* Live gold price
18K Gold price per gram today
18K Gold is 75.0% pure gold, so its melt value is the gold spot price scaled to that fraction. As of July 13, 2026, 18K is worth about $97.85 per gram in pure melt value — a scrap buyer typically pays ~85% of that ($83.17/g) after refining and margin.
Published July 2, 2026 · Updated July 13, 2026
What 18K gold is worth per gram
- Melt value (per gram)
- $97.85/g
- Realistic scrap offer (~85%)
- $83.17/g
- Purity
- 75.0% gold
- Gold spot (per gram)
- $130/g
- As of
- July 13, 2026
Spot is the price of pure gold ($130/g). 18K is 75.0% pure, so each gram carries $97.85 of gold — before a buyer's margin.
18K value by weight (today)
| Weight | Melt value | Scrap offer (~85%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 g | $97.85 | $83.17 |
| 2 g | $196 | $166 |
| 5 g | $489 | $416 |
| 10 g | $978 | $832 |
| 20 g | $1,957 | $1,663 |
| 1 troy oz | $3,043 | $2,587 |
Melt value is the pure-metal content; the scrap column applies the typical ~15% buy-back deduction. Stones and non-gold parts are not counted.
The calculation
18K melt value comes straight from the spot price and its purity:
melt = spot/g × purity × weight(g)
= $130 × 0.75 × 1
= $97.85 per gramSubtract roughly 15% for a realistic buy-back offer. To value a whole piece, weigh it in grams (a $10 jewelry scale is accurate enough) and multiply by the per-gram figure above.
Should you sell 18K gold for scrap?
- Confirm the purity from the hallmark first. The stamp sets the multiplier — 18K means 75.0% gold. Not sure what the mark says? See the hallmark guide or the karat & alloy reference.
- Weigh it accurately in grams, excluding gemstones and any non-gold clasps or findings.
- Compare offers. Dedicated refiners pay closer to the $97.85/g melt value; pawn shops and mall "we buy gold" counters usually pay less. A designed or branded piece can be worth more sold intact than melted.
- Not sure of the metal or hallmark? Scan it in the Jewelry Identifier app to read the metal, purity, and stamp from a photo before you negotiate.
Prices update daily from the global spot market. This is an estimate for guidance, not a certified appraisal or a locked quote.
* Frequently asked
FAQ
- Q. How much is 1 gram of 18K gold worth today?
- A. About $97.85 in pure melt value as of July 13, 2026. A scrap buyer or pawn shop typically pays ~85% of that — roughly $83.17 per gram — after deducting refining and margin.
- Q. How do I calculate the value of 18K gold?
- A. Multiply the gold spot price per gram ($130 today) by the purity (0.75) and then by the weight in grams. For example, a 5 g 18K piece is 5 × $97.85 = $489 in melt value. Weigh only the gold — exclude stones and non-gold clasps.
- Q. Why is a buy-back offer lower than the melt value?
- A. Refiners and pawn shops deduct assay, refining, and margin — commonly 15% or more — so a real cash offer for 18K lands near $83.17 per gram rather than the full $97.85 melt value. Gemstones and non-gold components are excluded from the weighed total too.
- Q. Is this 18K gold price live?
- A. It reflects the global gold spot price as of July 13, 2026, refreshed daily. Spot moves continuously during market hours, so treat these as a close estimate, not a locked quote.
* Try it
Identify the jewelry in your hand, right now.
Just take a photo — AI reads the metal, gemstone, hallmark, era, and an estimated value range in seconds. First two scans free, no account required.
* Related