Scrap Gold Calculator 2026
Instantly calculate the melt value of your scrap gold. A free UK tool to estimate the worth of your jewellery, coins, or bullion based on weight, karat, and spot price.
Gold Value Projection
Enter your gold details to calculate its melt value
The total weight of your gold item(s) in grams.
The karatage indicates the purity of the gold. 24k is pure gold, while lower karats are mixed with other metals.
The current live market price of pure (24k) gold per troy ounce.
Your Scrap Gold Estimate
Melt value and purity breakdown
Enter your gold details above and click Calculate Value to reveal your scrap gold melt projection.
Gold Purity Benchmarks
Quickly reference the standard purity percentages for different gold karats and their common uses in jewellery and bullion.
| Karat | Purity Percentage | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
| 24k | 99.9% | Gold bars, bullion coins |
| 22k | 91.6% | High-quality jewellery, sovereign coins |
| 18k | 75.0% | Fine jewellery, wedding rings |
| 14k | 58.3% | Everyday jewellery, durable pieces |
| 10k | 41.7% | Budget jewellery, very durable |
| 9k | 37.5% | UK standard for affordable jewellery |
Scrap Gold FAQ
Everything you need to know about calculating scrap gold value, understanding gold purity, and navigating the UK gold market.
Scrap gold refers to any gold item that is being sold for its melt value rather than its aesthetic or collectible worth. This includes broken jewellery, old coins, dental gold, and industrial gold. Buyers refine it to extract the pure gold content.
The melt value is calculated by multiplying the weight of the gold by its purity percentage, and then by the current spot price of pure gold. Our calculator converts the troy ounce spot price into a per-gram price to give you an accurate valuation.
Karat (kt or k) is the measure of gold purity (e.g., 24k is pure gold). Carat (ct) is a measure of weight used for gemstones and diamonds (1 carat = 200 milligrams). In the UK, ‘carat’ is also sometimes used interchangeably with ‘karat’ when discussing gold purity, but technically they are different.
Rarely. Scrap gold buyers, such as pawn shops or cash-for-gold services, need to make a profit and cover refining costs. They typically pay between 70% and 90% of the calculated melt value. Always get multiple quotes to ensure you are getting a fair deal.
Most genuine gold jewellery in the UK is hallmarked by an Assay Office, which guarantees its purity. If there is no hallmark, you can use a gold testing kit (acid test), an electronic gold tester, or take it to a professional jeweller for an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) test.
You should always sell scrap gold by weight (per gram or troy ounce) based on its melt value. Selling per item often results in a much lower payout, as buyers may undervalue the gold content. However, rare or antique coins may be worth more to collectors than their melt value.