On October 14, 2026, one gram of 18k gold had an estimated melt value of CAD $144.17. But if you take an old ring or chain to a gold buyer, that isn’t necessarily what you’ll be offered.
You’ve probably seen different gold prices online and wondered which one applies to your jewellery. The trouble is that knowing the price per gram only helps when you also know the weight and purity.
This guide shows you how to calculate your gold’s value, what affects the amount a buyer offers and what to check before you sell.
What Does 18k Gold Actually Mean?
An 18k piece contains 18 parts gold and six parts other metals. That makes it 75% pure gold, which is what determines the 18 karat gold price when you’re calculating melt value.
Why 18k Is Stamped 750
The markings 18K, 18KT, 18ct and 750 all describe 75% gold purity.
The number 750 means 750 parts gold per 1,000 parts of alloy. You’ll often find it inside rings or near chain clasps.
What the Other 25 Percent Is
Jewellers add metals such as silver, copper, zinc or palladium to make gold stronger and change its colour. Yellow, rose, and white 18k gold all contain the same proportion of gold. At equal weights, their theoretical gold melt value is identical.
How 18k Compares to Other Karats
The higher the karat, the more gold each gram contains. For a full breakdown of what each stamp means across every grade, see our guide to gold purity explained.
Karat | Purity | Stamp | Multiplier | Value per gram (CAD) |
10k | 41.67% | 10K, 416 | 0.4167 | $80.10 |
14k | 58.5% | 585 | 0.5850 | $112.45 |
18k | 75% | 750 | 0.7500 | $144.17 |
22k | 91.67% | 916 | 0.9167 | $176.22 |
24k | Approximately 100% | 999/999.9 | 1.0000 | $192.23 |
Illustrative values using the October 14, 2026 reference price of CAD $192.23 per gram of pure gold. The 14k row uses 585 fineness; different marking standards may use 583.
How Much Is 18k Gold Worth per Gram in Canada Today?
The 18k gold price per gram was approximately CAD $144.17 on October 14, 2026, before any selling deductions.
That figure represents the gold inside the jewellery. It isn’t a guaranteed cash offer.
Gold prices change throughout the trading day, so check the current rate before selling.
Why the Spot Price Is Quoted per Troy Ounce
International gold markets generally quote prices in US dollars per troy ounce.
One troy ounce equals 31.1035 grams. That’s different from the everyday ounce, which weighs 28.3495 grams.
Using the wrong ounce produces an incorrect calculation. The LBMA’s gold-price guidance explains the measurement used in precious-metal markets.
Converting the Spot Price to Canadian Dollars
The 18k gold price in Canada depends on two figures: the international gold price and the USD-to-CAD exchange rate.
The October 14, 2026 Canadian reference was approximately $5,979.15 per troy ounce of pure gold.
Dividing that figure by 31.1035 gives about $192.23 per gram. Multiplying by 0.75 gives the 18-carat gold price in Canada.
Even if the USD gold price stays unchanged, movements in the Canadian dollar can affect the local value.
What Your Weight Is Worth
18k gold price per gram in Canada: illustrative melt values, October 14, 2026.
Item weight | Pure gold content | Melt value (CAD) |
1g | 0.75g | $144.17 |
5g | 3.75g | $720.85 |
10g | 7.50g | $1,441.70 |
15g | 11.25g | $2,162.55 |
20g | 15.00g | $2,883.40 |
30g | 22.50g | $4,325.10 |
50g | 37.50g | $7,208.50 |
Based on the dated Canadian gold-price reference.Values use the rounded rate of $144.17 per gram and assume the entire listed weight is solid 18k gold. When you’re ready to turn that weight into cash, you can sell gold jewellery with us and see a live quote first.
How Do You Calculate 18k Gold Value Step by Step?
You can work out an estimate with a calculator and your item’s weight.
Step 1: Find the Spot Price in CAD
Find the current price of pure gold per troy ounce in Canadian dollars.
For this example, use CAD $5,979.15, the reference for October 14, 2026.
If your source quotes USD, convert it to CAD using the corresponding exchange rate.
Step 2: Convert to a Price per Gram
Divide the troy-ounce price by 31.1035.
$5,979.15 ÷ 31.1035 = approximately $192.23 per gram.
Don’t divide by 28.3495. That’s the ordinary ounce and would overstate the per-gram price by about 9.7%.
Step 3: Apply the 75 Percent Purity Factor
Multiply the pure-gold rate by 0.75.
$192.23 × 0.75 = approximately $144.17 per gram of 18k gold.
This is the estimated melt value before buyer deductions.
Step 4: Multiply by Your Weight
Weigh the jewellery on a digital scale that reads to at least 0.1 gram.
Say your chain weighs 20 grams and contains no stones or non-gold components.
20 × $144.17 = $2,883.40.
For jewellery containing stones, use the estimated net weight of the gold rather than the total weight.
Save this: Weight in grams × 0.75 × current 24k CAD price per gram = estimated melt value.
Melt Value, Resale Value and Retail Price: What Is the Difference?
Your jewellery can have three very different prices.
Melt value is the estimated value of the gold content alone. It’s a reference for evaluating scrap offers, not a guaranteed selling price.
Resale value is what a buyer is prepared to pay. Scrap buyers generally offer less than melt because they have testing, refining, operating and market-risk costs.
Retail price includes the gold, design, labour, gemstones, branding, store expenses and profit.
That’s why a ring purchased for $3,000 may contain far less than $3,000 worth of gold.
Your 18k gold value could exceed its melt value if the piece is collectible, signed by a recognised designer, or contains valuable gemstones.
Before selling unusual jewellery as scrap, consider an appraisal. Melting it destroys any value attached to its original design.
What Will a Canadian Buyer Actually Pay You?
Your scrap gold price depends on the current melt value and the amount the buyer is willing to pay for it. Our breakdown of scrap gold prices per gram by karat shows how the payout shifts across different purities.
There is no reliable universal payout percentage for every Canadian buyer. Two businesses in the same category can offer different amounts.
How Different Buyers Price the Same Gold
Buyer type | How payout works | Typical process | Best for |
Pawn shop | Shop-specific offer, often considering resale or collateral value | Often immediate | Comparing quick-cash options |
Jewellery buyer | Assesses metal and possible resale value | Usually in person | Jewellery with resale potential |
Specialist gold buyer | Usually prices against recoverable gold value | Testing and quotation | Comparing scrap offers |
Mail-in buyer | Assesses after receiving the item | Shipping and later offer | Sellers comfortable with shipping |
Refiner or bulk buyer | Assay-based terms, potentially with minimum quantities | Depends on settlement terms | Larger qualifying lots |
Rather than assuming a buyer category always pays more, compare the actual percentage of melt offered after fees.
How to Read an Offer
Suppose your 20g chain has a melt value of $2,883.40.
At a hypothetical 70% payout, you’d receive $2,018.38.
At 85%, you’d receive $2,450.89.
That’s a difference of $432.51 for the same piece.
Ask every buyer:
- What gold price are you using?
- What net gold weight did you record?
- What percentage of melt value does my offer represent?
Watch the weigh-in and confirm whether any stones or non-gold parts have been deducted.
Red Flags to Walk Away From
Be cautious if a buyer refuses to explain the price, won’t show the scale or pressures you to decide immediately.
Other concerns include using an outdated rate, combining different karats into one weight or adding fees only after you’ve agreed.
If you’re checking the scrap gold price in Canada, compare at least three written offers using the same date, weight and purity.
What Reduces the Value of Your 18k Gold?
Weight and construction: A hollow chain can look much heavier than it is. What matters is how much gold the scale records.
Stones and other components: Gemstones, steel springs, pins and other non-gold parts don’t contribute to the melt value. Some clasps and soldered areas may also have different gold content.
Plated and filled jewellery: GP, HGE, GF and vermeil indicate that the item isn’t solid gold throughout. Ordinary plated jewellery usually has little recoverable gold value. Gold-filled pieces may contain more, depending on their construction and weight.
Quantity: A larger, well-sorted lot may get a better offer because you can spread processing costs across more gold.
A chunky chain that looks as though it weighs 60 grams might contain only 18 grams of metal because its links are hollow.
Confirm the actual net gold weight before negotiating.
How Do You Check If Your Gold Is Really 18k?
Start by checking the marking.
Look for 18K, 18KT, 18ct or 750 gold inside a ring, on a clasp or on a jewellery tag.
The 750 gold meaning is 750 parts gold per 1,000, equivalent to 75% purity.
However, a 750 gold stamp isn’t proof by itself. Markings can be faked, and some genuine older or imported pieces have no visible stamp.
Canada’s Competition Bureau explains precious-metal quality markings, including the rules for truthful quality claims.
You can check for magnetic attraction or signs of another metal showing through worn areas. Neither check proves authenticity.
For a valuable item, have a buyer or qualified jewellery professional explain the results of acid or XRF testing before you accept an offer.
If the marking says 18K GP, the 18 K describes the gold plating, not the entire piece.
Conclusion
So, how much is 18k gold worth? Multiply the current 24k gold price per gram by 0.75, then multiply that amount by your jewellery’s net gold weight.
That’s your approximate 18k gold value before selling deductions.
Before accepting an offer, weigh the item, calculate its melt value and get three comparable quotes. When you’re ready, you can sell gold in Canada and check live prices before you commit.
FAQ
How much is 18k gold worth today?
On October 14, 2026, the estimated 18k gold price was CAD $144.17 per gram in melt value. The amount changes with gold prices and exchange rates. Check the current quote before selling, because a buyer’s offer is normally lower than the theoretical metal value.
How much is 1 gram of 18k gold worth in Canada?
The 18k gold price per gram was approximately CAD $144.17 on October 14, 2026. To calculate the current rate, multiply the pure-gold price per gram by 0.75. This gives the melt value, not what a buyer must offer.
How much will I get if I sell my 18k gold?
It depends on the net weight, purity and buyer’s payout terms. For example, a 20g piece with a melt value of $2,883.40 would bring $2,306.72 at a hypothetical 80% payout. Ask several buyers for a breakdown before choosing an offer.
How much is 18 karat gold in Canadian dollars?
The 18 carat gold price in Canada is 75% of the current pure-gold value per gram. Using the October 14, 2026 reference, that was approximately CAD $144.17 per gram. The figure changes daily, and scrap buyers may pay less.
How much is 18 carat scrap gold worth today?
Start with the current melt value, then compare what buyers offer after any deductions. For a fair comparison, ask each buyer for the gold price used, the net weight measured and the percentage of melt offered. There isn’t one standard Canadian scrap payout rate.
Is 18k gold still valuable?
Yes. Solid 18k jewellery contains 75% gold, so even broken or unwanted pieces can have significant metal value. Designer jewellery and pieces with valuable gemstones may sell for more intact. Check both the melt value and the possible resale value before deciding.
