Where to sell sterling silver for most money in 2023

Just as you can sell pure silver in the form of bullion and coins, you can make money when you sell sterling silver jewelry, coins, silverware, tableware and other items. 

Silver prices are up 10% from a year ago on a silver shortage and high interest rates.

As of , the silver resale value in the United States was at $ per ounce, or $ per gram.

This is up from a 12-month low of $17.92 in September, according to Forbes.

In other words, it’s a good time to sell sterling silver, which is worth 92.5% of the silver spot price — the current price in the marketplace at which silver can be bought or sold.

Our No. 1 recommendation for selling any silver is CashforSilverUSA, the parent company of which has an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, pays within 24 hours.

Here's what else you might want to know before selling sterling silver:

• Where to sell sterling silver
• Price of sterling silver and what's worth if you sell it
• How to sell sterling silver

Where can I sell sterling silver?

You have several quality options for selling your sterling silver: near you at a jewelry store, gold and silver buyer, coin dealer, pawnshop or some jewelry stores. Online are a handful of options, including ebay, or our recommendation, CashforSilverUSA.

Where to sell sterling silver online

It is easy to sell sterling silver online, whether you have sterling silver jewelry, sterling silver flatware or other items.

Our top recommendation for selling sterling silver is CashforSilverUSA because:

• A+ Better Business Bureau rating
• Will buy any weight or size of silver, gold, diamond, gemstones, fine watches and jewelry
• Guaranteed highest price
• Payouts within 24 hours
• 100% free shipping via FedEx
• Insurance up to $5,000
• Free returns on your items if you decide not to sell
• 10% bonus if you send in your item within 7 days

Here is a recent sterling silver payout on CashforSilverUSA.com:

Other online sterling silver buyers:

• Silver buyer: PGS Gold & Coin
• Silver buyer: reDollar.com

5 silver bar buyers where you can sell silver

Where to sell sterling silver “near me”

It’s easy enough to search Google for where to sell sterling silver “near me,” but you probably won’t get the most money possible for your sterling silver items with any of those results.

Zip Code:

Your search will likely bring up a list of local pawn shops, which will typically only pay you about half the value of your silver, at most. 

If you do find a local silver exchange, you’re unlikely to get as much for your sterling silver as you would from a top online sterling silver buyer like CashforSilverUSA — sister site of top-rated CashforGoldUSA. That’s because local sterling silver exchanges don’t have as much competition and aren’t incentivized to pay you what your sterling silver necklace, earrings, and other jewelry or flatware are worth. 

Online sterling silver buyers serve a national market and face competition from other national buyers, which puts pressure on them to pay you top dollar for your sterling silver jewelry or flatware. 

What is the price of sterling silver?

As of , the silver resale value in the United States was at $ per ounce, or $ per gram.

Sterling silver is worth 92.5% of the current silver value.

Does sterling silver hold any value?

Yes. Because it is made up of 92.5% pure silver, sterling silver is worth 92.5% of the current silver price.

How much is sterling silver worth?

Sterling silver is marked as 925 silver when it contains 92.5% silver, combined with another metal — typically copper. Since 925 silver contains 92.5% silver, it is worth 92.5% of the silver spot price.

Experts quoted on CNBC.com expect silver prices to hit a 9-year high of $30 per ounce in 2023. Industry is the biggest consumer of silver.

What sterling silver jewelry is worth

Sterling silver jewelry is worth at least the value of the pure silver it contains, plus potentially more if its a rare or collectible piece. Sterling silver jewelry is often stamped with “925.” 

What sterling silver flatware is worth 

Sterling silver flatware is worth its weight in silver times the spot price of silver.

As of , the silver resale value in the United States was at $ per ounce, or $ per gram.

What sterling silver tea and coffee sets are worth

Like silver flatware, silver tea and coffee sets are worth their weight in silver times the spot price of silver.

How to sell sterling silver

Whether you sell your sterling silver online or locally, first understand the quality and weight of your item, as well as any special brand, design or history, and research the reputation of any potential silver buyer. Don't always accept the first offer, and feel free to shop around!

1. Verify that your silver is sterling silver

If you want to sell sterling silver, you should first verify that it’s authentic — not just silver plated. Here are a few ways to tell: 

• ​​Sterling silver items will have a hallmark or be stamped with “925” (occasionally, “950” — which means the item has 95% silver). In this post, you’ll learn everything you need to know about symbols stamped on jewelry and how to determine what type of silver you have.
• If your piece is attracted to a magnet, it is fake or plated — silver is not magnetic.
• Silver tarnishes but never rusts.
• A white polishing cloth will remove black debris from sterling silver.
• Sterling silver will quickly melt a piece of ice — it has the highest thermal conductivity of any metal.

2. Assess resale value of your sterling silver

Next, you should research whether your sterling silver piece has any value as a collector's item. ebay is a good place to start — see what other similar pieces might be selling for.

3. Assess scrap metal value of your sterling silver

Then, determine your sterling silver's scrap metal value — i.e. the value of the silver it contains.

To find out how much your sterling silver is worth, you will need to do a simple calculation:

1. Find the weight of your sterling silver in ounces
2. Multiply that weight by .925 to determine how much pure silver you have
3. Multiply that number by the current price of pure silver (in ounces)

For example, a sterling silver spoon that weighs 1 ounce, is worth about $22, minus the buyer's commission (1 ounce x .925 x $23.87 on Jan. 22, 2023).

Compare the two prices to determine whether you should sell your piece as a collector's item to an auction house, dealer, or pawn shop or to a reputable silver buyer like CashforSilverUSA.

What else you should know about sterling silver

Here are some common questions about sterling silver.

Is there a difference between sterling silver and 925 silver?

Sterling silver and 925 silver are the same thing. 

Sterling silver is an alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% metal alloy — typically copper. A 925 stamp on silver denotes its purity as sterling silver. The United States and most of the world follow the standard of 92.5%, though France and some other countries have a standard of 95%, or 950 silver. 

How can you tell if you have 925 sterling silver?

• Sterling silver jewelry, coins, flatware or other items will be stamped with “925” (or, occasionally, “950”).
• Silver is not magnetic, so if your piece is attracted to a magnet, it is fake.
• Weigh your item against one of similar size you know to be 925 sterling silver — they should weigh the same.
• Does it tarnish as silver does?
• As silver has the highest thermal conductivity of any metal, it will quickly melt a piece of ice.
• Silver never rusts.
• Good sterling silver jewelry will not turn your skin green.
• Typically, an intricate piece of jewelry or serving ware is made of sterling silver since it is soft enough to be carved into an elaborate design. 
• 925 sterling will tarnish, and when rubbed with a white cleaning cloth, black residue will show on the cloth.
• Sterling silver will weigh approximately the same as another piece of 925 sterling if you compare the two.

Is 925 sterling silver real silver? 

Sterling 925 silver is very real and desirable.

Is 925 silver good quality?

Sterling 925 silver is in fact one of the highest-quality silvers you can find.

Does 925 sterling silver tarnish?

925 sterling silver will tarnish but can be easily cleaned with a polishing cloth. However, sterling silver will never rust.

FAQs about selling sterling silver

What is the difference between silver and sterling silver?

Sterling silver is an alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% of another metal — typically copper — that increases its durability for use in items like flatware and sterling silver jewelry. 

Can sterling silver be sold for scrap?

Yes! Sterling silver can be sold for scrap. Since sterling silver contains 92.5% silver, it is worth 92.5% of the silver spot price. 

What is the value of scrap sterling silver?

Sterling silver scrap is worth 92.5% as much as pure silver, since that is how much pure silver sterling silver contains. 

To find out how much your sterling silver is worth, you will need to do a simple calculation:

1. Find the weight of your sterling silver in ounces

2. Multiply that weight by .925 to determine how much pure silver you have

3. Multiply that number by the current price of pure silver (in ounces)

How much do pawn shops pay for sterling silver?

As a rule of thumb, pawn shops will usually pay around 50% of the resale value of an item. That means that if a pawn shop can sell your silver for $100, they will pay you $50 or less. While this can get you cash fast, you will usually find much better deals through online silver buyers, who often pay within a few days. CashforSilverUSA pays within 24 hours.

Is it worth it to sell sterling silver? 

Yes! Since your sterling silver items can still be worth quite a bit of money, and are certainly worth selling. What’s the alternative — holding onto it and letting it clutter up your house? 

If you have sterling silver jewelry, sterling silver flatware, or other pieces that you bought or inherited but no longer want, it’s absolutely worth it to sell your sterling silver for scrap to a reputable online buyer like CashforSilverUSA. 

Selling your unwanted sterling silver items for their raw value will typically net you more money than selling them to a pawn shop, which will likely just turn around and sell your items for scrap to make a profit.

Where can I sell sterling silver flatware?

There are many potential buyers of silver flatware, including local coin, jewelry and silver/coin buyers, as well as pawnshops. Online silver buyers are also very interested in buying sterling silverware.

Where can I sell a sterling silver tea set?

You can sell a sterling silver tea set to a number of places: 

• Metals buyer online or nearby, which will likely buy your sterling silver tea set for its scrap silver value. CashforSilverUSA is our No. 1 recommendation for most silver sales.
• Consignment store, in person or online
• Auction house, if you think your sterling silver tea set has value outside of its metal content — for instance if it's an antique tea set
• Marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and ebay
• Pawn shop

Where can I sell my sterling silver Pandora bracelet?

Currently, Pandora does not have a buyback program. If you have an old sterling silver Pandora bracelet or charms that you no longer want, you can sell them in the same ways that you might sell any other silver. Pawn shops, jewelry stores, and online silver buyers will all accept your Pandora items. 

Learn more about selling bracelets

Bottom line: Best place to sell sterling silver

Ultimately, the best place to sell unwanted sterling silver is where you’ll get the most money for it.

CashforSilverUSA is our top choice, for a few reasons:

• CashforSilverUSA pays within 24 hours
• BBB A+ rating
• Will take all your silver, gold, watches, jewelry, diamonds and more
• Price match guarantee
• Free return guarantee
• 10% bonus if you ship within 7 days

Always do your research, understand the value of your item, and explore online silver buyers, too.