Scrap Gold Pro
Where to Sell Scrap Gold: 5 Good Options and the Upside of Each
You can sell scrap gold to a local jeweler, a coin or bullion dealer, a pawn shop, a gold refiner, or an online mail-in buyer. Each of these is a legitimate, well-traveled path — the right one depends on what matters most to you, whether that's same-day cash, deep precious-metals expertise, handling a large or unusual lot, or the convenience of selling from your kitchen table. Below is what each option does best, plus the one thing worth doing before you sell anywhere.
Where can you sell scrap gold?
Here are the five most common places people sell scrap gold, and what each is especially good for:
| Where to sell | What it's great for |
|---|---|
| Local jeweler | An expert eye in person, plus credit toward a new piece |
| Coin / bullion dealer | Precious-metals specialists who price karat gold, coins, and bars |
| Pawn shop | Fast, walk-in cash today — and the option to borrow instead of sell |
| Gold refiner | Larger lots and mixed scrap like dental gold, handled with an assay |
| Online mail-in buyer | Selling from home with a prepaid, insured kit |
What makes a local jeweler a good choice?
A local jeweler gives you an experienced set of eyes on your gold, in person and the same day. Jewelers handle karat gold every day, so they can quickly read hallmarks, spot gemstones worth saving, and tell solid gold from gold-filled pieces. Many also let you put the value toward a new or repaired piece, which stretches your gold further if you were already thinking about a purchase.
What makes a coin or bullion dealer a good choice?
Coin and bullion dealers are precious-metals specialists who follow spot prices all day long. That makes them a natural fit for karat-stamped jewelry, gold coins, and small bars, where pricing comes straight off the metal content. If you have recognizable items, a dealer can often value them on the spot and explain exactly how the number was built — a great option when you want a metals expert in the room.
What makes a pawn shop a good choice?
Pawn shops are built for speed and convenience. They're everywhere, they take walk-ins with no appointment, and you can leave with cash the same day. A pawn shop also gives you a choice most other buyers don't: you can borrow against your gold and keep it, rather than selling outright, which is handy when you only need cash temporarily. If you'd like to see how their counter works, here's how pawn shops price gold.
What makes a gold refiner a good choice?
A refiner works directly with the metal itself, which makes it a strong choice for larger quantities and for mixed or unusual scrap — broken pieces, odd karats, even dental gold. Refiners melt and assay a lot to measure its exact gold, platinum, and palladium content, so every bit of precious metal in the batch is accounted for. If you've collected a meaningful pile of scrap, going closer to the source can be well worth it.
What makes an online mail-in buyer a good choice?
Online buyers bring the whole process to your door. You request a prepaid, insured shipping kit, send in your gold, and receive an offer once it arrives. It's a convenient way to sell on your own schedule, and it really shines when there's no jeweler, dealer, or refiner near you. To send your gold off with confidence, weigh and photograph everything first so you know exactly what's in the package.
Know what your gold is worth first
Wherever you sell, one step makes the whole thing easier: figure out your gold's melt value — the worth of the metal by weight and purity — before you go. It turns any conversation into a confident one.
The math is simple. Say gold is $4,000 per troy ounce (a round number for illustration, not a live price). One gram of pure gold is then $4,000 ÷ 31.1035 = $128.60. A 14K chain is 58.3% gold, so it works out to $128.60 × 0.5833 = about $75.02 per gram. A 20-gram 14K chain is therefore worth roughly $1,500 in gold content. Sort your pieces by karat before you go — the 417, 585, and 750 stamps tell you which is which — and you'll walk in knowing your number. Want the full method? See how to calculate scrap gold value.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I sell scrap gold?
You can sell scrap gold to a local jeweler, a coin or bullion dealer, a pawn shop, a gold refiner, or an online mail-in buyer. Each one is a solid choice — the best fit depends on what you value most, whether that's same-day cash, precious-metals expertise, handling a large or mixed lot, or selling from home.
What is the easiest place to sell scrap gold?
Pawn shops and local jewelers are the easiest and fastest options. They are widely available, usually take walk-ins with no appointment, and can weigh your gold and pay you in cash the same day.
Can I sell scrap gold online?
Yes. Online mail-in buyers send you a prepaid, insured kit, you ship your gold, and they make an offer once it arrives. It is a convenient way to sell from home and a great option when there is no buyer nearby.
How do I know what my scrap gold is worth before I sell it?
Weigh each piece, note its karat, and calculate its melt value — the worth of the gold by weight and purity. Walking in with that number lets you talk to any buyer with confidence and recognize a good offer right away.
Estimate it in seconds
Whichever option you choose, it helps to walk in with a number you trust. Weigh each piece, pick its karat, and let the calculator price it against current spot in seconds. Scrap Gold Pro prices every karat against live spot prices and lets you set your own payout percentage, so you can quote a single ring or a whole box on the spot. It's free on web, iOS, and Android.