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Pawn shop gold price calculator: today's melt value by karat
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By GoldGuy. First published Oct 24, 2026; text updated Oct 30, 2026. Melt values refresh with every price update (spot: gold-api.com).
A pawn shop starts from melt value. As of Oct 31, 2026 2:24 AM ET, that is $72.70 per gram for 14k gold, $51.93 for 10k and $93.47 for 18k (gold spot $3,876.40/troy oz from gold-api.com). Pawn offers are lower. Enter your weight, karat and any offer below to see the gap.
Key facts
- 14k: $72.70/g
- 10k: $51.93/g
- 18k: $93.47/g
- Gold spot: $3,876.40/troy oz
- Data time: Oct 31, 2026 2:24 AM ET
Calculate your gold's melt value
Melt value: $727.00 ($72.70 per gram of your item, 10.00 g)
Enter an offer to see what share of melt it is.
Uses gold spot $3,876.40/troy oz as of Oct 31, 2026 2:24 AM ET (gold-api.com), refreshed several times a day. Melt is the gold content only; stones and non-gold parts add nothing at melt.
Pawn shop gold prices per gram today (melt value)
| Karat | Purity | Per gram | Per pennyweight | Per 10 g |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24k | 99.90% | $124.50 | $193.63 | $1,245.05 |
| 22k | 91.67% | $114.24 | $177.67 | $1,142.43 |
| 21k | 87.50% | $109.05 | $169.59 | $1,090.51 |
| 18k | 75.00% | $93.47 | $145.36 | $934.72 |
| 14k | 58.33% | $72.70 | $113.06 | $727.00 |
| 10k | 41.67% | $51.93 | $80.76 | $519.29 |
A pawn or scrap offer is a share of these numbers set by the shop.
Worked examples
| Item | Math | Melt value |
|---|---|---|
| 20 g 14k chain | 20.00 g × 58.33% × $3,876.40 ÷ 31.1035 | $1,454.01 |
| 4 g 10k class ring | 4.00 g × 41.67% × $3,876.40 ÷ 31.1035 | $207.72 |
| 6 g 18k wedding band | 6.00 g × 75.00% × $3,876.40 ÷ 31.1035 | $560.83 |
| 5 dwt (7.78 g) of 14k scrap | 7.78 g × 58.33% × $3,876.40 ÷ 31.1035 | $565.31 |
Why pawn offers are below melt
Melt is what the pure gold in your item is worth at the spot price. A pawn shop that buys scrap has to sell it on, usually to a refiner or wholesaler. That buyer charges for testing and refining. The shop also needs a margin. On a pawn loan, it also carries the risk that you do not come back. How far below melt an offer sits varies by shop and by day. We have not found a reliable published source that measures it, so this page does not quote a typical percentage.
How to check a pawn shop's offer
- Know the karat. Look for a stamp: 10K/417, 14K/585, 18K/750, 22K/916. Unstamped or plated pieces may be tested and priced lower.
- Know the weight in grams. Many shops weigh in pennyweight (dwt); 1 dwt = 1.555 g. The calculator accepts both.
- Ask for the per-gram price for each karat, in writing, and enter the total in the calculator to see what share of melt it is.
- Get more than one offer. Coin shops, jewelers and online buyback programs are other options; for coins and bars see where to sell gold.
- Decide between a loan and a sale before you sign; they are different contracts.
For comparison: what online dealers bid on bullion coins
Bullion coins and bars are a different market from scrap jewelry, but they show how close to melt a published bid can be. The bids we read most recently: 1 oz American Gold Eagle: $3,834.50, 98.9% of melt (Hero Bullion); 1 oz Gold Krugerrand: $3,786.16, 97.7% of melt (Hero Bullion); 1 oz gold bar (.9999): $3,795.81, 97.9% of melt (Hero Bullion), checked Oct 31, 2026 2:32 AM ET. These are not pawn-shop offers and not jewelry offers; see who pays most for gold coins and bars for the full table.
Local gold-selling data
Official counts of jewelry stores and precious-metal wholesalers, resident income and state bullion tax rules for: Houston · San Antonio · Tampa · Tacoma · Tucson · Chicago · Las Vegas · Denver · Sacramento · New York City. Karat pages: 24k gold per gram · 22k gold per gram · 21k gold per gram · 18k gold per gram · 14k gold per gram · 10k gold per gram · sell gold jewelry by karat.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pawn shop gold price today?
There is no single pawn shop price. The ceiling any shop works from is melt: as of Oct 31, 2026 2:24 AM ET, $72.70 per gram for 14k, $51.93 for 10k and $93.47 for 18k, from gold spot of $3,876.40/troy oz. Pawn offers are below melt.
How much will a pawn shop give me for 14k gold per gram?
Less than the $72.70 per gram melt value (as of Oct 31, 2026 2:24 AM ET). Each shop sets its own price after its costs and margin, so ask for the per-gram rate in writing and enter it in the calculator to see what share of melt it is.
How is pawn shop gold value calculated?
Weight in grams × karat purity (for example 58.33% for 14k) × gold spot per troy ounce ÷ 31.1035. Shops then offer a price below that melt value.
How much is a gold chain worth at a pawn shop?
Weigh it and check the stamp. A 20 g 14k chain holds $1,454.01 of gold at melt as of Oct 31, 2026 2:24 AM ET; a pawn offer will be below that. If the shop offers a pawn loan instead of buying, that is a different contract: you can redeem the chain by repaying the loan and fees.
How much is a 10k gold ring worth at a pawn shop?
Weigh it first. A 4 g 10k ring holds $207.72 of gold at melt as of Oct 31, 2026 2:24 AM ET; a pawn offer will be below that. Stones are usually not valued at melt.
What percentage of melt do pawn shops pay?
We have not found a reliable published source that measures it, so we do not quote one. Offers vary by shop, item and day. The calculator turns any offer you get into a percentage of melt so you can compare offers directly.
General information, not financial advice. Bullion Price Check publishes price data and does not buy, sell or lend on gold.