Silver Price Per Pound Calculator
Prices on this page use silver spot at $63.98/troy oz ($933.04/lb) · updated
| Purity | ½ lb | 1 lb | 5 lb | 10 lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| .999 fine | $466.05 | $932.11 | $4,661 | $9,321 |
| .925 sterling | $431.53 | $863.06 | $4,315 | $8,631 |
| .900 coin | $419.87 | $839.74 | $4,199 | $8,397 |
| .400 (1965–70 halves) | $186.61 | $373.22 | $1,866 | $3,732 |
The table works without JavaScript. The calculator above does any weight, unit and purity.
Quick answer. To find what silver is worth by weight, convert the weight to troy ounces, multiply by the purity, then multiply by the spot price. For one pound of pure silver at today's spot of $63.98, that's 14.583 × $63.98 = $933.04. The calculator does the conversion for any unit and purity.
How the Math Works
Every silver value calculation comes down to one formula:
Melt value = weight in troy ounces × purity × spot price per troy ounce
The only hard part is getting the weight into troy ounces. The calculator uses these exact conversions:
| From | To troy ounces, multiply by |
|---|---|
| Pounds (everyday, avoirdupois) | 14.5833 |
| Everyday ounces (kitchen scale) | 0.91146 |
| Grams | 0.0321507 |
| Kilograms | 32.1507 |
| Troy ounces | 1 |
Purity is written as a decimal: .999 for fine silver, .925 for sterling, .900 for pre-1965 US coins, .800 for much European silver, and .400 for 1965–1970 Kennedy halves.
The result is melt value: what the silver content is worth at spot. It isn't a dealer's selling price, which adds a premium, and it isn't a buyer's offer, which is lower.
Worked Examples
1. Two pounds of sterling flatware. 2 lb × 14.5833 = 29.17 troy oz of sterling. × .925 = 26.98 troy oz of silver. × $63.98 = twice $863.06.
2. A 250-gram bag of casting grain. 250 g × 0.0321507 = 8.04 troy oz. × .999 = 8.03 troy oz of silver, a little over half a pound's worth.
3. Eight ounces of junk dimes on a kitchen scale. 8 × 0.91146 = 7.29 troy oz of coin. × .900 = 6.56 troy oz of silver, or half of $839.74.
4. A 1 kilo bar. 1 kg × 32.1507 = 32.15 troy oz. × .999 = 32.12 troy oz, worth $2,054.95.
Notice example 3: eight kitchen-scale ounces isn't eight troy ounces. Mixing up the two units is the most common mistake in silver math, and it overstates value by almost 10%.
Which Purity to Choose
If you're not sure what to enter as purity, these are the common silver items and their standard fineness:
| Item | Purity to enter |
|---|---|
| Modern bullion bars, rounds, shot, American Silver Eagles | .999 |
| Canadian Silver Maple Leafs | .9999 |
| Sterling flatware, jewelry and hollowware (marked "Sterling" or "925") | .925 |
| US dimes, quarters and halves, 1964 and earlier; US silver dollars through 1935 | .900 |
| Older American "coin silver" tableware (marked "Coin" or "900") | .900 |
| Canadian dimes, quarters and halves before 1967 | .800 |
| Much continental European silver (marked "800") | .800 |
| US Kennedy halves, 1965–1970 | .400 |
| US "war nickels," 1942–1945 (large mint mark above Monticello) | .350 |
If an item has no mark and isn't a known coin, don't guess high. Enter it at a conservative purity or leave it out until it's been tested. A wrong purity changes the answer far more than a slightly wrong weight.
Choosing and Using the Right Scale
The calculator is only as good as the weight you give it.
- Use grams if you can. Inexpensive digital scales that read to 0.1 gram are more precise than kitchen scales that read in ounces, and grams convert cleanly.
- Check the scale's unit setting. Many digital scales can display "oz" and "ozt" (or "t oz"). The first is the everyday ounce; the second is troy. Know which one you're reading, and select the matching unit in the calculator.
- Check calibration. Weigh something with a known weight: a new US nickel weighs 5.00 grams. If the scale reads 4.8 or 5.2, it's off by 4%, and so is every value you calculate.
- Weigh purities separately. Sterling, coin silver and fine silver each need their own line. The scrap calculator handles a mixed lot in one go.
- Leave out what isn't silver. Knife blades, weighted bases, stones and clasps all add weight without adding silver.
What Buyers Actually Pay
Selling? The calculator's result is a ceiling, not an offer. Buyers pay a share of melt value, and the share depends on the form and the buyer: refiners generally pay the most on large lots, local buyers and coin shops less, and pawn shops usually the least. Ask any buyer what they pay per troy ounce of pure silver, and how they weigh, so you can compare quotes directly.
Buying instead? You'll pay above melt. To see how far above, enter a dealer's price in the premium-over-spot calculator, or read how to buy silver by the pound.
Related Pages
- What a pound of silver is worth, by form
- How many ounces in a pound of silver
- Scrap silver calculator
- Premium-over-spot calculator
FAQ
How do I calculate silver value by weight?
Convert the weight to troy ounces, multiply by purity, then by spot. The calculator does it automatically.
How accurate is this calculator?
The math is exact; the result depends on your scale and on knowing the purity. The spot price is refreshed every 6 hours and stamped with its time.
Does it work for sterling?
Yes. Choose .925 as the purity, and leave out knives and weighted pieces before weighing.
Can I enter weight in grams?
Yes. Grams, kilograms, pounds, everyday ounces and troy ounces are all supported.
Is my data saved?
No. The calculation runs in your browser, and nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
Data sources: Spot price via api.gold-api.com · COMEX futures (SI=F) via Yahoo Finance. Prices are for informational purposes only and may be delayed. Figures on this page were generated . Silver is quoted in US dollars per troy ounce.