What Is the Scrap Silver Value Calculator?
This calculator estimates how much your scrap silver is worth based on its weight, purity (fineness), the current spot price of silver, and the payout percentage a dealer offers. Whether you have sterling flatware, old coins, jewelry, or bullion, it gives you a quick, transparent valuation so you can negotiate with confidence.
How to Use It
Enter the total weight of your silver in grams, the fineness as a percentage (e.g. 92.5% for sterling, 99.9% for fine silver), the current silver spot price per troy ounce, and the payout percentage you expect from the buyer. The tool calculates the pure silver content value and the amount you would actually receive.
The Formula Explained
The core equation is:
$$\text{Value} = \text{Weight (g)} \times \text{Fineness} \times \frac{\text{Spot Price per oz}}{31.1035} \times \text{Payout \%}$$
There are 31.1035 grams in a troy ounce, the standard unit for precious metals. Dividing the spot price by 31.1035 converts it to a price per gram. Multiplying by weight and fineness gives the value of the actual silver content; multiplying by the payout percentage reflects what a dealer pays after their margin.
Worked Example
Suppose you have 100 grams of sterling silver (92.5% fineness), silver spot is $30.00/oz, and the dealer pays 90%. Price per gram = \(30 \div 31.1035 = \$0.96452\). Silver content value = \(100 \times 0.925 \times 0.96452 = \$89.22\). Payout = \(\$89.22 \times 0.90 = \$80.30\).
FAQ
What is sterling silver fineness? Sterling silver is 92.5% pure, so enter 92.5. Fine silver bullion is 99.9 (enter 99.9), and coin silver is often 90.
Why divide by 31.1035? Silver is priced per troy ounce, which equals 31.1035 grams. This converts the per-ounce price to a per-gram price.
Is the payout the same as spot? No. Dealers pay a percentage of melt value (the payout %) to cover refining and profit, so your actual return is usually below full melt value.
