What is a sterling silver scrap calculator?
A sterling silver scrap calculator turns the weight of your old silver into a dollar figure. Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver, and the other 7.5% is usually copper added to make the metal harder. That means a 100 gram sterling spoon does not hold 100 grams of silver. It holds 92.5 grams. The calculator does that conversion for you, multiplies the result by the current silver spot price, and then applies the percentage a buyer is likely to pay.
Scrap value is not the same as retail value. A refiner or scrap dealer is not buying a spoon or a bracelet. It is buying silver that will be melted down and reused. That is why the number that matters is the weight of the metal, not the pattern, the age of the piece or what it cost when it was new.
Sterling silver scrap value formula
Pure silver (g) = (total weight − non-silver weight) × purity
Pure silver (troy oz) = pure silver (g) ÷ 31.1035
Melt value = pure silver (troy oz) × silver spot price
Scrap payout = melt value × buyer payout rate
For sterling silver the purity is 0.925. The silver spot price is quoted per troy ounce of fine silver, so the calculator always converts your weight to troy ounces of pure silver before it multiplies. Mixing up troy ounces with the ordinary ounces on a kitchen scale is one of the most common reasons people misjudge what their silver is worth, because a troy ounce is about 10% heavier.
How to calculate sterling silver scrap value step by step
- Sort your pieces. Separate items stamped 925 or sterling from silver plate, stainless steel and anything marked with a different purity.
- Weigh them. Use a digital scale and note the unit. Grams give the most precise reading for small pieces.
- Deal with non-silver parts. Stones, steel knife blades and filled bases are not silver. Remove them if you can, or enter their estimated weight in the optional field.
- Check today’s spot price. Look up the silver price per troy ounce from a live market source and type it in. The price changes through the day, so use a fresh number.
- Choose a payout rate. Ask a few buyers what percentage of melt value they pay for sterling scrap. Enter 100 if you only want the melt value.
- Select Calculate. You will see the pure silver content, the melt value and the estimated payout.
Worked examples
Example 1: 250 g of sterling flatware at a $60 spot price and an 80% payout
Pure silver = 250 g × 0.925 = 231.25 g
In troy ounces = 231.25 ÷ 31.1035 = 7.435 troy oz
Melt value = 7.435 × $60 = $446.09
Scrap payout = $446.09 × 0.80 = $356.87
Example 2: 10 troy ounces of sterling silver at a $60 spot price and an 85% payout
Pure silver = 10 × 0.925 = 9.25 troy oz
Melt value = 9.25 × $60 = $555.00
Scrap payout = $555.00 × 0.85 = $471.75
The $60 spot price is only an example to show the method. Replace it with the live price on the day you sell.
How the payout rate changes what you receive
The payout rate is the part of the calculation that differs most from one buyer to the next. This table shows the same 250 gram lot from Example 1 at different payout rates, using the $60 example spot price:
| Payout rate | Estimated payout | Left with the buyer |
|---|---|---|
| 70% | $312.26 | $133.83 |
| 80% | $356.87 | $89.22 |
| 90% | $401.48 | $44.61 |
| 100% (melt value) | $446.09 | $0.00 |
A ten-point difference in the rate moves this lot by about $45. On a large lot, comparing quotes can matter more than the silver price itself.
How much pure silver is in sterling silver?
Because the alloy is always 92.5% silver, you can work out the pure silver content of any sterling weight without a calculator. The table below shows the pure silver in common weights. These figures do not depend on the spot price.
| Sterling weight | Pure silver (grams) | Pure silver (troy oz) |
|---|---|---|
| 100 grams | 92.500 g | 2.974 |
| 1 troy ounce (31.103 g) | 28.771 g | 0.925 |
| 1 pennyweight (1.555 g) | 1.439 g | 0.046 |
| 1 ounce, avoirdupois (28.350 g) | 26.223 g | 0.843 |
| 1 pound (453.592 g) | 419.573 g | 13.490 |
| 1 kilogram | 925.000 g | 29.739 |
Weight units used for scrap silver
Silver is weighed in several different units depending on who you are dealing with. Jewelers and pawn shops often use pennyweight (dwt), bullion dealers use troy ounces, and household scales usually read in grams or ordinary ounces. This calculator accepts all of them.
| Unit | Grams | Troy ounces |
|---|---|---|
| Gram (g) | 1 | 0.03215 |
| Troy ounce (ozt) | 31.1035 | 1 |
| Pennyweight (dwt) | 1.55517 | 0.05 |
| Ounce, avoirdupois (oz) | 28.3495 | 0.91146 |
| Pound (lb) | 453.592 | 14.5833 |
| Kilogram (kg) | 1,000 | 32.1507 |
There are 20 pennyweights in a troy ounce, so 1 dwt is one twentieth of a troy ounce.
Melt value vs scrap price: why buyers pay less
Melt value is what the silver in your pieces is worth at the spot price. The scrap price is what a buyer will actually pay. The gap exists because the buyer has to test the metal, handle it, cover refining costs and still make a margin. Many buyers quote a percentage of melt value, and that percentage depends on who is buying and how much you bring. A scrap sterling silver calculator can only estimate the offer, so treat the payout rate as an assumption you adjust, not a fixed rule.
These are the things that most often change an offer:
- Quantity. Larger lots tend to earn a better rate than a single ring or spoon.
- Tested purity. A buyer will usually test pieces rather than trust the stamp alone.
- Type of buyer. Pawn shops, jewelers, coin dealers, refiners and mail-in services all price differently.
- Timing. The spot price moves during the day, so ask when the price is locked in.
- Fees. Mail-in buyers may charge for assay, insurance or shipping.
What to weigh and what to leave out
Not every gram on the scale is silver. A sterling silver scrap price calculator is only as accurate as the weight you give it, so it is worth checking for parts that are not sterling:
- Weighted pieces. Candlesticks, candelabra and some bowls and trays have a thin silver shell filled with cement, pitch or another heavy material.
- Hollow-handled knives. The handle is often sterling, but the blade is usually stainless steel and the inside of the handle may be filled.
- Stones, pearls, glass and enamel. These add weight and no silver value.
- Clasps, springs and solder. Small parts in jewelry may be a different metal.
If you cannot take a piece apart, enter an estimate of the non-silver weight in the optional field, or ask the buyer how they handle weighted items. Some buyers will not take them as scrap at all.
Sterling silver marks and other silver purities
Most sterling pieces carry a stamp. In the United States you will usually see 925, STERLING or STER. British sterling often carries a lion passant hallmark. Other silver standards you may come across in a mixed lot are shown below.
| Mark | Silver content | Name | Often found on |
|---|---|---|---|
| 925 | 92.5% | Sterling silver | Flatware, jewelry, tea sets, trays |
| 900 | 90% | Coin silver | 19th century American flatware, older US coins |
| 800 | 80% | 800 silver | Continental European silverware |
| 958 | 95.8% | Britannia silver | Some older British pieces |
| 999 | 99.9% | Fine silver | Bars, rounds and some coins |
Marks such as EPNS, A1, “plate” or “quadruple plate” mean the piece is silver-plated, not solid silver. Silver is not magnetic, so a piece that sticks firmly to a magnet is not sterling, although passing the magnet test alone does not prove it is silver. A dealer can confirm purity with an acid test or an electronic tester.
Tips for selling sterling silver scrap
- Know your number first. Run your weight through the calculator before you visit a buyer so you know what a fair offer looks like.
- Get at least three quotes. Ask each buyer for the percentage of melt value they pay and which spot price they use.
- Ask when the price is locked. A quote that holds for the day is worth more than one that changes while your package is in the mail.
- Keep a record. Note the weight, photos and the buyer’s receipt. It helps if the lot is lost or the offer is disputed.
- Do not over-polish. Tarnish does not reduce melt value and heavy polishing only removes silver.
- Check whether it is worth more than scrap. See the next section before you sell anything unusual.
Selling scrap metal can have tax or reporting implications depending on where you live. This calculator is not tax advice, so check local rules if you are selling a large amount.
When sterling silver is worth more than scrap
Melt value is the floor, not always the ceiling. Antique pieces, items from well-known makers, complete flatware sets in popular patterns and pieces in excellent condition can sell for more to collectors and resellers than to a refiner. If a piece looks old, unusual or carries a maker’s name, get it appraised before you sell it for scrap. Use this calculator to see the melt value, and treat that figure as the minimum you should expect.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate sterling silver scrap value?
Multiply the weight of the sterling silver by 0.925 to get the pure silver weight, convert that to troy ounces by dividing grams by 31.1035, then multiply by the current silver spot price per troy ounce. That gives the melt value. Multiply it by the percentage your buyer offers to estimate the scrap payout.
How much is sterling silver worth per gram?
Take the spot price per troy ounce, multiply by 0.925 and divide by 31.1035. At an example spot price of $60 per troy ounce, sterling silver has a melt value of about $1.78 per gram. The same piece will sell for less than that if the buyer takes a margin.
What percentage of spot do scrap buyers pay for sterling silver?
There is no fixed rate. Pawn shops, jewelers, local coin dealers and refiners all quote differently, and the offer depends on quantity, tested purity and the day's market. Ask at least three buyers for their rate, then enter it in the payout field to see what each quote works out to.
Can I use this sterling silver calculator for scrap weighed in pennyweight or ounces?
Yes. Choose grams, troy ounces, pennyweight (dwt), ounces (avoirdupois), pounds or kilograms from the unit list and the calculator converts the weight for you. Just be sure you pick the right ounce: a troy ounce is about 10% heavier than the ounce on a kitchen scale.
Why is the offer I got lower than the calculator's melt value?
Melt value is the silver's worth at the spot price with no costs taken out. Buyers have to test, refine and resell the metal, so they pay a percentage of melt. Use the payout rate field to match the quote you were given, and compare the offer with the payout figure rather than the melt value.
Is silver plate worth anything as scrap?
Very little. Silver plate has only a thin silver coating over a base metal, so there is rarely enough silver to recover. Only pieces stamped sterling, 925, or another solid silver mark belong in this calculator.
Why is sterling silver 92.5% and not pure silver?
Fine silver is soft and bends or scratches easily. Mixing in about 7.5% of another metal, usually copper, makes the alloy hard enough for flatware, jewelry and tableware while keeping the bright look of silver.
Is every gram on the scale silver?
Not always. Weighted candlesticks, hollow-handled knives, pieces with stones, and items with steel parts all contain material that is not silver. Weigh those parts separately where you can, or enter their estimated weight in the optional non-silver field.