Gold Karat to Purity Explained
Learn exactly how to gold karat to purity explained and get the right result every time.
I'll walk you through it.
Gold karat tells you how much of an item is actually gold. 24K is almost pure gold, while 22K, 18K, 14K, and 10K contain progressively less gold and more alloy metals. That is why two items with the same weight can have very different raw gold values.
Use the calculators: Try the Gold Calculator to estimate gold value by weight and purity, or the Scrap Gold Calculator to estimate a more realistic payout after dealer deductions.
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Karat to purity table
| Karat | Purity | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.9% | Almost pure gold |
| 22K | 91.67% | Mostly gold with a small alloy share |
| 18K | 75.0% | Three-quarters gold, often used in jewelry |
| 14K | 58.33% | Moderate gold content with more alloy metals |
| 10K | 41.67% | Lower gold content, more alloy than higher-karat pieces |
Why higher purity changes value
The raw value of gold comes from the pure-gold portion, not the total item weight alone. If two rings both weigh 10 grams, the 24K ring contains far more pure gold than the 14K ring. That means the 24K item will usually show a much higher raw value when you use the same spot price.
This is also why karat matters so much in scrap value discussions. Buyers do not pay for alloy metals the same way they pay for gold content. First they estimate pure gold content, then they apply spot value and any dealer or refining deductions.
Simple examples
- A 10 g piece of 24K gold contains about 9.99 g of pure gold.
- A 10 g piece of 18K gold contains 7.5 g of pure gold.
- A 10 g piece of 14K gold contains about 5.83 g of pure gold.
The total item weight is the same in each example, but the gold content changes dramatically. That difference is what the calculators turn into a value estimate.
Practical note: Raw gold value is not always the same as a retail jewelry price or a scrap payout. Retail prices can include making charges and taxes. Scrap payouts can be lower because of dealer or refining fees.
At the same weight, higher karat usually means higher raw gold value because a larger share of the item is actually pure gold.
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