Silver Value Calculator
Silver is priced in troy ounces like gold, but it is sold in a far wider range of forms: bullion bars and coins, sterling silverware and jewelry, pre-1965 US coins with 90% silver content, and industrial scrap. The value of any silver item depends on its weight in troy ounces, its purity, and the current spot price. This calculator covers the most common purity grades: fine silver at 99.9%, sterling silver at 92.5%, coin silver at 90%, and Britannia silver at 95.84%, plus a custom input for other alloys. Select your weight unit (troy ounces, grams, or pennyweights), enter the weight, choose the purity, and enter the current spot price from a live source such as the LBMA or COMEX. Because silver prices move continuously, no default spot price is provided. The calculator returns the pure silver content in both troy ounces and grams, then multiplies by the spot price to give the melt value of the silver content. This is not a buy or sell quote: dealers add or subtract premiums and refining charges.
Formulas
Troy oz = grams / 31.1035
Troy oz = pennyweights / 20
Pure silver (troy oz) = weight (troy oz) × purity
Pure silver (grams) = pure silver (troy oz) × 31.1035
Melt value = pure silver (troy oz) × spot price per troy oz
Weight conversions: 1 troy ounce = 31.1035 grams = 20 pennyweights (dwt). Purity is expressed as a decimal (e.g., 0.925 for sterling silver). The melt value is the intrinsic silver content value at current spot prices. It is not the retail or resale price, which will differ due to dealer premiums, refining costs, and numismatic value.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the weight of your silver item and select the weight unit (grams, troy ounces, or pennyweights).
- Select the purity grade. Choose Fine (99.9%), Sterling (92.5%), Coin (90%), or Britannia (95.84%). For other alloys, select Custom and enter the purity percentage.
- Look up the current silver spot price from the LBMA website or a financial data provider and enter it in the spot price field. The price moves continuously, so use a real-time or recent quote.
- The calculator shows the weight converted to troy ounces, the pure silver content in both troy ounces and grams, and the melt value (pure silver oz multiplied by spot price).
- Remember that melt value is a floor estimate. Coins with numismatic value, antique silverware, and hallmarked items may be worth more. Dealers will also deduct refining and processing fees when buying scrap silver.
Frequently asked questions
How is silver purity measured?
Silver purity is expressed as a millesimal fineness (parts per thousand). Fine silver is .999 or 99.9% pure. Sterling silver, the standard for silverware and jewelry in the US and UK, is .925 or 92.5% pure silver with 7.5% copper for durability. Coin silver (used in pre-1965 US dimes, quarters, and half dollars) is .900 or 90% pure.
Where can I find the current silver spot price?
The silver spot price is the real-time commodity price per troy ounce for immediate delivery. It is quoted on COMEX (part of the CME Group in New York) and the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA). Financial data providers, precious metals dealers, and the LBMA website publish current spot prices.
What is the difference between spot price and the price I pay for silver coins or bars?
Retail silver products (coins, rounds, bars) sell at a premium above spot price to cover production, distribution, and dealer margins. The premium varies by product: US Mint American Silver Eagles typically carry a higher premium than generic silver rounds. When you sell silver, dealers typically buy at or below spot price.
Are pre-1965 US coins worth their face value or their silver content?
Pre-1965 US dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollar coins are 90% silver (coin silver). Their silver (melt) value based on their silver content is almost always far higher than their face value. A pre-1965 quarter, for example, contains 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver. At $30 per troy ounce, that quarter's melt value is over $5.
Is silver jewelry hallmarked for purity?
In the US, sterling silver items should be stamped with "925," "Sterling," or "Ster." Fine silver items are often stamped "999." However, US law does not always require hallmarking, so some items may be unmarked. In the UK and much of Europe, hallmarking is legally required. Testing with an acid test kit or electronic tester is the most reliable way to verify purity.
Official sources
- US Mint: Coin specifications (silver content of circulating and bullion coins)
- LBMA: Silver price (London Bullion Market Association daily and real-time silver price data)
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 14 June 2026. See our methodology.