The short answer
Indicative scrap gold rates per gram, by carat
| Metal | Fineness | Indicative per gram |
|---|---|---|
| 9ct gold | 375 | £38.07 |
| 14ct gold | 585 | £59.31 |
| 18ct gold | 750 | £76.14 |
| 22ct gold | 916 | £92.97 |
| 24ct gold | 999 | £102.51 |
How to read these scrap gold prices
Scrap gold rates are quoted per gram, by carat. 9ct gold is 37.5% pure, 14ct is 58.5%, 18ct is 75%, 22ct is 91.6% and 24ct is 99.9%. A gram of 18ct scrap holds roughly twice the pure gold of a gram of 9ct, so the 18ct rate is roughly double the 9ct. The table above shows the per-gram rate already adjusted for each carat, so an 18ct scrap item weighing 10g uses the 18ct row directly. For a quick estimate on your own items, use the gold & silver calculator.
What moves the UK scrap gold price
The live UK scrap gold rate is the international gold price converted to pounds, less the buyer's margin. Two markets move it together: the global gold price set on international wholesale markets (the LBMA Gold Price benchmark, fixed twice a day in London), and the GBP/USD exchange rate. A weaker pound pushes the GBP rate up even when the USD price is flat, which is why UK rates can move on a currency day as well as a commodity day.
- Global supply and demand, central-bank buying, jewellery demand in Asia, investment demand and recycled-scrap flow.
- Interest rates and the dollar, gold is priced internationally in dollars; a weaker dollar or lower real interest rates tend to push the price up.
- Risk sentiment, geopolitical events, market stress and inflation expectations all move gold as a perceived safe haven.
- GBP/USD, the figure you receive in pounds depends as much on sterling as on gold itself.
None of that means "wait for a better day before posting". Gold moves both ways and timing the market is a separate skill from selling scrap you no longer want. Your firm GoldPaid offer is priced against the rate on the day we assess your items, with the rate shown in the written breakdown.
Why the table rate is indicative, not firm
A published per-gram rate is a starting point, not an offer. Real scrap differs from its hallmarks: solder at clasp joints is often a lower carat than the body, repairs were done over the years in different alloys, stones and base-metal fittings add weight that is not gold, and unhallmarked pieces can be anything from solid 22ct to plated base metal. That is why every firm GoldPaid offer follows an XRF assay of your specific items. Be wary of any buyer who guarantees a figure sight-unseen — the figure they quote and the figure they pay are rarely the same.
A worked scrap-gold example
Say you have 12.0g of 9ct scrap (a snapped chain, a single earring, a damaged ring). 9ct is 37.5% pure, so the fine-gold content is 4.5g. That 4.5g is valued against the live gold spot rate on the day, with the buyer's margin applied, and the result is your written offer for the 9ct portion. The table above shows the per-gram rate already adjusted for each carat, so an 18ct scrap lot weighing 10g uses the 18ct row directly. A typical mixed parcel adds the figures for each carat row separately, and you see every number in the written breakdown before being asked to decide. The full method is on how we value gold and a deeper walkthrough is on scrap gold value.
Where the live wholesale gold rate comes from
The international gold benchmark used across the precious-metals trade is the LBMA Gold Price, set twice a day in London (the morning and afternoon "fixings") by a panel of bullion banks. Most UK buyers, including GoldPaid, price scrap against that benchmark or the live wholesale rate, converted to pounds at the prevailing GBP/USD exchange rate. The published LBMA fix is visible on the LBMA website and most major financial-data sites. The rate in your written scrap offer is the rate on the day we assess your items — not last week's, not a "headline" figure and not a hypothetical maximum.
Are scrap gold prices the same everywhere in the UK?
The wholesale rate is national — there is no London versus Manchester versus Glasgow rate for the metal itself. Buyers differ on their margin, on whether they assay at all, and on how transparently the figure is shown. A high-street shop has rent, staff and rates that come out of what it can pay; a postal-only buyer carries less of that overhead and that often (not always) shows up in the figure. The honest comparison is whatever rate you see in your written offer. That is the figure to compare.
GoldPaid serves every UK postcode by post. Your scrap goes by Royal Mail Special Delivery on a prepaid label, you receive a written offer back, and you decide. The full UK-wide route is on sell gold by post UK and the specific scrap process is on sell scrap gold.
Common questions
What is the price of scrap gold per gram in the UK today?
It depends on the carat and moves continuously with the market. The indicative per-gram rates by carat are shown in the table above and were last reviewed on the date noted. Your firm offer is set after an XRF assay of your specific items, with the rate used printed in the written breakdown.
Why is the offer not the rate times the weight?
Because the rate is for confirmed pure-gold content and a buyer applies a margin. Real scrap also differs from its hallmarks. The XRF assay confirms the actual purity and weight, and the written breakdown shows every figure including the rate used.
How often do scrap gold prices change?
The wholesale gold price moves continuously and the rates published here are reviewed regularly. The date shown is when the table was last refreshed. Your firm offer is priced against the rate on the day we assess your items, not the date of this page.
Should I wait for the gold price to rise before selling scrap?
Honestly, that is impossible to call. Gold moves both ways and timing the market is a separate skill from selling scrap. If you have items you no longer want, the rate today is the rate you can act on.
Are these rates after the buyer margin or before?
The per-gram scrap rates shown are net of the GoldPaid margin and reflect the typical net rate for that carat at the date last reviewed. Your firm offer follows the same approach and the written breakdown shows the rate used and the calculation against your assayed weight and purity.
Do scrap rates change between high street and postal buyers?
The wholesale rate is national. Buyers differ on margin and on how transparently the figure is shown. A postal-only buyer carries less rent and staff overhead than a high-street shop and that often (not always) shows in the figure. Compare the written offer, not the headline.
How do I work out what my scrap gold is worth from these rates?
Multiply the carat purity by the weight, then by the per-gram rate for that carat. The gold & silver calculator does this for you if you enter a rough weight and carat. Final offers depend on inspection, item weight, purity, hallmarks, stones, non-gold components, condition and the live precious-metal market.
Can I sell scrap at today's rate without visiting a shop?
Yes. GoldPaid is postal-only. Send a photo on WhatsApp for an indicative figure, request a free tracked label, and post when ready. Your parcel is insured up to £2,500 via Royal Mail Special Delivery. GoldPaid can confirm the appropriate postal option before you post.