A dealer’s offer means nothing on its own. What matters is what share of the metal value it represents, and that is a number you can work out in ten seconds.
Prices default to 2 September 2026 and can be edited above. For prices that update through the day, and to keep a record of what you own, get the app.
Gold buyers pay a percentage of melt value. That is not dishonest — refining costs money and they carry the price risk between buying and selling. The question is only whether the percentage is reasonable.
As a rough guide, a high-street cash-for-gold shop may offer 60% to 70% of melt. A specialist buyer or refiner taking larger lots will often reach 85% to 95%. Getting a second quote costs an afternoon and frequently moves the number.
Weigh your own pieces before you go. A scale that reads to a tenth of a gram costs very little, and knowing the weight before somebody else weighs it changes the conversation entirely.
Separate by karat before you hand anything over. A mixed pile gets valued at or near the lowest karat in it unless somebody sorts it, and the person doing the sorting should be the one who is selling. Ten minutes with a loupe and the hallmarks is usually worth more per hour than anything else in the transaction.
Buy and sell precious metals regularly? MyGoldWorth keeps your purchase cost, live melt value, inventory and real profit in one place — so the sums above are done for every piece you own, not one at a time.
Get MyGoldWorthAbove 85% is strong. Between 70% and 85% is normal for smaller quantities. Below 60% you are paying heavily for convenience.
They take small quantities, carry the price risk, and have premises to pay for. Volume buyers have lower costs per gram and can pay more.
Usually, especially with a competing quote in hand. Knowing the melt value is what makes the conversation possible at all.