Gold Karat Calculator
Instantly calculate the value of any gold karat purity — 24K, 22K, 18K, 14K, 10K, or 9K — using live spot prices. Perfect for jewelry, scrap gold, inherited pieces, or trading.
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Estimated Value
New to Gold Investing?
Understanding karat purity is just the start. Learn how coins, bars, ETFs, and gold IRAs compare for long-term investors.
Read the Beginner’s Guide →Understanding Gold Karat Purity
The karat system measures the purity of gold on a scale of 24, where 24-karat represents pure gold (99.99% gold content). Lower karat numbers indicate that the gold has been alloyed with other metals like copper, silver, nickel, or zinc to increase durability, change color, or reduce cost. Understanding karat is essential whether you’re buying jewelry, evaluating an inheritance, or selling scrap gold.
The Karat Purity Scale
| Karat | Purity % | Common Use | Durability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.99% | Investment bars, coins | Very soft |
| 22K | 91.67% | High-end jewelry (Asian markets) | Soft |
| 18K | 75.00% | Premium jewelry, watches | Good |
| 14K | 58.33% | Most US jewelry | Strong |
| 10K | 41.67% | Budget jewelry, class rings | Very strong |
| 9K | 37.50% | UK budget jewelry | Very strong |
Why Karat Matters for Value
A 10-gram 14K gold ring contains less than 6 grams of actual gold — the remaining 4+ grams are base metal alloys with minimal scrap value. When calculating worth, only the pure gold content matters at the spot price. This is why two pieces of identical weight can have dramatically different values depending on their karat.
For example: a 10-gram 24K bar and a 10-gram 14K ring may look similar in size, but the 24K bar contains roughly 71% more pure gold and is therefore worth substantially more at the same spot price. This is also why the gold spot price is always quoted for pure (24K) gold per troy ounce.
How to Calculate Gold Karat Value Manually
While this calculator handles the math instantly, understanding the formula helps you verify offers from dealers and avoid being underpaid. Here’s the step-by-step process:
- Find the current gold spot price. This is the price per troy ounce of pure gold, updated continuously during trading hours.
- Convert spot price to per-gram. Divide the spot price by 31.1035 (the number of grams in a troy ounce).
- Determine the purity factor. Divide your karat by 24. So 18K = 18/24 = 0.75 (or 75%).
- Multiply weight by purity. If you have a 10-gram 18K piece, the pure gold content is 10 × 0.75 = 7.5 grams.
- Multiply by per-gram price. If gold is $80/gram, your piece contains $80 × 7.5 = $600 worth of pure gold.
Important: Spot Price vs Dealer Offer
The calculated value represents the raw melt value of the pure gold. Dealers will typically offer 70-90% of this value depending on form, market conditions, and dealer overhead. Jewelry stores often offer less because they need to refine the gold and resell at retail margins.
Pure investment-grade products (bars, coins) typically sell closer to spot, while scrap jewelry sees larger discounts. To maximize your return, get quotes from multiple dealers and consider selling through specialized refineries rather than pawn shops.
How Is the Gold Spot Price Set?
The price used in this calculator comes from the live spot market. Learn how London fixes, COMEX futures, and dealer premiums actually work.
Understand Spot Pricing →Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between karat (K) and carat (CT)?
Karat (K) measures gold purity on a 24-point scale. Carat (CT) measures the weight of gemstones, where 1 carat equals 200 milligrams. The terms sound identical but refer to entirely different concepts.
Is 24K gold a good investment?
24K gold is ideal for investment because every gram is pure gold, maximizing value retention. However, it’s too soft for jewelry that will see daily wear. Investment bars, coins, and IRAs almost always use 24K. For an investing primer, see our beginner’s guide to gold investing.
Why is most US jewelry 14K instead of 18K or 24K?
14K hits the sweet spot for the American market: it’s durable enough for daily wear, retains a noticeable gold color, costs less than higher-purity alternatives, and is hypoallergenic for most people. European and Asian markets often prefer higher purity for cultural and traditional reasons.
Can I melt down jewelry to extract pure gold?
Technically yes, but it requires specialized equipment and refining knowledge. In practice, you’ll get better value selling to a reputable refiner who will assay the metal, deduct refining costs, and pay you a percentage of spot price. Trying to refine gold at home is dangerous and rarely cost-effective.
Does this calculator account for dealer markups or refining costs?
No — the calculator shows the theoretical melt value at current spot price. Actual offers from dealers will be lower to account for refining, processing, and dealer margin. Use this as a baseline to evaluate offers, not as a guaranteed sale price.
How often is the gold price updated?
The gold price displayed updates every hour using live data from Metals.dev. Spot gold trades 24/7 during the global trading week, so prices can change between page loads. For the most up-to-date pricing during active markets, refresh the page.