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Best places to sell your gold for cash in 2024

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The spot price of gold hit an all-time high of $2,222 Thursday after Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell hinted at three interest rate cuts in 2024.1 Geopolitical instability and stock market and inflation fluctuations mean analysts expect gold prices to rise.2

12-month gold future from Yahoo Finance as of March 8, 2024

As of Mar 28, 2024, the spot gold value in the United States was trading at $2219.16 per ounce, or $71.35 per gram. 

Simply put: Now is a good time to sell gold.

Whether you have gold jewelry, scrap, coins or bullion, you have several safe, quality options for selling your gold. This post outlines the best ways to sell your gold:

  1. How not to get ripped off selling gold
  2. Best online gold buyers
  3. Pawn shops
  4. Local gold buyers and coin dealers
  5. Local jewelry stores
  6. Selling gold FAQs

1. How not to get ripped off selling gold

Whether you sell online or IRL, there are some general guidelines for making sure you work with an honest company that will make you a fair offer — and there are plenty out there, says David Atlas, vice chair of ethical issues and associate director of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers.

“There are people who are altruistic and will be helpful,” Atlas told me. “A retailer who lives in my town is really fair with people. She listens to their story and like a lot of gold buyers who are sympathetic, offers people 70% to 75% of the value of their item, which is very fair.”

A key to getting a fair deal is to understand the weight and karat of your gold. Read our FAQs about how gold prices work and tips for selling gold.

First step, Atlas said: Understand if your gold is real.

2. Best places to sell your gold online

While there are many reputable local businesses that can give you an honest gold resale price or trade-in value for your gold jewelry, gold coins, gold nuggets, watch, gold bullion or dental gold, selling gold online is increasingly common, as more and more quality gold buyers have made it easy to safely get paid without leaving home.

Other reasons many people opt for selling gold to an online buyer:

  • More convenient and private than driving around to area businesses near you.
  • An established online gold buyer will have a robust online presence you can research: reviews and ratings from Trustpilot, BBB, Yelp, Facebook, and more. Many more data points to use to vet your buyer than a typical local business.
  • Online gold buyers can often offer high prices thanks to their lower overhead (no expensive retail rent), and the competitive nature of the internet.

CashforGoldUSA: 

CashforGoldUSA is a family business established in 2005 outside of Boston that buys the widest breadth of gold, silver and diamonds in the industry, pays within 24 hours and insures your item up to $100,000. Focus on customer service and speed to payment.

BBB Rating: A+, accredited since 2020

What they buy: They are the only online gold buyer that we know of that accepts all weight and quantities of gold (as well as silver and diamonds), including broken jewelry, dental scrap, coins and bullion.

Speed to payment: CashforGoldUSA pays within 24 hours of receiving your item, with the total transaction taking 3 days or less if you are prompt in sending in your item and responding to their offer.

Unique features: Price-match guarantee, very fast payment of your choice: PayPal, print-at-home check, direct deposit, personal check by FedEx or First Class USPS or Virtual Visa credit card. Does not require ID verification.

Read our CashforGoldUSA review.

Sell your gold now with CashforGoldUSA >>

Other quality companies that buy scrap gold online, listed alphabetically:

Abe Mor

Abe Mor is a family business established in 1969 in New York City’s Diamond District, and focuses primarily on buying and selling diamonds wholesale through retailer jewelers, though they are also a reputable place to sell gold.

BBB Rating: A+, accredited since 2016

What they buy: Abe Mor will buy your gold jewelry or scrap gold if the value (to you) is more than $1,000, as well as diamonds of at least 0.5 carats. For example, a recent query to sell 40 grams of 14k gold would be a melt value of $1,486.85 based on that day’s price, and Abe Mor's offer would be $1,100.

Speed to payment: The whole process from getting a quote to getting paid will take about a week.

Unique features: Abe Mor primarily buys diamonds and diamond jewelry with a center stone of at least 0.5 carats.

Read our Abe Mor review.

Similar companies that also buy and sell diamonds:

  • myGemma (marketplace model, vs direct buy)
  • Worthy (an auction platform)

Alloy

Alloy is a new player in the online gold buying space, with a slick, modern design that stands out from its competitors. Otherwise, their proposition is the same as others in this space: Secure, free shipment, free returns, highest guarnateed offer.

BBB Rating: A-

Speed to payment: Minimum 3 days based on their web copy, but could be longer.

Unique features: Also buys platinum, silver and palladium. Says 100% of offers are accepted. Also buys diamonds of at least 1 carat.

Learn more about Alloy.

JM Bullion

JM Bullion is arguably the leading buyer and seller of consumer metals — coins, bullion, and metals IRAs in gold, silver, platinum, copper and very unique coins, such as a 2023 JFK Half Dollar Black Ruthenium Set ($19.99) and 2022 Colorized American Women Quarter 5-Coin Set ($20.95) on sale at the time of this writing.

Based in Dallas, JM Bullion insures your item up to $25,000.

BBB Rating: A+, accredited since 2014

What they buy: Most U.S. gold and silver coins and bullion. Minimum sale value of $1,000. 

Speed to payment: About a week, or two weeks if you choose a paper check. There are no fees associated with paying via ACH, while wires incur a $25 fee, and paper checks incur a $30 fee.

Unique features: Very transparent online list of what they pay for each coin and bullion, though you can also email and interact with customer service. Promotes that you can complete the entire transaction without speaking to a human — which may be a pro or a con for you. Free shipping only on orders of $199 or more. Locks in the sell price once they send your mailer, guaranteeing a minimum.

Other trustworthy companies that deal in buying and selling metals bullion include:

  • APMEX
  • Money Metals Exchange

Luriya

In business since 1995, Luriya is an online gold buyer headquartered in Manhattan’s Diamond District, with other locations in Queens and Brooklyn.

You can request a free mailer from Luriya via FedEx 2nd day shipping, automatically insured for up to $1,000 (and up to $1 million, if necessary), or schedule an in-person appointment to have your items appraised. Luriya reports its offices are under 24/7 surveillance by a private security team.

BBB Rating: Not rated, though they have 4.7 stars on Google 

What they buy: Luriya accepts all forms and quantities of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and diamonds (except rough diamonds), including jewelry (antique, luxury, and estate jewelry), gold coins, watches, precious gemstones (emeralds, sapphires, and rubies), and scrap metal; they do not accept costume jewelry

Speed to payment: Luriya offers instant payouts via cash, check (personal or bank certified), money order, wire transfer, Paypal, Zelle, Crypto, or Cash App. Offers are made within 24 to 48 hours of receiving your items. 

Unique features: Also accepts platinum, palladium, and precious gemstones

US Gold Buyers

US Gold Buyers is a GIA-certified jewelry appraiser with a physical location in Boca Raton, Fla., though they also do business online. When you submit the form on the US Gold Buyers website, you’ll receive a free FedEx overnight label in your email, which is trackable and insured for up to $25,000 (or more upon request).

US Gold Buyers claims to offer up to 98.5% of market price and says they were ranked No. 1 in highest payouts by the Wall Street Journal, though the article they’re referencing is from 2008.

BBB Rating: A+ (accredited since 2016)

What they buy: US Gold Buyers accepts scrap and dental gold, diamonds of all shapes and sizes, silver, platinum, fine jewelry and watches (including antique and estate jewelry), and coins.

Speed to payment: US Gold Buyers offers instant payouts in store and within 24 hours via mailed check for online transactions. Upon request, they also offer same-day bank wires, PayPal deposits, or payments via Western Union and MoneyGram.

Unique features: US Gold Buyers offers a price-match guarantee and sends you a free mailer overnight the same day you fill out the form on their website.

Best place to sell gold online: CashforGoldUSA

Among multiple good options, one reliable, safe, fast and quality place we confidently recommend selling any type of gold is online buyer CashforGoldUSA — one of the oldest online gold buyers.

We vetted gold sellers based on pricing, speed, reputation, safety and value. Here are the questions we ask and what we learned:

Pricing and payment: Who pays the most for gold?

The only way to guarantee that you will get the absolute highest price for your gold at any moment is to shop it around, locally and online. The offers can vary widely, and change day-to-day as gold prices fluctuate.

Pro tip: No matter where you sell your gold, always negotiate. Online buyers that invest in sending you a mailer are especially incentivized to offer you a higher payout, vs having to pay to return your item to you.

Speed to cash: What's the fastest way to liquidate your gold?

The fastest way to get cash for your gold is to walk into a pawnshop or local gold dealer and take what they offer — which may or may not be a fair price — but will get you cash within about 15 minutes. This can be a great option for a lot of people, especially if you trust your pawnshop and like to support local businesses.

However, you can get money for your gold within a few days without leaving the house by selling online.

Safety: What's the safest way to get cash for gold?

Unlike years past, today there are reputable online buyers who ensure that your item is safe and trackable throughout the selling process. All of the leading gold buyers offer 100% free door-to-door free, trackable FedEx or USPS shipping, free insurance — typically up to $100,000, and a guarantee your item will be returned to you promptly, free of charge without question.

Stories of people's gold going missing en transit are rare.

CashforGoldUSA display ad

3. Sell your gold to pawn shops

Many people prefer to sell their gold or jewelry locally to a business they know and trust — and get their cash immediately without messing around with the mail or FedEx.

A reputable pawn shop can be the closest place to sell gold if you need cash quickly and prefer to do business locally with people you know. Ask around for a recommendation, check online reviews and get a few quotes. Don't be afraid to negotiate or walk away if you don't feel their offer is fair.

Of course, pawnbrokers also give you the option of getting back your gold within the terms of the loan.

Search for a pawn broker that buys gold in your community:

google-maps-usa-image

If you have gold jewelry worth at least $800 that you really don't want to sell, but need the cash, you might consider a jewelry loan. Learn more: Where and how to get a loan on jewelry in 2024

4. Sell to local gold buyers or coin dealers

Many communities have roadside businesses advertising “Cash for Gold,” “Gold and Silver Exchange,” and “Metals Exchange.” These businesses typically lose out to pawn shops in terms of price since pawn shops can be larger, more established businesses with deeper community reputations to maintain.

It never hurts to get a quote from one of these buyers, which you can use to validate another offer or negotiate a higher payout:

google-maps-usa-image

Similarly, coin dealers typically buy gold scrap, in addition to rare coins and coin collections.

5. Sell gold to local jewelry stores

The first place many people go to sell their gold is a jewelry store. You may have a relationship with such a local jeweler or trust one in your town. Some jewelers offer store credit in exchange for your item, and you may prefer to do business locally, with someone you know.

google-maps-usa-image

Many jewelers will offer you a higher sum for credit in their store vs. a cash payout.

CashforGoldUSA display ad

Gold price and selling FAQs

When you decide you are ready to sell your gold items, it helps to understand the terminology and what influences the value of gold.

How much do you get for selling gold?

Ultimately, gold sells for what someone will pay for it, typically the spot gold price, multiplied by the weight and karat, minus a commission. Depending on whether you sell or pawn, online or offline, try to negotiate your gold sale.

Expect to receive 90% to 95% of the current market value or spot price if you’re selling coins or bars.

For jewelry, expect to receive about 70% to 75% of the melt value. At the current scrap gold rates, a typical gold wedding band or gold class ring is worth between $100 and $300, depending on the weight and karat.

As of Mar 28, 2024, the spot gold value in the United States was trading at $2219.16 per ounce, or $71.35 per gram. 

What is the gold spot price? Is it different from melt value?

Gold spot price is calculated as the average net value of all currently traded gold futures for the next month.

The melt value is calculated by the amount of the precious metal multiplied by the spot price of the gold. If you melted down the gold pieces and sold them as raw materials, the melt value is what that gold is worth right now.

As of Mar 28, 2024, the spot gold value in the United States was trading at $2219.16 per ounce, or $71.35 per gram. 

Why do gold prices fluctuate? What causes the price of gold to go up?

Gold is like any other asset: stocks, real estate, even human labor. When there is more demand, prices go up. When there is less demand for gold, prices go down.

Typically, gold has been considered a safe investment, so when there is a lot of volatility in the economy or stock market, investors tend to favor gold.

Historically gold prices increase when:

  • The stock market is down
  • Times of economic and political instability
  • Other safe-haven investments like bonds and investments in the U.S. dollar are down
  • The higher the gold price, the more people tend to want to buy — which drives gold prices up further

Gold prices have steadily risen in recent months and hit a record high of $2,150 in December 2023. They climbed above $2,100 again in early March 2024.

You can get an idea of the price of your gold with CashforGoldUSA's gold calculator, which factors in the current price of gold before the gold buyer's commission:

CashforGoldUSA informational gold calculator
CashforGoldUSA informational gold calculator

Your offer will depend on your appraisal, the melt price of gold, and what the buyer feels like offering.

In any market, cash in hand today is worth much more than waiting a few weeks or months to see if the price increases a little. Overall, gold prices have been near record highs, so you will get a decent return if you sell soon.

What are gold futures?

Meanwhile, gold futures prices serve as the basis for the LBMA Gold Price, which is based on contracts for the physical delivery of a specified amount of gold on a set date in the future, and determined by predicted changes in supply and demand, the estimated cost of transporting and storing gold.

Is now a good time to sell gold? When is the best time to sell gold?

Gold prices have been high over the past two years, hitting an all-time highs in December 2023 and in March 2024.

Analysts predict that while precious metals prices may be volatile this year, they will remain strong. That means now is a good time to sell gold.1

However, in any market, the best time to sell gold may be purely personal: when you need cash the most. Again, it is better to have cash that you very much need to pay essential bills like rent, a car note, or utilities.

It can also make sense to sell gold for other investments, including stock funds in a retirement account, in real estate, or even on education or new business expenses.

Also, it may make sense to sell your gold and buy stocks or an index fund to take advantage of the down stock market.

How can I sell my gold jewelry without getting ripped off?

If you want to sell your gold ring, earrings, necklace or other gold jewelry (or jewellery, if you're British) for cash, you’ll need to do the following:

  1. Check the karat symbols and markings to determine its purity
  2. Check the current price of gold
  3. Get offers from quality buyers, compare and negotiate
  • Look to Better Business Bureau, Reddit and Trustpilot for online gold buyer reviews, and Yelp and Google reviews for selling gold locally
  • Search the company name and look for negative press
  • Ask around to friends and neighbors you trust

Always shop around and negotiate — these businesses expect it! Once they name their offer, say: “Can you do any better?” or quote a price another buyer offered.

What are the markings on my gold jewelry?

These are the karat markings on gold jewelry, and the purity of gold they represent:

  • Gold with an etching or stamp or hallmark that reads “18K” or “750” indicates that it is made up of 75% gold
  • A “14K” or “585” mark means the metal is made up of 58.5% gold. This stamp is typically either a karat number, such as 18K, or 12K, in the shape of a rectangle with the corners cut off, and with a number inside
  • Gold with an etching or stamp or hallmark that reads “18K” or “750” indicates that it is made up of 75% gold, while a “14K” or “585” mark means the metal is made up of 58.5% gold

Here's a guide to deciphering the symbols stamped on jewelry.

Bracelet shows symbols stamped on jewelry.

As of Mar 28, 2024, the amount of gold per karat in yellow gold, assuming a price of $2192.05 per troy ounce:

Stamp Purity % gold Spot price
999 24 karat 99.9%  $2192.05
990 22 karat 99% $2009.45
750 18 karat 75%  $1644.04
585 14 karat 58.3%  $1278.62
375 9 karat 37.5% $822.02

Gold bars and gold bullion are nearly always 24K gold. Learn more about selling your gold bars and bullion.

Determine the weight and karat of your gold by looking for markings and using a scale — like this one from Amazon that sells for about $10. You can also stop into a pawn shop, or local jeweler and ask them to weigh your gold (they should do it for free).

Learn how to tell the difference between common jewelry metals in these posts:

Sterling silver vs white gold

Sterling silver vs silver

Platinum vs white gold

White gold vs yellow gold

If your gold jewelry comes from a high-end jeweler like Tiffany, Cartier, or David Yurman, or is otherwise unique, it could be worth more than its scrap metal value. A jeweler can provide you with a jewelry appraisal, which can help you determine the value of the items you have and where to sell them.

Is my gold real?

Gold is usually an alloy, meaning a mix of gold with other metals.

  • Pure gold is 24 karat, and will be marked 24K — with “K” the abbreviation for karats
  • Purity marks on gold tell you the percentage of pure gold vs the amount of other metals mixed in the alloy
  • Real gold will not float, and will not rust. Drop your gold into a glass of water. If it floats, it's fake.
  • Check to make sure your item is not simply gold plated by testing your gold with a magnet — pure gold is not magnetic

Can you make money selling gold?

Gold has been one of the best investments over the long-term. Current gold prices are high, sitting comfortably above $2,000 per ounce, so now is a great time to sell.

Many people are selling their gold and parking their cash in savings accounts and CDs, as 5% APRs are now common.

What's worth more, gold or diamonds?

Jewelry with diamonds and other precious gemstones can also bring more — but only if those stones are large and of high quality. Often, the gold is the most valuable part of a piece of jewelry.

Overall, gold is a much better investment than diamonds. Gold has an intrinsic market value, and continues to hold its value as it has for thousands of years. Diamonds have always had a retail markup of at least 100% — so even in the best of times, you were guaranteed to lose money on a diamond purchase.

Meanwhile, the pressures of lab-grown diamonds, fashion and social trends that disfavor big diamonds, and economic and geopolitical pressures, mean that the value of diamonds has dropped 35% over the past year and is expected to continue.

Read more in how to sell diamonds, and the best diamond buyers — including details about selling a diamond ring.

Is selling gold jewelry worth it?

If you need the money more than you need the gold jewelry, then it is worth it to sell. Even a small broken gold chain can be worth $100 or more.

Is it safe to sell gold online?

Reputable gold buyers guarantee safety through trackable shipping and coverage through reputable insurers. All the buyers featured in this post are reputable and have taken appropriate measures to make your transaction safe.

Bottom line: Where is the best place to sell gold jewelry?

Cash is king. If you aren’t using your gold jewelry or you have gold coins lying around, it may be a good time to sell, regardless of prices. If you need the money right away, a pawnshop or gold buyer in your community with a good reputation can help.

If you have a few days, we recommend our choice for best gold seller, CashforGoldUSA, which specializes in buying gold and has a 100% highest-price guarantee and pays within 24 hours of an accepted offer.


Sources

  1. “Gold takes a breather after record, Fed-fuelled rally,” by Anjana Anil, Reuters, March 21, 2024. https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/gold-sprints-record-high-fed-sticks-2024-rate-cut-view-2024-03-21/
  2. “What Will Happen To The Gold Price In 2024 – Octa Forecast” by Ang Kar Yong, Yahoo! Finance, March 7, 2024. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/happen-gold-price-2024-octa-141038380.html

*10% bonus offer. Customers who send in their item(s) within 7 days of receiving the shipping materials will automatically receive an additional 10 percent bonus on top of the appraisal value of their items, compared to standard pricing. Total payout may not exceed melt value of items. The 10% bonus offer is not valid or able to be combined with any other special offers.


What does gold sell for?

March 21, 2024, spot gold hit an all-time high of $2,222 per ounce, or $78.38 per gram.

Is now a good time to sell gold?

Yes — after hitting an all-time high of $2,150 in December 2023, gold prices remain comfortably above $2,000 per ounce and are expected to rise into 2024.

How much do you get for selling gold?

Expect to receive 90% to 95% of the current market value or spot price if you’re selling gold coins or bars, and closer to 70 or 75% for gold jewelry or other scrap.

What is the best way to get cash for gold?

If you need the money right away, a pawnshop or local gold buyer with a local reputation can help. If you can wait a couple days, an online gold buyer can be best. Shop around and negotiate.

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11 Comments

The best place to sell your gold is online. But before selling its advisable to do research on current market price to get the best for your gold

How do I measure how much my gold weighs before I send it? What % does the company keep of the sale?

If you choose to try an online jewelry or gold buyer, check its reputation with the Better Business Bureau. Also read the fine print of its website so you understand what you’re getting into. Look for things like how much time you have to respond to an offer before the buyer considers it a done deal and how long it will take for the buyer to pay you. Take photos of your jewelry before shipping it. And send it insured with a delivery method that proves the company received it.

I have a collection of Bradford and other exchange purchased commemorative gold, silver and platinum coins that a relative left me when she died. How do you sell these? Also in the collection are 5 St. Gaudens $10 gold coins of various dates. From my research, these do not seem rare so I guess a melt value makes sense. Any thoughts?

I liked that you mentioned that gold coin bullion can be sold the same as other scrap gold and a bar is better sold to a local dealer. My aunt has a lot of coins and other gold and silver bullions that she wants to get rid of or sell. I’ll be sure to share this article with her so she can get the right price for each of her gold.

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