Scrap Silver Calculator
Find out what your scrap silver is worth at today's metal prices. Enter the weight, purity, and current spot price to calculate the melt value of sterling silverware, coin silver, jewelry, or any silver items.
The melt value of silver depends on three things: the spot price per troy ounce, the weight of your silver, and its purity. Sterling silver is 92.5% pure, pre-1965 US coins are 90% silver, and fine silver bullion is 99.9% pure. At a $32 spot price, 100 grams of sterling silver is worth about $95.
A troy ounce (31.1035 grams) is the standard unit for precious metals and is slightly heavier than a regular (avoirdupois) ounce (28.3495 grams). This matters because mixing up the two units means a roughly 10% error in your valuation. Kitchen scales typically measure in avoirdupois ounces, so select the correct unit.
Scrap buyers and pawn shops typically pay 70-90% of melt value. The difference covers their refining costs and profit margin. Knowing the full melt value gives you a strong negotiating position. If a buyer offers less than 70% of melt, shop around for a better deal.