# Scrap Silver Calculator

Calculate the melt value of scrap silver by weight and purity. Supports sterling, coin, and fine silver with current spot prices.

## What this calculates

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.

## Inputs

- **Silver Spot Price (per Troy Oz)** ($) — min 0 — Current silver spot price per troy ounce. Check a live metals site for today's price.
- **Weight** — min 0 — Weight of your silver items.
- **Weight Unit** — options: Troy Ounces, Grams, Pennyweight (dwt), Standard Ounces (avdp) — Unit of weight for your silver.
- **Silver Purity** — options: Fine Silver (.999), Sterling Silver (.925), Coin Silver (.900), European Silver (.800), Custom Purity — The silver content of your items.
- **Custom Purity (0-1)** — min 0, max 1 — Enter a decimal purity if using custom (e.g., 0.950).

## Outputs

- **Weight in Troy Ounces** — Your silver weight converted to troy ounces.
- **Pure Silver Content** — Actual silver weight after purity adjustment.
- **Melt Value** — formatted as currency — The raw metal value of your silver at spot price.
- **Value per Gram** — formatted as currency — Melt value divided by weight in grams.

## Details

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.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: How much is sterling silver worth per gram?**

A: Sterling silver (92.5% pure) is worth the spot price times 0.925, divided by 31.1035 grams per troy ounce. At a $32 spot price, one gram of sterling silver has a melt value of about $0.95. Actual buyback prices will be lower due to refining costs.

**Q: What is the difference between troy ounces and regular ounces?**

A: A troy ounce is 31.1035 grams, while a regular (avoirdupois) ounce is 28.3495 grams. Troy ounces are about 10% heavier. Precious metals are always priced in troy ounces. If you weigh silver on a kitchen scale in regular ounces, you need to convert to troy ounces for an accurate valuation.

**Q: How do I know the purity of my silver?**

A: Look for hallmarks stamped on the item. "925" or "Sterling" means 92.5% silver. "900" or "Coin" means 90%. "999" means fine silver. If there is no stamp, a precious metals dealer can test it with acid or an XRF analyzer. Unmarked silver is often plated, not solid.

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Source: https://vastcalc.com/calculators/finance/scrap-silver
Category: Finance
Last updated: 2026-04-08