Silver Price Calculator — Sterling & 999 Fine Silver Melt Value

Calculate the exact value of your scrap silver based on current market prices. Whether you have sterling silver jewelry, silver coins, or silver bars, our calculator provides accurate valuations for all silver purities including sterling silver (92.5%) and pure silver (99.9%).

Silver Value Calculator

Enter your silver's weight and select its purity to calculate the current melt value based on live market prices.

Select purity
Enter weight
Common items
Estimated melt value USD
$0.00
Pure content
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Spot price · gram
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Spot price · oz
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As scrap (≈ 85%)
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Note: This is the melt value — the floor. A refiner pays 90–96% of this, a dealer 70–90%, a pawn shop often less.

Browse Silver by Purity

Select a purity level to view specific pricing and information

Pure
999
99.9%
Investment Grade
Sterling
925
92.5%
Jewelry Standard

Today's Silver Prices by Weight

Current silver prices calculated across different weight units. All prices shown are for pure 999 silver.

Per Gram
$1.7358
Per Troy Ounce
$53.99
Per Kilogram
$1,735.80
Per Pound
$787.34
Per Tola
$20.24
Per Tael
$65.09
Per Pennyweight
$2.6995
Per Grain
$0.1125
FAQ

Asked & answered

Find answers to common questions about silver pricing, purity, and valuation.

01 What is sterling silver?

Sterling silver is an alloy containing 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals (usually copper).

  • Stamp: Look for "925", "Sterling", or ".925" markings.
  • Purpose: Pure silver (99.9%) is too soft for jewelry and flatware.
  • Durability: Copper addition provides strength without significantly affecting appearance.

Sterling silver is the global standard for silver jewelry, flatware, and decorative items.

02 How can I tell if my silver is real?

Several methods can help verify silver authenticity:

  • Hallmark / stamp: Look for "925", "Sterling", "999", or manufacturer marks.
  • Magnet test: Real silver is not magnetic (but some fakes aren't either).
  • Ice test: Silver has high thermal conductivity; ice melts quickly on real silver.
  • Sound test: Sterling silver produces a high-pitched ringing sound when struck.
  • Tarnish test: Real silver tarnishes (turns black) when exposed to sulfur compounds.
  • Acid test: Professional test using nitric acid (consult a jeweler).

When in doubt, have items tested by a professional jeweler or precious metals dealer.

03 Why does silver tarnish and how do I clean it?

Silver tarnishes when it reacts with sulfur compounds in the air, forming silver sulfide (the black layer).

Cleaning methods:

  • Polishing cloth: Gentle buffing for light tarnish.
  • Silver polish: Chemical cleaners for moderate tarnish (follow product instructions).
  • Baking-soda bath: Line a pan with aluminum foil, add boiling water, baking soda, and the silver. The chemical reaction removes the tarnish.

Prevention tips:

  • Store in airtight bags with anti-tarnish strips.
  • Keep away from rubber, wool, and sulfur-containing materials.
  • Wear regularly (skin oils slow tarnishing).
04 What is junk silver?

"Junk silver" refers to common silver coins with no numismatic (collector) value, valued only for their silver content.

  • Common examples: US dimes, quarters, half-dollars minted before 1965 (90% silver).
  • Value calculation: Face value × 0.715 = troy ounces of silver (for 90% coins).
  • Investment appeal: Low premiums over spot price, easily recognizable, divisible.
  • Liquidity: Easy to buy and sell in small quantities.

Popular among investors seeking fractional silver without paying high premiums for bullion rounds.

05 Is silver a good investment compared to gold?

Silver and gold serve different investment purposes.

Silver advantages:

  • Lower entry price (more affordable).
  • Higher industrial demand (electronics, solar panels).
  • Greater price volatility (opportunity for larger gains and losses).
  • Gold-to-silver ratio trading opportunities.

Gold advantages:

  • Better store of value (less volatile).
  • More liquid in large amounts.
  • Historical safe-haven asset.
  • Better portfolio hedge.

Many investors hold both metals as part of a diversified precious-metals portfolio (commonly 25–30% silver, 70–75% gold by value).

Understanding Silver Valuation

Understanding Silver Purity

Silver purity determines the actual silver content in your item and directly affects its value:

  • Pure Silver (999): 99.9% pure silver - Investment grade bullion
  • Sterling Silver (925): 92.5% pure silver - Standard for jewelry and silverware
  • Coin Silver (900): 90.0% pure silver - Older coins and collectibles
  • Britannia Silver (958): 95.8% pure silver - High-quality British silver

The remaining percentage typically consists of copper or other metals that add strength and durability to the silver.

Scrap Silver Valuation

When selling scrap silver, understanding the calculation process helps you get fair value:

  • Weigh Your Silver: Use a precise scale to measure in grams or troy ounces
  • Identify Purity: Look for stamps like "925", "Sterling", "999", or ".925"
  • Calculate Pure Silver: Total weight × Purity percentage = Pure silver weight
  • Multiply by Price: Pure silver weight × Current spot price = Melt value
  • Expect Dealer Discount: Refiners typically pay 75-95% of melt value

Common Silver Items

Different silver items typically contain varying amounts of pure silver:

  • Sterling Flatware: Usually 925 silver, weighing 40-100 grams per piece
  • Silver Chains: Commonly 925 silver, weighing 5-50 grams
  • Silver Coins: Often 90%-99.9% silver, weighing 5-31 grams (1 oz)
  • Silver Rings: Typically 925 silver, weighing 3-10 grams
  • Silver Tea Sets: Usually 925 silver, weighing 500-2000 grams
  • Silver Bars: Investment grade 999 silver, common sizes: 1oz, 10oz, 100oz

Silver Weight Conversions

Silver can be measured in various units depending on region and purpose:

  • Troy Ounce (ozt): Standard for precious metals = 31.1035 grams
  • Gram (g): Metric standard, widely used globally
  • Pennyweight (dwt): Common in US jewelry trade = 1.555 grams
  • Tola: Traditional South Asian unit = 11.66 grams
  • Tael: Chinese unit = 37.5 grams (varies by region)
  • Grain (gr): Smallest unit = 0.0648 grams
Related metals

Closest counterparts by use case — jump to live spot prices and the calculator preloaded for that metal.

Au Gold
The classic
Per gram $128.46
Pt Platinum
The catalyst
Per gram $49.84