How is the price of gold jewelry calculated in the United States?
Most gold jewelry is sold at a finished price per piece rather than as metal plus a separate making charge. That price covers the gold content (weight × the gold price for its karat), labor, design and the retailer's markup, and sales tax is added at the register. In this calculator, "making charges" stand for labor and markup together: enter your jeweler's quote, or the difference between the ticket price and the metal value. The spot gold price is quoted for pure 24K gold, so a 14K piece contains only 58.5% of that value in metal.
What is today's 14K gold rate in the United States?
About $75.19 per gram for 14K and $128.54 per gram for 24K, as of Oct 23, 2026, 21:00 UTC (international price in US dollars). The calculator starts with these rates; replace them with your jeweller's rate if it differs.
What do 10K, 14K and 18K mean?
10K is 41.7% gold (marked 417), 14K is 58.5% (585), 18K is 75% (750) and 24K is pure gold (999). Under the FTC's Jewelry Guides, the karat must appear right before the word "gold", and a piece may contain at most 3 parts per thousand less gold than marked (7 parts where solder is used). Under the National Gold and Silver Stamping Act, a piece stamped with its karat must also carry the trademark or name of the company responsible for the mark. Since the 2018 revision of the Guides there is no 10K minimum for using the word "gold" as long as the karat is stated, but most gold jewelry sold in the US is 10K or higher.
Is there sales tax on gold jewelry?
Yes. Jewelry is taxed like other goods in every state with a sales tax, at the combined state and local rate where you buy it or, for online orders, generally where it is delivered. Many states exempt investment bullion and coins, some only with conditions, but those exemptions do not cover jewelry. Delaware, New Hampshire and Oregon have no sales tax, and Alaska and Montana have no statewide sales tax.
Why does jewelry cost so much more than the gold in it?
The retail price pays for design, manufacturing, finishing, stones, the store and its margin, not just the metal. Plain machine-made chains and bands usually sell much closer to their metal value than designer, branded or handmade pieces. Compare the price with the metal value shown here to see how much of it is labor and markup.
How much will I get if I sell gold jewelry?
Buyers pay for the gold content only (weight × purity × the gold price) and usually offer less than its full melt value to cover testing, refining and their margin. The labor, design and markup you paid are not recovered, and small stones are often not paid for. Ask for the piece to be weighed and tested in front of you, and compare offers from several buyers.