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According to the U.S. Office of Family Assistance,¹ approximately 417,300 adults and 1.43 million children received Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits, also known as cash assistance, in 2021 (the most recent data available). 

If you receive TANF, you may be able to withdraw cash from your EBT card at ATMs and through cash-back purchases at participating stores. 

In this post, we’ll talk about: 

What is EBT cash?

• How to Qualify For EBT Cash

How EBT cash works

• How to withdraw EBT cash

States with EBT cash benefits

Where you can withdraw EBT cash

How to avoid SNAP fraud

Other (legit) ways get fast cash

What is EBT cash?

Recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits receive an EBT card loaded with their designated funds. 

While SNAP recipients cannot withdraw cash from their EBT card and can only spend SNAP funds on food, TANF recipients in most states can withdraw money from ATMs to pay for various expenses such as rent, gas, and other essential items. Cash benefits from TANF are often referred to as EBT cash. 

Both programs have separate qualifications, and you may qualify for one or both depending on your household income and size. 

“My EBT cash comes in handy each month because I can always depend on it while I’m budgeting for important household items,” says Caprece, a single mom of four from Illinois. 

Check out our state guides to learn the eligibility requirements for SNAP and TANF in your state: 

How to Qualify For EBT Cash

These are the basic qualifications for EBT cash through the TANF program²:

• U.S. citizen
• At least 18 years old
• Resident of the state in which you apply
• Unemployed or underemployed and have a low or very low income (each state has its own income eligibility requirements)

You must also meet at least one of the following qualifications:

• Have a child 18 years old or younger
• Pregnant
• 18 years old or younger and the head of your household

How EBT cash works

EBT cash benefits are deposited into your account on a monthly basis and can be:

1. Withdrawn as cash from participating ATMs
2. Used to purchase qualifying items directly (like a debit card) at stores that accept EBT
3. Withdrawn as cash back when you purchase items from a store that accepts EBT

In general, can use your EBT cash card to pay for a variety of expenses, including:

• Food 
• Clothing
• Household supplies and toiletries
• Utilities

However, you can’t use your card at liquor stores, wine stores, or in casinos. Not all stores accept EBT cash, so make sure you search for “stores near me that accept EBT.”

The National Conference of State Legislatures³ has a comprehensive list by state of which items can and cannot be purchased with EBT cash. 

While you can't use EBT cash directly on Amazon, you can use it to purchase Amazon gift cards. Learn about more ways to use EBT cash on Amazon. Plus, check out our guide to EBT discounts and freebies.

How to withdraw EBT cash

When withdrawing cash at an ATM, you can use your EBT card just like you would use a debit card. Insert the card, and enter your PIN (which participants select upon card activation). Select “Checking,” and you can either view your account balance or withdraw cash if you receive TANF benefits. 

Check out this video of how to withdraw cash from an ATM: 

Each state sets a monthly limit on the number of free EBT cash withdrawals you can make at participating ATMs without paying a surcharge. After that, you will be charged a small fee for each additional ATM withdrawal, which is automatically taken out of your cash benefit account. 

You can check the balance on your EBT card by visiting ConnectEBT.com. 

Some ATMs and stores have EBT withdrawal limits per day. For example, in Tennessee, most ATMs have a daily limit of $300, though some go as high as $1,000 or as low as $20.⁴

Caprece says she likes to withdraw the total amount of her monthly TANF benefit at a convenience store when it gets loaded onto her card.

“This just makes it easier on me, so I don’t have to worry about fees or forgetting to withdraw a portion of my monthly limit,” Caprece says.

Find EBT ATMs near me:

States with EBT cash benefits

All 50 states have a version of the TANF program, though it goes by different names in some states. Benefits.gov provides information about cash benefits programs by state.¹

In the state of New York, for example, qualified residents can receive EBT cash benefits for up to 60 months in a lifetime, including months of TANF-funded assistance received in other states.⁵

In most states that offer EBT benefits, payouts vary based on the family’s monthly income and household size. 

A family of four in Indiana that meets the eligibility and income requirements can receive up to $346 per month in EBT cash benefits.⁶ 

Check with your state’s Department of Human Services or Family and Social Services Administration to find out more information about your state’s TANF program and how much you may qualify for. 

Where to withdraw cash from EBT cards

When you search “EBT ATM near me” online, you may or may not see exact locations for surcharge-free ATMs in your neighborhood. You can also use the MoneyPass ATM locator and type in your zip code to find ATMs nearby that allow EBT withdraws. 

You can also look for ATMs and storefronts in your area that have a Quest or EBT logo. 

The following banks also typically offer surcharge-free withdrawals from EBT cards:

• Bank of America
• Citibank
• Capital One
• U.S. Bank 
• Chase
• Flagstar Bank
• Wells Fargo

Avoid SNAP fraud

SNAP fraud occurs when someone steals or fraudulently obtains EBT card benefits from another person. It’s important to protect your EBT card by keeping it in a secure place and not sharing your PIN with anyone. 

If your EBT card is lost or stolen, you should immediately report it to the card issuer. Also, be wary of strangers who offer to buy your benefits for cash, which is illegal and can result in the loss of your SNAP benefits.

Some people may confuse the two, but SNAP (food assistance) benefits are different from EBT cash benefits (TANF), and you can’t withdraw cash or transfer money from SNAP funds.⁷ 

Retailers that offer to exchange SNAP benefits for cash (also called trafficking SNAP benefits), or sell items that are not allowable can be found guilty of retailer fraud and face criminal charges.⁸

To report EBT fraud, you can:

• Contact the program in your state
• Call 800-424-9121 or 202-690-1202
• Write to the USDA Office of Inspector General, PO Box 23399, Washington, DC 20026-3399
• Submit a report  online on the U.S. Department of Agriculture website

Here’s what some Reddit users had to say about experiencing EBT card scams and theft and how they protect themselves:

Be aware of scams impacting EBT cardholders
byu/kmimr infoodstamps

Other (legit) ways get fast cash

Whether you’ve already used your EBT cash benefits for the month or don’t qualify for assistance there’s still other legitimate ways to get cash fast when you need it. You can get money fast by:

• Selling things you own and no longer want or need
• Selling your jewelry for extra cash
• Getting a same-day pay or temp job
• Using cash-back apps to earn money back on everyday purchases
• Recycle scrap electronics for cash
• Get a profitable side hustle like tutoring online, pet sitting, or working as a proofreader

Also, check out these resources for low-income families:

SOURCES

1. “Characteristics and Financial Circumstances of TANF Recipients Fiscal Year 2021,” U.S. Office of Family Assistance. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ofa/fy2021_characteristics.pdf
2. “Temporary Assistance for Needy Families,” Benefits.gov. https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/613
3. “Restrictions on Use of Public Assistance Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Cards,” National Conference of State Legislatures. https://www.ncsl.org/human-services/ebt-electronic-benefit-transfer-card-restrictions-for-public-assistance
4. “Tennessee EBT Cash Access Location Report,” Tennessee Department of Human Services. https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/human-services/documents/TN_locations.pdf
5. “Temporary Assistance,” Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. https://otda.ny.gov/programs/temporary-assistance/
6. “About TANF,” Family and Social Services Administration. https://www.in.gov/fssa/dfr/tanf-cash-assistance/about-tanf/
7. U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/Can-I-withdraw-cash-from-an-ATM-with-my-Supplemental-Nutrition-Assistance-Program-Electronic-Benefit
8. “SNAP Fraud Prevention,” U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/fraud

If you’re one of the 63% of formerly incarcerated people¹ still looking for a job a year after being released — or you have some other blemish on your record you don’t want a future employer to know about — there are plenty of jobs that don’t require a background check. 

Most no-background-check jobs range from entry-level positions to freelance jobs and independent contractor roles. If you’re looking for a job that doesn’t focus heavily on your past, but rather on your work ethic and employable skills, keep reading for: 

No background check jobs near me

Looking for jobs that don’t do background checks near you? While you may have a hard time finding positions in health care, education, law enforcement, and child care that don’t require background checks, there are employment opportunities in many other fields, including the restaurant industry, hospitality, and landscaping, just to name a few. 

Note that each individual employer sets its own standards for obtaining background checks. Consult employer review sites like Glassdoor to find out if the company you’re applying for conducts background checks as part of its hiring process. 

Even if they do, some employers may be willing to look past a spotty work history or past criminal offenses. You can even use an online background check tool to review your records before applying. This way, you can be prepared to explain the questions from the employer during the interview.

A spokesperson from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) said having a criminal record may not automatically disqualify you from getting a job, especially if the conviction is not recent or related to the duties of the particular job. 

All hourly wages in this post are based on average and high-end estimates reported by Ziprecruiter.²

Construction

Salary potential: $24 – $36 per hour

Whether you’re looking to work as a skilled trade worker or help direct traffic during road construction, some construction employers may not run a background check. 

The qualifications for a construction job will depend on the specific type of role. You may need to attend trade school and obtain licenses and certifications to be allowed to work on certain projects. 

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Dispatcher/scheduler

Salary potential: $20 – $30 per hour

Various types of companies hire dispatchers —  from bus companies to service companies. Dispatchers work in a fast-paced environment and are responsible for receiving calls, monitoring driver logs, and dispatching different team members to various locations during the workday.

You only need a high school diploma or GED to become a dispatcher for transportation. While it’s not required, having data entry experience, typing efficiently, knowing how to use different computer programs, being able to multitask, and having excellent communication skills are also preferred.

Get started with IBM's Introduction to Project Management certificate course

Housekeeper

Salary potential: $15 – $21 per hour

Housekeepers can be employed in residential, commercial, and hotel settings. This job doesn’t require a degree or certification, but it helps to have experience with cleaning efficiently. Housekeepers are responsible for wiping down surfaces, dusting, mopping, deep cleaning, and even restocking toiletries and supplies. 

Some companies may not require a background check, but if you choose to work independently, your clients may ask for one.

Reddit has several discussion about hotel housekeeping jobs and background checks:

Why are most positions at a hotel not subject to background checks?
by inaskhotels

Landscaper

Salary potential: $17 – $23 per hour

No matter where you live, there are opportunities in the landscaping industry. Landscapers are responsible for cleaning up lawns and taking care of small shrubs, edging, mulching, and even light tree trimming. Some landscaping jobs are seasonal, but you may still find opportunities for snow plowing and shoveling during the winter if you live in an area that gets snow. 

To get started as a landscaper, you just need a high school diploma or GED. Companies will provide training to operate different lawn care tools and machinery. 

While certifications are optional, over time, you may want to expand your skill set by becoming a Certified Lawn Care Technician. A certification through the National Association of Landscape Professionals³ includes advanced services like exterior landscape installation and irrigation, turf maintenance, and more.

This is what Reddit said about landscaping jobs with felony records:

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Painter

Salary Potential: $21 – $31 per hour 

Professional painting is a hands-on job that anyone can learn and pays well. If you’re looking to skip a background check, painting companies may consider hiring you based on experience or may even be willing to teach you on the job. 

Some states require lead painters to be licensed, especially if working on commercial properties. However, there are assistant opportunities and smaller local painting companies that may not have these requirements. Painters should have a high school diploma or GED at minimum.

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Server

Salary Potential: $14 – $25 per hour

While some restaurants will require that you have previous serving experience, you may be able to find entry-level serving jobs or start as a host or staff member at a quick-service restaurant. 

Servers earn the bulk of their income from tips, so your compensation will vary depending on the restaurant pricing. This is a role that will likely require you to work some evenings and weekends. 

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Stylist/barber

Salary Potential: $20 – $39 per hour

If you have experience cutting or styling hair, you can get a job at a local salon or barbershop. You will need to earn a professional license from your state if you expect to rent space to do hair in a salon. Look for a state-approved beauty or cosmetology school to enroll in a program. It may take a year or more to complete all of your licensing requirements and take a final exam.

For example, in Pennsylvania, you must complete between 1,200 and 2,000 hours of instruction to become a licensed cosmetologist or barber.⁴

Both roles may require some marketing effort to build a book of clients, but you can likely book clients based around your schedule. 

Call center

Salary Potential: $18 – $25 per hour

As a call center agent, you’ll speak with customers by phone, gathering details to resolve any issues they have or answer questions.

You don’t need a license to perform this work, though you will likely have to complete on-the-job training. Call center jobs are ideal for people who can communicate well, follow procedures, take good notes, and quickly learn about a product or service. However, call centers are notorious for high turnover rates due to burnout. Agents are constantly monitored for performance and often deal with disgruntled customers. Plus, depending on how the center is set up, you may work in close quarters without much privacy.

This free course with certificate is a good foundation: Customer Service Fundamentals

Background-friendly remote jobs

A background friendly job is one that considers hiring people who have a history with criminal or civil judgments or even a pending case. While a background check is still performed, it is not held against you, even if you have a felony or misdemeanor conviction. In short, hiring decisions won’t take your legal history into account.

If you want the flexibility of working from home and you have a reliable computer and internet connection, these jobs might be a good fit: 

Customer service

Salary Potential: $23 – $44 per hour

Customer service is a popular industry that produces an average of 373,400 job openings each year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.⁵ Many companies offer work-from-home customer service and customer support roles. 

Background check requirements will vary by company, and you also don’t need a degree to get started. If the position is entry-level, you may only need a high school diploma to get a job. 

Again, this free course with certificate is a good foundation: Customer Service Fundamentals

Research assistant

Salary Potential: $22 – $33 per hour

A research assistant is a support role that involves various tasks such as fact-checking, proofreading, taking notes, conducting interviews, and fact-checking different types of data.

This is a common role in higher education, but several other professions rely on research assistants, including journalists, entrepreneurs, podcasters, and more. 

Upwork is a great place to find and apply for paid research assistant gigs. Having a four-year degree can help you get hired but may not be required depending on the clients you target. It also helps to be organized, detail-oriented, and to be able to locate and cite relevant sources. 

This online certificate course from University of California Davis gives you valuable fundamentals for academic research: Academic Research Types and Methods

Transcription work

Salary Potential: $17 – $33 per hour

Transcription work involves listening to audio recordings and typing out the content. This job is perfect for those with good typing skills and attention to detail. Most pay by per assignment or by number of hours worked.

According to people who have worked as transcriptionists, there are plenty of transcription companies that don't require a background check.

One Reddit user recommends popular companies like Rev and Transcribe Me, which hire freelancers for transcription work. 

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You can improve your typing skills and practice transcribing different files on sites like Express Scribe, which offers free practice files to time yourself and track your accuracy. 

Video editor

Salary Potential: $29- $52 hour

If you have a passion for editing videos and an eye for detail, you can find work as a video editor either through freelance gigs or full-time employment. Video editing is something you can do from the comfort of your home so long as you have the right equipment and software. 

At the bare minimum, you’ll need a computer, internet, and basic editing software such as iMovie if you have a Mac computer or Windows Video Editor if you have a PC. Most professional video editors use software like Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premiere Pro, or Final Cut Pro. 

From Skillshare, for free: Start Your Freelance Video Editing Career Specialization

Video editors on Reddit also recommended the free version of Davinci Resolve:

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You can find work by editing videos for YouTubers, small business owners, and even larger companies or departments in colleges or universities.

To take on basic video editing work, you may not need a degree, but it could help to attend some video editing classes either online or at your local college. Having a portfolio of previous work will also help you land gigs. 

Why many companies require background checks

Background checks are a standard part of the hiring process for many companies, and employers use them to verify identity, look at criminal history, and review your past employment history.

A background check is a basic safety measure in most cases that helps companies feel more confident that they are hiring reliable and trustworthy employees who won’t pose a risk to the company or its customers. 

According to the EEOC spokesperson, companies primarily require a background check to reduce theft and fraud. 

She said other companies are also concerned about workplace violence, as well as their potential liability for negligent hiring if they fail to investigate an applicant’s background.

Some employers may also have to comply with federal, state, and local laws that prohibit individuals with certain offenses from working particular jobs.

FAQs 

How do you answer background check questions?

Most jobs will conduct a background check using a third-party system or and simply require that you consent to the process. That said, you may still need to answer questions about your background on the application form. 

When asked about your educational, professional, and criminal history, the EEOC says it’s important to be honest about your situation. If you don’t have a degree or didn’t finish college, state this on your application since it could show up on your background check. 

What causes a red flag on a background check?

Several things can cause a red flag on a background check. These include:

• Criminal convictions
• Outstanding warrants
• Bad credit
• Falsified education credentials
• Negative employment history

Employers may also consider factors such as substance abuse issues when making a hiring decision.

If you want to see which red flags may show up on your own background report, consider running a background check on yourself from a site like Truthfinder or Instant Checkmate.

What fails you on a background check?

A background check doesn’t produce a pass/fall result. Instead, it reveals important information that an employer may want to know before they decide to hire you. That said, some employers may not want to hire someone who doesn’t have the credentials needed for the job or who has blemishes on their record. 

These strikes against you could mean you “fail” the background check for that specific employer. An employer may reject you after a background check for: 

• Criminal record
• Bad credit
• Falsified education credentials
• Negative or falsified employment history (like being fired from a previous job)

Can you omit a job on background check?

It's not advisable to omit a job on a background check. Employers conduct background checks to verify your work history and ensure that you have been honest about your past employment. 

If you omit a job on a background check, it may raise questions about your honesty with your potential employment.

What do employers look for on a background check?

What employers look for in a background check varies based on the type of job and industry standards. In general, however, employers typically look for:

• Criminal history
• Credit score
• Employment history
• Education credentials
• Professional licenses

They may also consider other factors, such as social media profiles and reference checks, when making a hiring decision.

“I think the best way to describe your criminal background is to be brief about the offense and focus on what you have learned and the growth you’ve had on a personal level,” says Brianna Rooney, former tech recruiter, founding recruiter of Forbes.jobs, and founder of recruiting agency TalentPerch.

At the end of the day, each company reserves the right to weigh the findings of a background check when considering whether you’re the best candidate for a job.

Does Amazon do background checks?

According to current and former Amazon employees, background checks are typically performed as part of Amazon’s hiring process:

Background check for Amazon?
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What company does Amazon use for background checks for fulfillment center?
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Bottom line: Jobs without background checks exist

Jobs that don’t do background checks are harder to find, but they do exist. If you’re considering freelancing, starting a business, or picking up a trade, you may not even need to worry about background checks. 

There are also job sites specifically for people with a past criminal record, like jailstojobs.org and jobsforhumanity.com.

If you are applying for a job that requires a background check, it’s always best to disclose any past convictions upfront, along with your employment and education history. 

Rooney says you should aim to work at a company that accepts and is willing to mentor you if you have shown a commitment to bettering yourself. 

“That's the first thing I tell people when I hire them,” Rooney says. “They won't be with my company forever, but no matter, I promise, they will leave a better version of themselves — and I keep that promise.”

Check out these other job posts:

• Same-day pay jobs
• How to get to six figures
• Recession-proof jobs
• How to become a doula and build a six-figure business
• How to make money testing products at home

Lab-grown diamonds are more popular than ever — and less expensive. This means you will get pennies on any dollar you spent if you try to resell. But there is a glimmer of hope if you don't want or need your LGD any more, as any gold settings are worth more than ever and very easy to resell.

Over half of engagement rings (52%) featured a lab-grown center stone, according to The Knot’s most recent Jewelry & Engagement Study.

Buyers like that these diamonds are real, look identical to mined stones, and cost far less. But the tradeoff is resale: lab-grown diamonds have dropped sharply in price and typically resell for a small fraction of what you paid, making them hard to sell for meaningful cash (especially as supply keeps growing).

Diamond industry analyst Edahn Golan told Reuters that the average wholesale price of one-carat and two-carat lab-grown diamonds fell by 96% since 2018.

The good news is that the gold or silver setting is worth more than ever — with both metals hitting one record high after another, making up for resale value of your LGD.

Keep reading to learn more about lab-grown diamonds and what they’re worth on the resale market, plus some of the places where you can sell:

Can you resell a lab-grown diamond? For how much?

It is possible to resell lab-grown diamonds, though technological efficiencies adapted from industries like solar power and 3D printing have made lab-grown diamonds easier to make and therefore less valuable than even a few years ago.

This means that it is not profitable for most diamond buyers or jewelers to buy your lab-grown diamonds.

A lab-grown 1-carat diamond that retails for $1,000 to $1,500 will fetch about $100, according to Diamonds USA

Diamonds USA, with an A+ Better Business Bureau rating does buy all sizes of lab-grown diamonds, and Worthy.com, also with a Better Business Bureau rating of A+, buys lab-grown synthetic diamonds of at least 3 carats.

The decrease in value for a lab-grown diamond is much greater than natural stones. Expect to get about 30% of today's retail value for your natural diamond, vs. about 10% for a LGD. Again, the gold setting for a diamond ring, necklace or earrings is valuable, as gold prices exceed $5,000 per ounce.

Diamonds USA is one of the few diamond buyers that does buy all sizes of lab-grown diamonds and shares this chart to help sellers understand the resale market of both natural and lab-grown diamonds. Both are worth more if you have a GIA certificate validating the stone's qualities.

Where can I resell lab-grown diamonds for the best price?

Few diamond buyers will buy used lab-grown diamonds, though that is changing. Diamonds USA and Worthy.com both buy lab-grown diamonds.

The easiest way to start the LGD resell process is to start by checking with the original jeweler where your ring was purchased to see if they have a buyback or exchange program. If that fails, here are some other options:

Pawn shops

If you need quick cash, a quality local pawnbroker may be a good option, with a transaction that can take 15 minutes or less. Learn more about what your local pawnshop buys and how to find a quality pawn shop in your community.

Online lab-grown diamond buyers

First, understand what your stone is worth. Again, lab-grown diamonds are graded the same as natural stones, so collect any documentation of what you own, including the gold or platinum setting.

In fact, the precious metals are likely worth as much or more than the lab-grown diamond. While the retail and resell value of both natural and lab-grown diamonds is declining, gold prices have remained strong in recent years.

Search for online reviews on Yelp, Google Business, Better Business Bureau and TrustPilot. 

Two places to sell your LGD online that we partner with are Worthy and Diamonds USA:

Read our review of CashforGoldUSA, Diamonds USA's sister company, and a review of Worthy.com.

Or get a quote from Diamonds USA now.

Direct to buyers

Whether you post on Facebook Marketplace, ebay, Craigslist or another resale site, you can set your own price and try to find a buyer willing to pay it. 

On ebay, you can browse other lab diamond listings to get a sense of successful sales prices.

Sellers successful with jewelry sales on these platforms tend to have a large volume of products and professional photography equipment, though you may have luck if you price your diamond right. 

Jewelry consignment

You might also try selling lab diamond jewelry at local or online consignment shops like Louped, and Poshmark. Another option is Mercari, a peer-to-peer secondhand marketplace. Keep in mind, most successful sellers on these platforms have built large retail platforms over long periods.

Sell lab-grown diamond “near me”

Local jewelry stores, pawn shops, jewelry stores, and consignment shops near you may buy pre-owned lab-grown diamonds. While there are very few places that do buy lab-grown diamonds, it can be worth a quick search to see if anyone in your community is buying them.

How to sell lab-grown diamonds

If you do intend to sell your lab-grown diamond, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you do not get ripped off and get the most money for your jewelry — no matter how low the value may be:

The first step in selling a lab-grown diamond is to understand its value. Gather any receipts, lab reports or any other documentation about your lab-grown diamond and its setting.

Because lab diamonds are less likely to have imperfections than natural ones, carat is the most important factor in determining the value of your rings. Larger carat stones tend to come with a higher value. 

A GIA report is always valuable, though they cost $100 to $200 or more, so may not be a good investment. You can also get a diamond appraisal to learn the details of your lab diamond and get an idea of its value — which may also cost you $100 to $200, potentially more than your item is worth.

Once you have the details of your diamond, assess the market. Do some googling for recent sales on ebay, Poshmark or other second-hand consigners where lab-grown diamonds are sold. Keep in mind that prices are dropping, so it is important the sales are recent.

Remember that the gold or platinum setting of your jewelry has market, spot value in addition to the stone.

Rather than selling, some readers opt to reset or upgrade their ring. Before you decide, browse to explore unique engagement styles that pair well with lab-grown diamond—think sleek solitaires, halos, and three-stone designs—so you can compare what a redesign might cost versus a sale and choose the option that best fits your goals. 

Lab-grown, synthetic diamonds FAQs

What you want to know about the pros and cons of lab-grown diamonds: physical properties, environmental impact, investment value and price trends:

What are lab-grown diamonds?

Lab-grown diamonds have the same chemical and physical properties as real diamonds, and are technically considered real diamonds.²

Also referred to as man-made diamonds, these stones are created using one of two methods, according to the International Gem Society: 

1. High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT): Using a small diamond seed crystal, the lab heats a chamber to as high as 1,600 degrees Celsius and applies pressure of 870,000 pounds per square inch. These two forces combined result in the diamond growing around the diamond seed.
2. Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)³: The diamond seed crystal sits in a chamber filled with carbon gas that's heated to 1,200 degrees Celsius. A microwave beam then creates a plasma cloud that deposits carbon precipitation onto the diamond seed, which grows into a diamond.

Both methods take place in a lab and replicate the process that occurs in nature to create real diamonds. While mined diamonds can take more than a billion years to form, the lab process takes just weeks to complete.

Are lab-grown diamonds real?

Despite public misconceptions that lab diamonds are artificial, there are no chemical or visual differences between lab-grown diamonds and earth-created diamonds.

In fact, gemologists have stopped using the word “synthetic” to describe lab-grown diamonds, since they have the same physical characteristics as natural diamonds. They are, however, man-made.

Gemologists use the same four “Cs” to grade both natural and lab-grown diamonds: 

• Cut – Certain cuts, like round, are in higher demand and therefore more valuable
• Color – The less yellow a diamond appears, the more valuable it typically is
• Clarity – Fewer flaws and visible inclusions (mineral crystals inside a diamond), the higher quality
• Carat – The higher the carat weight, the more expensive

Lab-grown diamonds are also just as durable, with a 10 hardness level on the Mohs scale,⁴ which is used to identify minerals based on their scratch resistance. 

This makes lab-grown diamonds higher quality than diamond simulants like moissanite, with a Mohs hardness rating of 9.25, or cubic zirconia, which has an 8-8.5 rating. Learn more about these “fake diamonds” and how they compare to lab and mined diamonds.

However, lab grown diamonds are still subject to the same color grading scale as natural diamonds. The highest grade is D (colorless), and the scale goes all the way to Z, though most diamonds on the market don’t go below J. 

Fancy lab diamonds in yellow and blue are also popular and considered desirable on the resale market.

Just like natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds vary in quality. 

“Some lab-grown diamonds are tinted and have imperfections, but the most advanced are just as colorless and flawless as the highest quality natural diamonds,” Avi Levy, president of the International Gemological Institute, wrote in a press release.

Most man-made diamonds are large in size and high in quality. Needless to say, the diamond industry is struggling to stay relevant in the face of such excellent-quality competition.

What is the difference between lab-grown diamonds vs natural diamonds?

The only physical difference (besides how they’re made) between natural and lab-grown diamonds is that natural diamonds contain trace amounts of nitrogen, while lab-made diamonds do not.⁵

Nitrogen presence is the one identifying property gemologists use to distinguish the two in testing.

Every lab-grown diamond should also have a small inscription on the girdle — the area on a diamond that separates the bottom from the crown — indicating it was created in a lab, plus a report number. The inscription is microscopic, requiring a loupe or microscope to see.  

Of course, the other big difference is that lab-grown diamonds are far less expensive than natural diamonds of similar quality — about a third less as of October 2023, though the value of both natural diamonds and LGD are on the decline.

Of course, the other big difference is that lab-grown diamonds are far less expensive than natural diamonds of similar quality — about a third less as of October 2023, though the value of both natural diamonds and LGD are on the decline. Collections such as Cullen Jewellery lab grown engagement rings illustrate how couples can embrace these cost-effective options without compromising on beauty or craftsmanship.

Here are some recent examples of round, 1-carat E, VSS1 lab-grown and natural diamonds for sale on BlueNile.com:

Natural diamonds:

Lab-created diamond for the same quality stone:

Are lab-grown diamonds more ethical than natural ones?

Lab-grown diamonds are considered more ethical than natural diamonds because of the lower environmental and humanitarian impact required to create them. Mining earth diamonds involves huge amounts of dirt removal, potential toxic water runoff, and air pollution. 

Local communities in diamond-rich, but impoverished areas in southern Africa and Russia can also be negatively impacted by these environmental factors, and dangerous working conditions, as well as violent conflicts over the diamond trade. 

In 2003, 59 nations signed the Kimberly Process, which aims to make the diamond trade more transparent and secure by requiring certification that diamonds are sourced in an ethical way, and are not in fact “conflict diamonds” or “blood diamonds.” 

While it ensures conflict-free countries of export, diamonds may still be smuggled from conflict zones into conflict-free zones as a work-around, so it is nearly impossible to truly understand the origin of your stone.

Lab-grown diamonds, meanwhile are typically created much more ethically, even if their creation and shipping do consume environment-destroying fossil fuels.

One report⁹ underwritten by the De Beers group, which has a monopoly on the global natural diamond industry, wrote that the process to create lab-grown diamonds produced three-times the greenhouse gasses involved in mining the natural equivalent.

Are lab grown diamonds GIA certified?

Yes, the GIA has been grading lab-grown diamonds since 2007.

The Gemological Institute of America is the leading laboratory that provides certified reports on diamonds and gemstones verifying their qualities and estimated monetary value. Diamond certificates from the GIA and the International Gemological Institute and Gem Certification & Assurance Lab are very helpful in reselling any gemstone, and are required by some diamond buyers. A GIA certificate costs $100 to $200 for most diamonds.

As of 2020, the GIA offers full grading reports for lab-grown diamonds that are the same for mined diamonds.

Are lab-grown diamonds a good investment?

Neither lab-grown or most natural diamonds are good financial investment. The price of lab-grown diamonds continues to drop as supply grows. That means they are unlikely to increase in resale value. 

RapNet Diamond Index is the industry standard for tracking diamond pricing, but does not include lab-grown diamonds in its report.

Founder Martin Rapaport has been vocal about his frustration with the growing lab diamond industry, penning a scathing memo in early 2023 calling on the industry to stop doing business in lab-grown diamonds. In 2025, De Beers closed its lab-grown operations, Light Box.

Lab-grown diamond prices are falling as supply continues to increase. More labs means more competition and lower prices for consumers. Unfortunately, that also impacts your ability to resell your lab-grown diamond ring in the future.  

Natural diamond prices have also dropped significantly in recent years, in part because of the increased popularity and affordability of lab diamonds, as well as general lack of interest from consumers who no longer covet big, flashy diamonds as they did a few years ago:

“I recommend buying diamonds for their beauty, meaning, and durability, not as an investment,” says Ty Wilson, co-founder and COO of CustomMade, an online custom jewelry designer based in Cambridge, Mass. Same can be said for lab-grown or synthetic diamonds.

Will jewelers buy lab-grown diamonds?

Very few jewelers or diamond buyers buy lab-grown diamonds, but there are exceptions.

Some local jewelers may be willing to buy lab-grown diamonds for resale, especially if you originally purchased yours at that location. You may also be able to do a trade-in for another piece of jewelry instead of getting cash.

Keep in mind that diamonds of all kinds — natural and lab-grown — are depreciating in value in part because retailers have too much inventory. 

Your safest bet is to resell the gold or platinum setting, which is always sellable. Gold prices have been strong for the past couple of years. Learn more about how to value your gold and where to sell it.

Diamonds USA buys all diamond sizes and quality — both natural and lab-grown. They also buy all gold, silver and platinum jewelry and scrap.

Bottom line: Understand the value of your lab-grown diamond before you sell

It's important to be realistic with your expectations before you start looking to sell your lab-grown diamond, as few jewelry buyers take them.

Get an appraisal or find your original paperwork to confirm the quality of your lab-grown diamond. The larger the stone, the easier time you'll have reselling it. It may help to focus on selling the precious metal in which the diamond is set.

Get a quick quote to sell your lab-grown diamond at Diamond USA now.