US gold premium report: October 2026
In October 2026, SD Bullion was cheaper than APMEX on every gold product both sold. A 1 oz American Gold Eagle cost 3.33% over spot at SD Bullion by wire on October 11, against 5.59% at APMEX. On a kilo bar the gap was 1.68% versus 3.13% to 4.08%. Card payment added about 4.3 points.
This is the first monthly US edition of the GoldVetted premium tracker. It uses only prices our script read from dealer product pages on October 10, 11 and 12, 2026, each shown with its timestamp and the spot price at the time.
- Dealers priced: SD Bullion and APMEX (plus Kitco buy prices)
- Prices recorded: 54 buy prices and 6 buyback prices
- Check dates: October 10 to 12, 2026
- Spot range: US$4,181.70 to US$4,195.60 per oz
- Next report: November 2026
Where was gold cheapest in the US in October 2026?
A premium is the extra you pay above the spot price, the wholesale price of one troy ounce of pure gold. The table shows the cheapest and dearest seller for each product we could price, using wire or check prices unless stated.
| Product | Cheapest | Dearest | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 oz coin (American Gold Eagle BU) | SD Bullion, US$4,327.23, 3.33% (Oct 11, 22:26 UTC, spot US$4,187.60) | APMEX, US$4,421.69, 5.59% (same time and spot) | US$94.46 |
| 1 oz coin (American Gold Buffalo BU) | SD Bullion, US$4,428.45, 5.82% (Oct 12, 06:29 UTC, spot US$4,184.80) | APMEX, US$4,518.39, 7.97% (Oct 12, 06:30 UTC, same spot) | US$89.94 |
| Small coins (fractional Eagles) | Not priced this month. Small bars instead: APMEX Valcambi 100 g 3.68%, 10 g 8.63%, single 1 g CombiBar piece 33.20% (Oct 12) | ||
| 1 oz bar | APMEX, any-brand secondary-market bar, US$4,309.29, 2.71% | APMEX, Credit Suisse in assay, US$4,449.29, 6.05% (both Oct 11, 11:45 UTC, spot US$4,195.60) | US$140.00 |
| 1 kilo bar | SD Bullion, US$136,755.66, 1.68% (Oct 12, 06:27 UTC, spot US$4,183.30) | APMEX, Perth Mint cast, US$139,983.99, 4.08% (Oct 12, 06:36 UTC, same spot) | US$3,228.33 |
| Card vs wire gap | SD Bullion kilo bar, +4.24 points | APMEX Buffalo, +4.50 points | US$180 to US$188 per 1 oz coin |
| Buyback (Kitco, Eagle) | US$4,091.99, 2.25% under spot (Oct 11, 22:25 UTC, spot US$4,186.40) | ||
| Round trip (buy Eagle, sell to Kitco) | Buy at SD Bullion: lose US$235.24 (5.44%) | Buy at APMEX: lose US$329.70 (7.46%) | Oct 11 prices |
GoldVetted automated price checks, October 10 to 12, 2026. Only APMEX sold 1 oz bars among the dealers we could price, so both ends of that row are APMEX. Sales tax depends on your state and is not included; see US gold tax rules.
What does the US data show this month?
Is SD Bullion cheaper than APMEX?
On every product both dealers listed, yes. SD Bullion's Eagle premium stayed at 3.33% to 3.41% across all three days, while APMEX's sat between 5.45% and 5.66%. The pattern held on the Buffalo (5.82% against 7.97%) and was widest on kilo bars, where SD Bullion's generic bar cost US$3,228.33 less than APMEX's Perth Mint cast bar on the same spot. A like-for-like comparison of fees and shipping is in our APMEX vs SD Bullion page, and each dealer has its own write-up in the SD Bullion review and APMEX review.
See SD Bullion's Eagle price Compare at APMEX
Was the cheapest 1 oz item a coin or a bar?
A bar. APMEX's any-brand 1 oz bar from the secondary market (meaning previously owned) cost 2.71% over spot on October 11, lower than any new coin we priced. A generic brand-name bar with an assay card (a sealed card certifying weight and purity) cost 3.66%. Branded bars in assay ran from 4.38% (Valcambi, Perth Mint) to 6.05% (Credit Suisse). See the 1 ounce gold bar guide for how these differ.
Does a graded Eagle cost much more?
Less than you might expect for a top grade. On October 12 APMEX listed the ungraded Eagle at 5.61% over spot, an MS-70 graded coin from NGC at 5.94% and one from PCGS at 6.43%. A 2026 First Day of Issue Black Label coin was 8.11%. Grading only adds value if a future buyer will pay for it; our PCGS vs NGC guide explains when it matters.
How much does paying by card cost?
Every card price we recorded was 4.24 to 4.50 percentage points above the wire or check price. On one Eagle at SD Bullion that was US$180.64 on October 10. On APMEX's Perth Mint kilo bar it was US$5,832.66. The two dealers price card the same way, so the payment method matters more than which of these two you pick.
What is the round-trip cost?
Kitco posted a buy price of US$4,091.99 for an American Gold Eagle on October 11, 2.25% under spot. Pair that with that evening's wire price and the loss from buying and selling straight away was US$235.24 (5.44%) via SD Bullion, or US$329.70 (7.46%) via APMEX. Kitco paid more for a Maple Leaf (0.76% under spot) and less for a Krugerrand or 1 oz bar (2.75% under). More on selling is in our US guide to selling gold and the Kitco review.
| Item | Kitco pays | Versus spot |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Maple Leaf (.9999) | US$4,154.62 | -0.76% |
| American Buffalo | US$4,133.75 | -1.26% |
| American Gold Eagle | US$4,091.99 | -2.25% |
| Krugerrand | US$4,071.11 | -2.75% |
| 1 oz bar .9999 in assay (Valcambi, Argor-Heraeus or Johnson Matthey) | US$4,071.11 | -2.75% |
| Maple Leaf .999 (1979 to 1982) | US$3,966.73 | Not stated |
What changed between October 10, 11 and 12?
Spot slipped 0.33%, from US$4,195.60 on the evening of October 10 to US$4,181.70 on the morning of October 12. Dealer prices fell with it, but by slightly less, so premiums edged up. The gold market was closed on October 10 and 11 (a weekend), which is why two reads on those days show identical prices.
| Product | Oct 10, 20:17 UTC | Oct 11, 22:26 UTC | Oct 12, 07:51 UTC |
|---|---|---|---|
| SD Bullion, 1 oz Eagle | US$4,335.39 (3.33%) | US$4,327.23 (3.33%) | US$4,324.31 (3.41%) |
| APMEX, 1 oz Eagle | US$4,424.29 (5.45%) | US$4,421.69 (5.59%) | US$4,418.59 (5.66%) |
| Spot | US$4,195.60 | US$4,187.60 | US$4,181.70 |
Same-day repeats on October 12 moved very little. SD Bullion's kilo bar went from US$136,755.66 (1.68%, 06:27 UTC) to US$136,785.24 (1.74%, 07:51 UTC). APMEX's Perth Mint kilo bar was read three times: US$139,983.99 (4.08%), US$140,016.14 (4.03%) and US$139,967.92 (4.11%). The Buffalo premium rose by about a tenth of a point at both dealers between 06:30 and 07:51 UTC.
Full US data table
Every US buy price stored for October 2026, oldest first. "Daily automated read" rows come from our scheduled once-a-day check. Card prices are listed as separate rows.
| Dealer | Product | Price | Premium | Spot | Timestamp | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APMEX | 1 oz American Gold Eagle BU, random year | US$4,424.29 | 5.45% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 10, 20:17 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | 1 oz American Gold Eagle BU, random year | US$4,608.64 | 9.84% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 10, 20:17 UTC | Card |
| SD Bullion | 1 oz American Gold Eagle BU, random year | US$4,335.39 | 3.33% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 10, 20:17 UTC | Wire or check |
| SD Bullion | 1 oz American Gold Eagle BU, random year | US$4,516.03 | 7.64% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 10, 20:17 UTC | Card |
| APMEX | 1 oz American Gold Eagle BU, random year | US$4,421.69 | 5.59% | US$4,187.60 | Oct 11, 22:26 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | 1 oz American Gold Eagle BU, random year | US$4,605.93 | 9.99% | US$4,187.60 | Oct 11, 22:26 UTC | Card |
| APMEX | 1 oz American Gold Eagle BU, random year (daily automated read) | US$4,424.29 | 5.45% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 11, 05:51 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | Any-brand 1oz bar, secondary market | US$4,309.29 | 2.71% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 11, 11:45 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | Credit Suisse 1oz bar, Boston vintage assay | US$4,414.29 | 5.21% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 11, 11:45 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | Credit Suisse 1oz bar, classic assay | US$4,439.29 | 5.81% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 11, 11:45 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | Credit Suisse 1oz bar, in assay | US$4,449.29 | 6.05% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 11, 11:45 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | Generic brand-name 1oz bar with assay card | US$4,349.29 | 3.66% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 11, 11:45 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | PAMP 1oz bar, in assay | US$4,389.29 | 4.62% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 11, 11:45 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | PAMP Lady Fortuna VERISCAN 1oz bar (sale price) | US$4,339.29 | 3.42% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 11, 11:45 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | PAMP Suisse Rosa 1oz bar | US$4,419.29 | 5.33% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 11, 11:45 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | Perth Mint 1oz bar, classic green assay | US$4,399.29 | 4.85% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 11, 11:45 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | Perth Mint 1oz bar, in assay | US$4,379.29 | 4.38% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 11, 11:45 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | Perth Mint Gold Button 1oz | US$4,349.29 | 3.66% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 11, 11:45 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | Perth Mint Swan 1oz bar, in assay | US$4,379.29 | 4.38% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 11, 11:45 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | Royal Mint Britannia & Liberty 1oz bar | US$4,449.29 | 6.05% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 11, 11:45 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | Royal Mint Britannia 1oz bar | US$4,389.29 | 4.62% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 11, 11:45 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | Valcambi 1oz bar, in assay | US$4,379.29 | 4.38% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 11, 11:45 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | Valcambi 1oz matte bar, in assay | US$4,399.29 | 4.85% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 11, 11:45 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | Valcambi CombiBar 10 x 1/10oz | US$4,709.30 | 12.24% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 11, 11:45 UTC | Wire or check |
| SD Bullion | 1 oz American Gold Eagle BU, random year | US$4,327.23 | 3.33% | US$4,187.60 | Oct 11, 22:26 UTC | Wire or check |
| SD Bullion | 1 oz American Gold Eagle BU, random year | US$4,507.53 | 7.64% | US$4,187.60 | Oct 11, 22:26 UTC | Card |
| SD Bullion | 1 oz American Gold Eagle BU, random year (daily automated read) | US$4,335.39 | 3.33% | US$4,195.60 | Oct 11, 05:51 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | 1 kilo gold bar, The Perth Mint cast (daily automated read) | US$139,967.92 | 4.11% | US$4,181.70 | Oct 12, 07:51 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | 1 kilo gold bar, various mints, pre-sale | US$138,707.64 | 3.13% | US$4,183.30 | Oct 12, 06:30 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | 1 kilo gold bar, various mints, pre-sale | US$144,487.12 | 7.43% | US$4,183.30 | Oct 12, 06:30 UTC | Card |
| APMEX | 1 oz American Gold Buffalo BU, random year | US$4,518.39 | 7.97% | US$4,184.80 | Oct 12, 06:30 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | 1 oz American Gold Buffalo BU, random year | US$4,706.66 | 12.47% | US$4,184.80 | Oct 12, 06:30 UTC | Card |
| APMEX | 1 oz American Gold Buffalo BU, random year (daily automated read) | US$4,518.59 | 8.06% | US$4,181.70 | Oct 12, 07:51 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | 1 oz American Gold Eagle BU, random year (daily automated read) | US$4,418.59 | 5.66% | US$4,181.70 | Oct 12, 07:51 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | 1 oz American Gold Eagle BU, random year, ungraded | US$4,420.19 | 5.61% | US$4,185.40 | Oct 12, 06:32 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | 1 oz American Gold Eagle MS-70 NGC, random year | US$4,434.69 | 5.94% | US$4,186.00 | Oct 12, 06:33 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | 1 oz American Gold Eagle MS-70 PCGS, random year | US$4,454.99 | 6.43% | US$4,185.80 | Oct 12, 06:34 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | 2026 1 oz American Gold Eagle MS-70 PCGS First Day of Issue, Black Label | US$4,525.20 | 8.11% | US$4,185.80 | Oct 12, 06:35 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | PAMP Lady Fortuna Veriscan 1 g bar | US$205.16 | Not stated (gift design) | US$4,183.30 | Oct 12 (time not recorded) | Only price shown |
| APMEX | PAMP Suisse Lucky Pig 1 g bar | US$255.16 | Not stated (gift design) | US$4,183.30 | Oct 12 (time not recorded) | Only price shown |
| APMEX | Perth Mint 1 kilo cast bar | US$139,983.99 | 4.08% | US$4,183.30 | Oct 12, 06:36 UTC | Wire or check |
| APMEX | Perth Mint 1 kilo cast bar | US$145,816.65 | 8.42% | US$4,183.30 | Oct 12, 06:36 UTC | Card |
| APMEX | Perth Mint 1 kilo cast bar | US$140,016.14 | 4.03% | US$4,186.20 | Oct 12 (time not recorded) | Wire or check |
| APMEX | Valcambi 1 g CombiBar piece | US$179.15 | 33.20% | US$4,183.30 | Oct 12 (time not recorded) | Wire or check |
| APMEX | Valcambi 10 g bar, in assay | US$1,461.93 | 8.63% | US$4,185.80 | Oct 12 (time not recorded) | Wire or check |
| APMEX | Valcambi 100 g bar, in assay | US$13,953.06 | 3.68% | US$4,186.00 | Oct 12 (time not recorded) | Wire or check |
| APMEX | Valcambi 50 x 1 g CombiBar, sealed | US$7,097.42 | 5.49% | US$4,183.30 | Oct 12 (time not recorded) | Wire or check |
| SD Bullion | 1 kilo gold bar, design our choice | US$136,755.66 | 1.68% | US$4,183.30 | Oct 12, 06:27 UTC | Wire or check |
| SD Bullion | 1 kilo gold bar, design our choice | US$142,453.81 | 5.92% | US$4,183.30 | Oct 12, 06:27 UTC | Card |
| SD Bullion | 1 kilo gold bar, design our choice (daily automated read) | US$136,785.24 | 1.74% | US$4,181.70 | Oct 12, 07:51 UTC | Wire or check |
| SD Bullion | 1 oz American Gold Buffalo BU, random year | US$4,428.45 | 5.82% | US$4,184.80 | Oct 12, 06:29 UTC | Wire or check |
| SD Bullion | 1 oz American Gold Buffalo BU, random year | US$4,612.97 | 10.23% | US$4,184.80 | Oct 12, 06:29 UTC | Card |
| SD Bullion | 1 oz American Gold Buffalo, random year (daily automated read) | US$4,429.31 | 5.92% | US$4,181.70 | Oct 12, 07:51 UTC | Wire or check |
| SD Bullion | 1 oz American Gold Eagle BU, random year (daily automated read) | US$4,324.31 | 3.41% | US$4,181.70 | Oct 12, 07:51 UTC | Wire or check |
GoldVetted automated price checks, October 10 to 12, 2026. On October 12, reads ran between 06:27 and 06:36 UTC; where only the date was recorded, the spot shown is the one used on that read. Gift and design 1 g bars have no premium stated because their price reflects the design, not the gold.
Which US dealers are not priced, and why?
| Dealer | Reason |
|---|---|
| JM Bullion | Its site does not allow automated price checks (tried October 10, 11 and 12), so we do not publish a premium for it. |
| Money Metals Exchange | Its site does not allow automated price checks (tried October 11), so we do not publish a premium for it. |
Being left out is not a verdict on price. If either site allows automated checks in a later month, it will be added.
How were these premiums worked out?
Single-item price
Our script read the price for one coin or bar (quantity 1) on the dealer's own product page, recording wire or check and card prices separately where both were shown.
Spot at the same time
Spot came from gold-api.com (XAU/USD) at the moment of each read.
One formula
Premium = price / (fine oz x spot) - 1. An Eagle holds exactly 1 troy oz of pure gold inside a heavier 22 karat coin; a kilo bar holds 32.15075 oz; 100 g is 3.21507 oz.
The full method, field definitions and the UK, Canada and Australia data are on the premium tracker. To test a dealer quote yourself, try the premium calculator, and read gold premiums explained for what drives them.
How should you cite this report?
Please quote the date, time and spot price with any figure, because premiums move daily. Suggested citation:
GoldVetted US Gold Premium Report, October 2026: single-item prices captured automatically from dealer product pages on October 10 to 12, 2026, premium over gold-api.com spot. https://goldvetted.com/us/premium-report/2026-10/
For a single figure: "A 1 oz American Gold Eagle cost 3.33% over spot at SD Bullion by wire on October 11, 2026 (spot US$4,187.60), according to the GoldVetted US Gold Premium Report."
When is the next report?
Next report: November 2026. It will repeat the Eagle, Buffalo, 1 oz bar and kilo bar reads, and we aim to add fractional Eagles. Until then, compare today's live spot of ... per ounce (Loading) with the premiums above, and see where to buy gold in the US, the American Gold Eagle guide, the Buffalo guide and dealer spreads explained. Live spot is not a dealer price.
Frequently asked questions
Which US dealer had the lowest gold premium in October 2026?
Of the two US dealers whose sites allowed automated price checks, SD Bullion was cheaper on every product both sold. Its 1 oz American Gold Eagle cost US$4,327.23 by wire on October 11, 2026, 3.33% over spot of US$4,187.60. APMEX charged US$4,421.69 for the same coin, 5.59% over spot.
How much more does it cost to pay for gold by card in the US?
In our October 2026 checks, card prices were 4.24 to 4.50 percentage points higher than wire or check prices at both SD Bullion and APMEX. On one 1 oz Eagle that was about US$180 to US$185. On a kilo bar it was US$5,698 to US$5,833.
Is a kilo gold bar cheaper per ounce than a 1 oz coin?
Usually, yes. SD Bullion's kilo bar was 1.68% over spot by wire on October 12, 2026, about half the 3.33% premium on its 1 oz Eagle. But a kilo bar costs over US$136,000 and is harder to sell in small pieces. See our 1 kilo gold bar guide.
How much do you lose buying and selling a gold Eagle straight away?
Using our stored figures, buying an Eagle from SD Bullion by wire for US$4,327.23 and selling it to Kitco for its posted US$4,091.99 would lose US$235.24, or 5.44%. Buying at APMEX instead would lose 7.46%. Gold must rise by that much before you break even.
Why is JM Bullion not in the US premium report?
JM Bullion's site does not allow automated price checks, so we do not publish a premium for it. The same applied to Money Metals Exchange. Their absence says nothing about whether their prices are high or low. Our JM Bullion review covers its fees and policies.
When is the next US premium report?
The next report is due in November 2026. It will repeat the same products and method where possible so you can compare month to month. Live spot prices and the full four-country data set are on the premium tracker.
Sources
We checked these primary and official sources when writing and fact-checking this page.
- gold-api.com: XAU/USD spot feed used for every premium in this report
- SD Bullion: 1 oz American Gold Eagle BU, random year (priced Oct 10 to 12, 2026)
- APMEX: 1 oz American Gold Eagle BU, random year (priced Oct 10 to 12, 2026)
- SD Bullion: 1 kilo gold bar, design our choice (priced Oct 12, 2026)
- APMEX: 1 kilo gold bar, The Perth Mint cast (priced Oct 12, 2026)
- SD Bullion: 1 oz American Gold Buffalo, random year (priced Oct 12, 2026)
- Kitco: posted buy prices for gold coins and bars (read Oct 11, 2026)
- LBMA: precious metal prices and the LBMA Gold Price benchmark
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.