terms at the time of a transaction.