Whether you’ve inherited some silver pieces, discovered old coins in an attic, or you’re tracking your investment portfolio, knowing what your silver is actually worth matters. This calculator gives you the current market value of your silver based on today’s spot prices.
Silver prices change throughout the day, sometimes by the hour. What was worth $100 yesterday might be worth $103 today or $97 tomorrow. That’s why using a live calculator makes sense if you’re thinking about selling, buying, or just keeping tabs on what you own.
What You Can Calculate
This calculator works for pretty much any form of silver you have:
Sterling silver jewelry (usually 92.5% pure) like rings, necklaces, or flatware sets. That “925” stamp you see? That’s telling you it’s sterling.
Silver coins – both collectible coins and bullion coins like American Silver Eagles or Canadian Maple Leafs. Remember, collectible coins often have numismatic value beyond just their silver coin melt value, which is the baseline worth of the silver content itself.
Silver bars and rounds from 1 gram up to 100 ounces or more. Investment-grade silver is typically .999 fine (99.9% pure).
Scrap silver including broken jewelry, dental silver, or old silverware you’re not planning to keep.
How to Use the Calculator
Step 1: Enter the weight Type in how much your silver weighs in the weight field.
Step 2: Select your unit Choose the measurement unit from the dropdown:
- Ounces (standard for precious metals)
- Grams
- Pennyweight
Step 3: Select the purity: Input the silver purity percentage (found stamped on most silver):
- Sterling silver: 92.5%
- Fine silver/bullion: 99.9%
- Coin silver: 90%
- European silver: 80%
Step 4: Calculate Click the calculate button to see your silver’s current market value based on live spot prices.
The result shows the total melt value of your silver at today’s market rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is this calculator?
The calculator uses live silver spot prices that update regularly throughout the trading day. The value you see reflects the current market rate. However, what you’ll actually receive when selling depends on the buyer—most dealers pay slightly below spot price.
What’s the difference between troy ounces and regular ounces?
Troy ounces are the standard measurement for precious metals. One troy ounce equals 31.1 grams, while a regular (avoirdupois) ounce is 28.3 grams. Always use troy ounces when dealing with precious metals to avoid undervaluing your silver by about 10%.
My silver says “925” – what does that mean?
That’s sterling silver, which is 92.5% pure silver mixed with 7.5% other metals (usually copper) for durability. Sterling is the standard for jewelry and silverware. Enter “92.5” or select “Sterling Silver” in the purity field.
Why is my silver worth less than I expected?
If your silver is plated rather than solid, it might contain very little actual silver. Also, remember that antique or collectible pieces often have sentimental or collector value beyond just the metal content. For pure investment purposes though, only the silver content determines the baseline value.
Should I sell my silver based on this calculator result?
That’s entirely up to you and your financial situation. This calculator shows you what the silver is worth today, but silver prices fluctuate. Some people track the value over time to sell when prices peak, others hold silver as long-term insurance against inflation. Neither approach is inherently better—it depends on your goals.
Do coin dealers pay the full calculator amount?
Usually no. Dealers typically pay 85-95% of spot price because they need to cover their costs and profit margin. Larger quantities often get better rates. If you’re selling collectible coins with numismatic value, you might actually get more than the melt value shown here.
How often does the silver price change?
The spot price of silver changes continuously during market hours (Sunday evening through Friday afternoon EST). Major news events, currency fluctuations, and supply/demand changes all affect prices. It’s not unusual to see the price shift by 1-3% in a single day.
What if my silver doesn’t have any markings?
Unmarked silver could be plated, low purity, or simply old enough that markings wore off. Consider getting it tested at a jeweler or coin shop. They can do a quick acid test or electronic test to determine purity. Without knowing the purity, you can’t accurately calculate the value.
Is now a good time to buy or sell silver?
This calculator tells you the current price, not whether it’s a good price historically. Silver has traded as low as $4/oz and as high as $50/oz over the past few decades. Look at historical price charts and consider your financial goals before making buying or selling decisions.