Guide
14K vs 18K gold: what's the difference?
18K gold is 75% gold; 14K is 58.3%. That difference sets the value: gram for gram, 18K holds more gold, so it's worth more.
Updated October 28, 2026 · Prices as of November 3, 2026, 4:45 p.m. Pacific
What each is worth today, per gram
Gold is trading at $3,925 per troy ounce (the Kitco bid). We pay 94% of melt value:
| Karat | Gold | We pay per gram |
|---|---|---|
| 14K | 58.3% | $69.16/g |
| 18K | 75% | $88.97/g |
Scrap prices are per gram of metal after melting, not per gram of what you send. Stones are removed, and dirt, glue, springs, and anything else that isn't gold or silver burn off or separate out, so the weight paid is usually less than your scale shows.
How they differ
- Gold content: 18K holds about 29% more gold than 14K, gram for gram.
- Color: 18K has a richer, deeper yellow.
- Hardness: 14K is harder and wears better day to day; 18K is softer and scratches more easily.
- Where they're common: 14K is the most popular karat in the United States; 18K is the norm for fine jewelry in Europe and Asia.
- Stamps: 14K is stamped 14K, 14KT, or 585; 18K is stamped 18K, 18KT, or 750.
When you sell, there's no need to keep the karats apart: scrap gold is processed together and paid on the gold content of the whole lot. More: 14K gold · 18K gold.
Gold stamps: 417 · 585 · 750 · 916 · 925 · 10K vs 14K · 14K vs 18K · All gold stamps
Gold guides: Gold price per pennyweight · Gold chains · Gold earrings · Gold rings · Gold bracelets · White gold · Gold stamps · Scrap gold per gram
We pay more than pawn shops, jewelers, and mail-in gold kits: in Consumer Reports' tests, jewelers and pawn shops paid 36% to 71% of melt value, and mail-in kits 11% to about 29%. We pay 94% for scrap gold. Who pays the most?
Your gold
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