Guide
How much gold or silver should you buy?
There's no right amount for everyone, and as a dealer we can't tell you what share of your money belongs in metal. What we can do is lay out what decides it: how long you'll hold, what it costs to buy and sell, and the practical side of owning it.
Updated October 22, 2026 · Prices as of November 3, 2026, 4:45 p.m. Pacific
How long you'll hold it
Physical metal costs most at the start: you pay a premium over the spot price when you buy and sell back for less than spot. That round trip is often several percent for gold and more for silver, so metal you may need to sell within a year or two can easily come back as less money than you put in, even if the price doesn't move. See physical premiums vs ETF fees.
Gold or silver
- Gold packs a lot of value into a small space and its price moves less than silver's.
- Silver costs far less per ounce, so small amounts are easy to buy, but it swings harder: it fell by about half from its January 2026 high. It also takes much more room, and premiums are a bigger share of its price.
- See gold price history, silver price history, and the gold-to-silver ratio.
What common sizes cost in metal today
At today's Kitco ask, before any premium:
| Size | Metal value |
|---|---|
| 1 ozt silver coin | $49.71 |
| 10 ozt silver bar | $497.08 |
| 1/10 ozt gold coin | $392.72 |
| 1/4 ozt gold coin | $981.80 |
| 1 ozt gold coin | $3,927.20 |
Smaller pieces cost more per ounce. For the same money, fewer larger pieces usually mean more metal; smaller pieces are easier to sell a little at a time. See how to buy gold and how to buy silver.
The practical side
- Storage and insurance: standard home policies usually cover only a little metal; more needs a rider, a bank box, or a depository. See how to store it.
- Selling later: how quickly you can turn it back into money, and at what price. See our bids.
- Taxes: gains on metal are taxed as collectibles, at up to 28%. See taxes on selling gold.
- Buying over time: some buyers spread purchases out rather than buying all at once, so no single price decides the whole cost.
We're a dealer in physical metal, and nothing here is investment advice. How much metal fits your savings depends on your whole financial picture; a licensed financial advisor can help you decide.
Buying guides: How to buy gold · How to buy silver · Sovereign vs generic · Physical gold vs ETFs · How to store it · All guides
We pay top dollar for silver, at published rates set before you sell.
Buying
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