Welcome to the essential valuation dashboard and seller’s guide for the scrap gold price UK today (live scrap gold rates per gram in British Pounds). Whether you are clearing out broken jewelry, valuing hallmarked 9ct chains, unworn 18ct rings, dental scrap, or estate heirlooms, this guide provides transparent market rates in British Pound Sterling (GBP) based on real-time commodity data.
Unlike standard bullion that sells at a premium, scrap gold trades at a slight discount below the raw spot benchmark to account for melting, assaying, and refining costs. All rates below update dynamically against live London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) spot prices.
Live Spot Benchmark (Raw Gold)
Estimated Scrap Gold Price per Gram in the UK (GBP)
The estimates below reflect standard professional trade refinery payouts (typically 90% to 95% of pure spot value), giving you an honest baseline before visiting high street pawnbrokers or online postal buyers:
| Purity / Carat | Hallmark (Fineness) | Pure Gold Content | Typical Scrap Refinery Value |
| 9 Carat (9ct) | 375 | 37.50% | Standard British high street scrap benchmark |
| 14 Carat (14ct) | 585 | 58.50% | Common for vintage and continental European imports |
| 18 Carat (18ct) | 750 | 75.00% | High-purity rings, luxury designer scrap, and chains |
| 22 Carat (22ct) | 916 | 91.67% | Sovereigns, Indian bridal jewelry, and traditional bangles |
| 24 Carat (24ct) | 999 / 999.9 | 99.90%+ | Pure gold grains, damaged minted bars, and ingots |
How Is Scrap Gold Valued in the UK?
Valuing scrap gold is a straightforward mathematical calculation based purely on weight and metal purity, completely disregarding brand names, labor, or retail retail markups:
$$\text{Scrap Value (GBP)} = \text{Weight (grams)} \times \left(\frac{\text{Carat Purity}}{24}\right) \times \text{Spot Price per Gram} \times \text{Buyer Payout \%}$$
- Weight in Grams: The actual physical mass of the precious metal after removing non-gold stones, glass gems, synthetic crystals, and inner springs.
- Hallmark Fineness: In the UK, 9ct gold (375 fineness) makes up the vast majority of broken chains and vintage rings. This means that out of 10 grams of 9ct gold, only 3.75 grams is pure gold; the remaining 6.25 grams consists of base metals (copper, silver, or zinc).
- Refinery Margin (Buyer Payout): Direct trade refiners (such as those in Birmingham or London) typically pay 90% to 95% of the pure spot market value. High street jewellers or postal envelope companies often pay between 65% and 80% to absorb overheads and marketing costs.
UK Hallmarks: How to Identify Your Gold Carat
Under the British Hallmarking Act 1973, it is illegal for any UK trader to describe an article as gold unless it carries an officially verified hallmark from one of the four statutory UK Assay Offices:
| Carat Rating | Standard Stamp | Alternative Stamp | Common Visual Mark |
| 9 Carat | 375 | 9ct / .375 | Inside ring bands, chain end-caps, small clasps |
| 14 Carat | 585 | 14k / .585 | European hallmark, antique watch cases |
| 18 Carat | 750 | 18ct / 18k | Crown mark followed by 750 (rich deeper yellow tone) |
| 22 Carat | 916 | 22ct | Very soft, deep yellow-orange coloration |
The 4 UK Assay Office Symbols
- London Assay Office: Leopard’s head mark.
- Birmingham Assay Office: Anchor symbol (the largest jewelry quarter in the UK).
- Sheffield Assay Office: Yorkshire rose symbol.
- Edinburgh Assay Office: Three-turreted castle mark.
Where to Sell Scrap Gold for the Best Price in the UK
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[ Direct Bullion Refiners ] [ High Street & Pawnbrokers ]
• Highest Payouts (92% - 97%) • Lower Payouts (60% - 80%)
• Transparent Live Fixings • Instant Cash Settlement
• Hatton Garden & Birmingham • Convenient Local Access
• Hatton Garden Metals, Chards • Cash Converters, Local Shops
1. Specialist Precious Metals Refiners (Highest Payout)
Specialist bullion refiners like Hatton Garden Metals, Chards, and Baird & Co. offer the best payout percentages in the country. Because they melt and refine metal at scale, their payout spreads sit consistently between 92% and 97% of the spot price, with funds paid straight into your bank account via BACS or Faster Payments.
2. Postal “Cash for Gold” Services
Online postal services send pre-paid, insured Royal Mail Special Delivery envelopes. While convenient, review their terms carefully: reputable online dealers publish fixed scrap rates per gram that update with the market, while less transparent operators make speculative initial offers and charge return postage if you decline.
3. High Street Pawnbrokers & Local Jewellers
Pawnbrokers and local high street jewelers offer immediate cash in hand. However, their rates are lower (often 60% to 75% of spot) to account for commercial high street rents and lower turnover volumes. If you need speed, they are reliable; if you want top monetary return, sell to a primary refiner.
5 Essential Steps Before Selling Your Scrap Gold
- Sort by Carat First: Separate 9ct (375), 14ct (585), and 18ct (750) items before weighing them. Unscrupulous buyers might weigh everything together and payout based on the lowest carat.
- Weigh Accurately at Home: Use a digital kitchen scale (or a dedicated 0.01g pocket scale) to record your gross weight before visiting a dealer or posting your items.
- Deduct Non-Gold Weights: Gemstones, cubic zirconia, watch movements, and steel chain clasps do not hold gold scrap value. Refiners will either return loose stones or deduct their estimated weight from the final payout.
- Check for Resale or Antique Value: Intact luxury branded jewelry (Cartier, Tiffany, antique Georgian/Victorian pieces) sells for far more on the secondary market than its raw melt weight. Never melt down historic, collectible pieces.
- Lock in Live Spot Rates: Check the live spot price before agreeing to a quote. Real-time pricing protects you from outdated or suppressed quotes during market rallies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much is 9ct scrap gold worth per gram in the UK?
9ct gold contains 37.5% pure gold. Its scrap value equals 37.5% of the live pure gold price per gram, minus the refiner’s operating spread (typically 5% to 10%). Track the table above for live daily updates.
Do I pay tax when selling scrap gold in the UK?
Private individuals selling personal, broken jewelry are generally exempt from Capital Gains Tax (CGT) under the “chattels” exemption, provided the item or set sells for under £6,000. Unlike Sovereigns and Britannias (which are unconditionally CGT-free), large scrap parcels exceeding individual annual CGT allowances can be subject to review if sold as a commercial trade.
Can I sell gold without a hallmark in the UK?
Yes. Reputable refiners and gold buyers use XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analyzers or acid scratch testing to verify the carat and purity of unhallmarked gold, dental alloys, or foreign items on the spot.
Why is the scrap price lower than the gold spot price?
The spot price represents raw .9999 fine gold traded in wholesale volumes. Scrap jewelry must be sorted, melted down, chemically refined back to fine purity, and re-cast, which requires processing margins from both dealers and refineries.
