A closer look at 18K gold
18K gold price per gram and melt value.
Current market reference: $131.01 per gram of pure gold, checked Nov 8, 2026, 8:02 AM. At that reference, solid 18K gold contains about $98.26 of gold per gram before non-gold deductions.
Eighteen-karat gold contains three parts gold for every four parts of alloy. It carries more gold per gram than 10K or 14K, but stones, clasps, and repairs still need to be removed from the metal weight.
18K gold is 75% pure. Multiply the gold-bearing weight by 18/24. Then multiply that estimated pure-gold weight by a current gold price per gram.
Marks such as 750 can support the purity description, but a stamp alone cannot prove that a piece is genuine. Gold-plated and gold-filled items require a different assessment because their full weight is not 18K gold.
Estimated 18K gold value by weight.
| 18K metal weight | Pure gold content | Estimated melt value |
|---|
| 1 gram |
0.75 grams |
$98.26 |
| 5 grams |
3.75 grams |
$491.29 |
| 10 grams |
7.50 grams |
$982.58 |
| 20 grams |
15.00 grams |
$1,965.17 |
Ten grams of solid 18K gold contain about 7.50 grams of pure gold and have an estimated melt value of $982.58 at this reference.
This estimates contained gold, not what a refiner, dealer, pawn shop, or private buyer will pay. Testing, refining, shipping, tax, and selling costs can reduce the result.
Work from the gold-bearing weight.
Start with the piece's weight, then subtract stones, a watch movement, steel springs, weighted sections, or any other material that is not 18K gold. If the seller does not disclose a reliable metal-only weight, leave it unknown rather than treating the whole piece as gold.
Free 18K gold calculator
Calculate 18K gold from its actual metal weight.
Enter the piece's weight, then subtract stones and every part that is not 18K gold. Add the seller's price and buying costs if you want to compare the full purchase with the metal estimate.
This estimates the gold contained in the piece. It is not an appraisal, a resale offer, or a promise of profit.
Common questions
Questions about 18K gold value.
How do you calculate the melt value of 18K gold?
Subtract stones and other non-gold parts from the total weight, multiply the remaining 18K metal weight by 18/24, then multiply by the price of pure gold per gram.
How much pure gold is in 18K gold?
18K gold is 75% gold by weight before stones and other non-gold parts are removed.
Is melt value the same as a buyer's offer?
No. Melt value estimates the gold contained in the item. A buyer or refiner may pay less, and testing, refining, shipping, tax, and selling costs can reduce the amount received.
Compare the listing, not just the gold number.
Recheck the seller's current price, availability, condition, fees, and return terms before buying. SpotMelts keeps listings in a permanent history when they sell out or disappear, while members can search current records and sort listings with enough evidence by price compared with estimated melt value.
Search the full catalog for listings closer to melt.
Membership opens the complete searchable catalog with no credits or per-listing charges. Search by metal, review current and sold-out records, and sort listings with enough price, weight, and purity evidence by how close they are to estimated melt value. $9.99 for the first month, then $49.99/month.
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