What US pawn shops typically pay for gold jewelry, worked out from today's live spot price. Know these numbers before you walk in.
| Karat | Melt value / g | Pawn shop / g | Pawn shop / dwt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | $134.59 | $80.76 – $107.67 | $125.59 – $167.45 |
| 18K | $101.05 | $60.63 – $80.84 | $94.29 – $125.71 |
| 14K | $78.82 | $47.29 – $63.05 | $73.54 – $98.06 |
| 10K | $56.18 | $33.71 – $44.95 | $52.42 – $69.90 |
Pawn shop range assumes 60–80% of melt value, typical for US pawn shops. Offers vary by shop and city.
Melt value of your jewelry at today's spot. Buyers typically pay 70–90% of it.
Usually 60–80% of melt value: about $47.29–$63.05 per gram today, against a melt value of $78.82.
Around $33.71–$44.95 per gram, or $52.42–$69.90 per pennyweight.
A pawn loan lets you get the item back, but interest and fees are high and loan amounts are usually lower than an outright sale offer. If you don't need the piece back, selling for a fair percentage of melt is usually better.
Pawn shops sell most gold on to refiners and keep a margin for risk and overhead. Specialist gold buyers and refiners deal in volume and often pay a higher percentage.