Gold Melt Value Calculator
Precise melt value from weight and fineness — the same weight × fineness × spot-price method refiners and dealers use to value raw or scrap gold before refining deductions.
Karat → Fineness Reference
Fineness is the fraction of pure gold by weight. This tool computes it as karat ÷ 24, the same convention our live price-per-gram figures are built on, so the numbers below always match what the calculator above actually uses.
| Karat | Fineness |
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Melt value reflects pure-metal content only. Real refiners and dealers deduct refining costs and profit margin, so actual payouts are lower. Not a purchase offer, not financial or investment advice. See our full disclaimer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between melt value and spot price?
Spot price is the market price for one troy ounce of pure (24k) gold. Melt value is what that price implies for a specific real item: your item's actual weight and fineness, multiplied through to a dollar figure. Spot price is the input; melt value is the output for your piece.
Do refiners actually pay full melt value?
No. Refiners deduct a processing fee and a margin, and may also deduct for assumed losses during refining on lower-purity or heavily alloyed material. Melt value is the ceiling a refiner's payout is measured against, not the payout itself.
What is dental gold typically, and does this formula work for it?
Dental gold alloys commonly run 10k–16k, though the exact fineness varies by dentist and era and isn't always stamped. The same weight × fineness × spot-price formula applies once you know (or can estimate) the actual fineness — select "Custom fineness" above if you have a lab or XRF reading.
Why use fineness instead of just picking a karat?
Karat is a convenient shorthand, but fineness (the exact fraction of pure gold, e.g. .917 for 22k) is the number actually used in the calculation. Non-standard alloys, older pieces, or lab-tested scrap sometimes carry a fineness that doesn't land neatly on a whole karat — the custom field handles that case precisely.