Gold spot price vs dealer premium
Published 10 Nov 2026 · GoldLive team
In the US the gold spot price is the market quote for gold in dollars per troy ounce, and a dealer's premium is the extra you pay above it. The CFTC says a dealer will always sell metal above the spot price and buy it back below the spot price, so the useful question is how large that gap is.
The value in the box is a calculated world market figure. It tells you where spot is. It does not tell you what any particular dealer will charge, and it is no guarantee of what a buyer will pay. The US gold price page shows the same value by karat.
What is the gold spot price?
The FTC defines the spot price as the current price in the physical market for immediate delivery of gold. The CFTC adds that it is quoted in dollars per troy ounce, and you can find it through financial news or quote providers.
The important word is ounce. If you are comparing a coin or a bar with the spot price, check how much actual gold it contains. Our guide to the gold price per ounce covers how to convert between ounces, grams and karats.
What is a dealer premium?
The FTC defines a premium as the amount by which the market value of a gold coin or bar exceeds the actual value of its gold content. The CFTC describes a dealer's markup in the same way, and adds that any extra cost raises the price the metal must reach before you break even.
To express a premium as a percentage, use this simple sum.
Premium % = (price you pay − value of the gold content) ÷ value of the gold content × 100
How to compare two dealers
Here is an example with round numbers. They are not today's prices, and the premiums are invented to show the sum, not typical market figures. Assume spot at USD 3,000 an ounce, for two one-ounce gold products.
| Line | Offer A | Offer B |
|---|---|---|
| Gold content | 1 oz | 1 oz |
| Value at spot | USD 3,000 | USD 3,000 |
| Asking price | USD 3,120 | USD 3,240 |
| Premium in dollars | USD 120 | USD 240 |
| Premium % | 4% | 8% |
| Shipping and insurance | Included | USD 30 |
| All-in cost | USD 3,120 | USD 3,270 |
In this example Offer B would need gold to rise by USD 270 an ounce from that spot price just to reach what you paid, and that ignores what a dealer would deduct when you sell. Compare the all-in cost, not the price on the product page.
The CFTC's advice is to shop around, because each dealer sets its own spread. It also suggests checking a dealer's complaint history with your state attorney general or securities regulator.
Spot price vs melt value
"Melt value" is the value of the gold content at the current spot price, and it is what our gold calculator shows when you enter a weight and a karat and leave the markup at zero. The same number at 14K is what a search for "14k gold price per gram" is really looking for, and the 14K page shows it live.
Expect an offer for scrap jewelry to come in below melt value, because the buyer has to cover refining and make a margin. If you are selling, ask each buyer for a figure per gram for your karat, and work out what percentage of melt value it represents.
The buy and sell spread
The spread is the gap between the price a dealer sells at and the price it buys at. It matters most if you might sell again soon.
The CFTC warns that some fraudulent dealers have charged spreads above 300 percent, while others charge far less. It also warns about storage and insurance fees charged on metal that never existed, so get every fee in writing and confirm you actually received what you paid for.
Collectible coins are different
A premium on a collectible coin has less to do with gold. The FTC says collectible coins generally sell for a premium or markup over the wholesale price so the dealer can make a profit, and that the seller can recover part of a premium at resale. It tells anyone thinking about investing in collectible coins to research the coins, the graders and the dealers.
If a salesperson steers you from a plain bullion product towards a rare or special issue, ask how much actual gold the coin contains and what its value is at spot. Then compare.
Taxes on gold in the US
The IRS says net capital gains from selling collectibles, such as coins or art, are taxed at a maximum 28% rate. Ask a tax professional how that applies to your gold and your situation. Sales tax on gold differs by state, so check with your state's tax agency before you buy.
The method page shows what is in our value and what is not.
These details were checked on 10 November 2026. Federal and state tax rules can change.
Sources
Common questions
What is the difference between spot price and dealer price for gold?
Spot is the market quote per troy ounce, and the dealer price is spot plus a premium. See where spot is now on the US gold price page.
How do you calculate the premium on gold?
Take the price you pay, subtract the value of the gold content at spot, then divide by that value and multiply by 100. Use the gold calculator to get the value of the gold content.
What is melt value of gold?
Melt value is the worth of the gold content at the current spot price. For 14K, start from 77.40 USD per gram on the 14K price page, and expect a buyer to offer less.
Do dealers buy gold at spot price?
The CFTC says a dealer will always buy metal back below the spot price and sell it above, so compare the buy price too. Our price per ounce guide shows how to work out the value first.