How to sell scrap gold
To sell scrap gold, sort it by karat, weigh each group, work out the melt value at today's spot price, then compare per-gram offers from buyers that publish them. On 11 October 2026, a London dealer's published scrap rates were about 84% of melt value, for example £32.03 per gram for 9ct. Never accept an offer you cannot check.
Scrap gold covers anything sold to be melted: broken chains, odd earrings, old rings, dental gold. Buyers do not pay for design or sentiment, so the only thing that matters is how much of the melt value they hand back to you.
Where can you sell scrap gold?
| Buyer | Price transparency | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullion dealer or refiner with published per-gram rates | High: rates by karat online | Same day in person; days by post | Most scrap |
| Mint buyback counter | Indicative rates online | Payment in a few days | Buyers near a mint that offers it |
| Mail-in kit from a large dealer | Varies; check for published rates | About a week | People far from a dealer |
| High street jeweller | Low to medium | Same day | Pieces that might resell as jewellery |
| Pawn shop or cash-for-gold store | Often low | Immediate | Small amounts when speed matters most |
APMEX notes that local cash-for-gold counters "rarely show you the exact purity and weight calculations they used" and can pay well below larger buyers, especially on small lots, though they are quick. Mail-in programmes, such as APMEX's own Old Gold and Silver kit with a prepaid insured label, trade speed for a price tied more closely to spot.
Scrap gold prices we found
Two well-known buyers publish what they pay per gram. We captured both and compared each rate with the gold value at spot.
| Karat | Hatton Garden Metals (UK) | % of melt | The Perth Mint (Australia) | % of melt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9ct (375) | £32.03 | 83.8% | A$55.80 | 76.6% |
| 14ct (585) | £49.96 | 83.8% | A$87.05 | 76.6% |
| 18ct (750) | £64.05 | 83.8% | A$111.60 | 76.6% |
| 22ct (916) | £78.23 | 83.7% | A$136.31 | 76.6% |
| 24ct (999) | £85.40 | 83.8% | A$148.66 | 76.6% |
GoldVetted automated price check, 11 October 2026. Hatton Garden Metals: daily scrap price list captured 10:56 UTC, compared with spot of £3,171.45/oz (gold-api.com). The Perth Mint: indicative jewellery buy prices stamped "Price Updated: 10/10/2026, 04:58:08 AM", compared with the A$6,039.39/oz reference price shown on its site on 11 October; the two timestamps differ, so treat the percentage as approximate. Perth Mint says its website prices are indicative and final prices are set in store. Hatton Garden Metals also lists 10ct, 12ct, 15ct and 21ct rates.
What this means: on a 10 gram 18ct bracelet, the difference between 84% and 77% of melt is several pounds or dollars per gram. Both buyers apply the same percentage to every karat, which makes their offers easy to check. Be suspicious of any buyer whose percentage changes depending on what you bring in. Hatton Garden Metals says its posted prices are guaranteed for two working days.
See Hatton Garden Metals' scrap prices
Scrap gold calculator
Enter the weight you have for each karat. Add a buyer's payout percentage (for example 84) to see what they would pay.
What is my scrap gold worth?
| Karat | Weight | Melt value |
|---|---|---|
| 9ct / 375 | ... | |
| 10K / 417 | ... | |
| 14ct / 585 | ... | |
| 18ct / 750 | ... | |
| 22ct / 916 | ... | |
| 24ct / 999 | ... |
Uses the live spot price. Melt values are not offers. A fuller version is on our scrap gold calculator page.
What about dental gold, mixed metals and unmarked pieces?
Dental crowns and bridges often contain gold alloys, but the purity varies and they may include other metals, so buyers test them and pay on the gold they find. Hatton Garden Metals, for example, runs a separate dental gold service. Unmarked jewellery is common, especially for older or overseas pieces; a reputable buyer will test it with acid, an electronic tester or an XRF machine and should tell you the result. Watches are usually valued for the gold case and bracelet only, unless the movement or brand makes them worth more as a watch, in which case a specialist will pay more than a scrap buyer.
If you are selling an estate or a large mixed collection, keep coins and bars separate from jewellery. Coins and bars are priced off spot with a small margin, while jewellery is bought as scrap at a lower percentage of melt. Mixing them together can only lower your total.
How to sell scrap gold, step by step
Separate real gold from plated
Look for purity stamps (375, 585, 750, 9ct, 14K, 18K) and, in the UK, a hallmark. GP, HGE, GF or RGP mean plated or filled. Put unmarked pieces aside for testing. Our page on junk gold lists the stamps, and gold hallmarks explained decodes UK marks.
Take out anything valuable that is not gold
Have significant stones valued or removed by a jeweller. Remove heavy steel parts such as watch movements.
Sort by karat and weigh
Weigh each group on a digital kitchen scale in grams. Note the totals; a buyer's scale will be more accurate, but you will spot a big difference.
Calculate melt value
Use the calculator above. This is your benchmark for every offer.
Get at least two quotes
Ask each buyer to state the weight and karat they recorded for each group, and their price per gram. If a buyer tests and weighs in front of you, watch.
Sell, with ID, and take a receipt
Buyers must check ID. The Perth Mint, for example, needs 100 points of ID and an account, and pays jewellery sales into your bank in two to five business days. Keep the receipt.
How to avoid low offers
- Never sell without knowing the melt value. It takes two minutes with the calculator.
- Do not let a buyer lump all karats together at the lowest rate.
- Use mail-in buyers only if they publish per-gram rates, insure your parcel and will return items free if you reject the offer.
- Check designer and antique pieces first. Signed or period jewellery may be worth more than scrap to a jeweller or auction house.
- Avoid door-to-door buyers and "gold parties". Read gold scams.
Do you pay tax on selling scrap gold?
| Country | Rule for most people |
|---|---|
| UK | Personal possessions sold for £6,000 or less are normally free of Capital Gains Tax (GOV.UK). Above that, special rules limit the taxable gain. You pay no VAT when selling privately. |
| US | A gain is taxable; jewellery and gold are collectibles, taxed at up to 28% if held over a year (IRS Topic 409). A loss on personal-use items is not deductible. |
| Canada | Normal capital gains rules; half of any gain is included in income. Many personal-use items sell for less than they cost, giving no gain. |
| Australia | CGT rules apply to collectables, including jewellery; individuals who held the item at least 12 months can usually claim the 50% CGT discount (ATO). |
General information only, not tax advice. Old or inherited jewellery often sells for less than its original cost, in which case there may be no gain at all.
Thinking of turning scrap into bullion?
Some buyers, including The Perth Mint, let you use the proceeds to buy investment bars or coins. Bullion is priced far closer to its gold value than jewellery, both when you buy and when you sell. To compare premiums, see where to buy gold in the US, where to buy gold in the UK, where to buy gold in Canada and where to buy gold in Australia, and read how to buy gold. For coins and bars, see how to sell gold coins and how to sell gold bars, or browse the selling hub.
Frequently asked questions
How much do buyers pay for scrap gold?
A percentage of its melt value. On 11 October 2026, Hatton Garden Metals' published scrap prices were about 84% of the gold value at spot for every karat, for example £32.03 per gram for 9ct. The Perth Mint's indicative jewellery buy prices were about 77% of its own displayed spot price.
How do I work out what my gold jewellery is worth?
Sort it by karat, weigh each group in grams, and multiply weight by purity (0.375 for 9ct, 0.585 for 14ct, 0.75 for 18ct) and by the spot price per gram. The calculator on this page does it for you and can apply a buyer's payout percentage.
Is it better to sell gold jewellery to a jeweller or a gold buyer?
For broken or unwanted pieces, a specialist gold buyer or bullion dealer that publishes per-gram prices usually pays more than a high street jeweller or pawn shop. For designer or antique pieces, a jeweller or auction house may pay more than scrap value, so get both kinds of quote.
Do I need to remove stones before selling scrap gold?
Scrap buyers normally pay only for the gold and ignore small stones. Larger diamonds or gems can be worth far more than the scrap price, so have them valued or removed by a jeweller first. Stones also add weight, so ask the buyer how they deduct it.
Are mail-in gold buying kits safe?
Some are run by established dealers with published prices, insured postage and a fixed price guarantee. Others send low offers after your gold has arrived. Only use a buyer that states its per-gram rates, insures the parcel, and will return your items free if you reject the offer.
Do I pay tax on selling old gold jewellery?
In the UK, personal possessions sold for £6,000 or less are normally free of Capital Gains Tax. In the US, any gain is taxable, at up to 28% for collectibles held over a year, though inherited or old jewellery often sells for less than its cost. Canada and Australia apply their normal capital gains rules.
Sources
We checked these primary and official sources when writing and fact-checking this page.
- Hatton Garden Metals: Scrap gold prices per gram by carat (captured 11 Oct 2026)
- The Perth Mint: Sell your gold jewellery (indicative buy prices per gram, updated 10 Oct 2026)
- APMEX: How to sell junk gold (valuation method, local vs mail-in buyers)
- APMEX: Sell to us (old gold appraisal kit)
- GOV.UK: Capital Gains Tax on personal possessions (£6,000 rule)
- IRS Topic 409: Capital gains and losses
- Assay Office London: Hallmarking guidance (UK gold standards)
- Australian Taxation Office: CGT discount
- Canada Revenue Agency: Calculating and reporting capital gains
Not financial advice. GoldVetted provides general information to help you compare options. It is not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Gold prices go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you pay. Check tax rules with the official source or a qualified adviser before you act.