Indicative silver rates by standard
| Metal | Fineness | Indicative per gram |
|---|---|---|
| Sterling silver | 925 | £0.72 |
| 800 silver | 800 | £0.62 |
| Fine silver | 999 | £0.78 |
How to read these figures
Silver is worth far less per gram than gold, so silver value usually comes from weight, a full canteen of cutlery rather than a single chain. Sterling silver is 92.5% pure (the "925" mark), Britannia silver is 95.8% (the "958" mark), continental 800-standard is 80%, and fine silver is 99.9% (the "999" mark). The figures above are indicative and move with the live market. Use the calculator for a quick estimate and see sell silver for the full list of what we buy.
What moves the silver price
Silver behaves a little differently to gold. It is partly an industrial metal, used in electronics, solar panels and medical applications, and partly an investment metal. That gives it two demand drivers, which is why silver tends to be more volatile than gold both up and down.
- Industrial demand, solar, electronics and medical use account for a large share of annual silver consumption.
- Investment demand, coins, small bars and silver ETFs all draw on the same supply.
- Gold-to-silver ratio, many traders watch how many ounces of silver buy one ounce of gold; the ratio swings, and silver tends to outperform gold when that ratio compresses.
- GBP/USD, like gold, silver is priced internationally in dollars, so a weaker pound pushes the GBP silver rate up even when the USD price is flat.
Weighted bases, knife handles and other "loaded" pieces
Silver candlesticks, knife handles, salt cellars and some hollow-stem trophies often have a weighted base or filling, pitch, plaster of Paris or a non-precious filler, added for stability. The hallmark applies to the silver shell, not the filler. We still buy these items; we account for the filler honestly in the assay and weighing, and your written breakdown shows the recoverable silver weight rather than the gross item weight. Acid-testing or melting them yourself is never necessary, XRF reads the silver content directly.
A note on plated silver
Items stamped EPNS (electroplated nickel silver), "silver plate" or simply "plated" are not solid silver. They carry only a thin surface layer with little recoverable value, so the rates above do not apply to them. The same is true of most modern jewellery sold as "silver-tone". If you are unsure whether a piece is solid silver, send a photo of the marks on WhatsApp before posting and we will tell you honestly whether it is worth sending. The hallmark guide covers the marks to look for.
A worked example using these rates
Say you have a sterling-silver canteen of cutlery weighing 1,200g gross (a full Old English pattern set). Cutlery handles are sometimes loaded; for the example assume the recoverable silver content after weighing is 1,000g of 925 silver. That 1,000g is valued at the per-gram sterling rate shown in the table, with our margin already applied, and the figure is your written offer. The same rate logic applies to a single 4g sterling chain. There is no minimum weight to send and no premium for sending larger lots.
The proof, not the promise
Anyone can say "best price". GoldPaid does not. Instead the process is laid bare: a measured XRF assay, calibrated weighing, the live market rate, and a written breakdown you read at home before you commit to anything. The reassurance here is structural, built into how the service works, rather than asserted in a slogan.
Common questions
Why is silver worth so much less than gold?
Silver simply trades at a far lower wholesale price per gram than gold. That is why silver value usually comes from weight, a set of flatware rather than a single item. It does not mean silver is not worth selling; a full canteen of sterling cutlery or a tray of hallmarked silverware can still be a meaningful figure.
Do you buy silver-plated and EPNS items?
No. EPNS and silver-plated items have only a thin surface layer of silver and the recoverable metal value is too small for postal handling to make sense. We buy solid sterling (925), Britannia (958), 800-standard continental silver and fine silver (999). Send a photo of the marks if you are unsure.
How are weighted bases and filled handles handled?
XRF measures the silver content and our written breakdown shows the recoverable silver weight rather than the gross weight. You are paid for the actual silver content, not for the filler. Nothing needs to be cut, drilled or melted on your side.
Where does the live silver spot price come from?
The international silver benchmark is the LBMA Silver Price, set once a day in London. Most UK buyers, including GoldPaid, price against that benchmark or the live wholesale rate, converted to pounds. The rate in your written offer is the rate on the day we assess your items.