Silver Prices Today
Check real-time silver spot prices with live interactive charts, detailed market analysis, and accurate dealer payout estimates. Track 7-day and 30-day price trends updated hourly from global commodity exchanges. Whether you're selling scrap silver, investing in bullion, or comparing dealer rates, get the data you need to make informed decisions.
Silver Price Chart & Historical Movement
Track silver's price action over multiple time periods. Switch between 7-day, 30-day, and 1-year views to identify trends and patterns.
How to Read This Silver Price Chart
The chart above plots silver's spot price across your selected time period, sourced from global commodity markets. During trading hours (Sunday 6 PM ET through Friday 5 PM ET), prices update continuously based on supply, demand, economic news, and geopolitical events. Longer periods reveal weekly and monthly trends, helping you identify whether silver is in an uptrend, downtrend, or consolidation pattern.
24-Hour Silver Price Movement
Track today's silver price action with key metrics from the last 24 hours.
What is the Silver Price Today?
Today's silver spot price is $— per troy ounce — the global wholesale reference rate on major commodity exchanges. This price is sourced from live market feeds and updated hourly. It's the standardized benchmark used worldwide by dealers, refiners, investors, and central banks for all silver transactions.
Understanding Spot Price
Spot price is the rate at which silver trades immediately (for "spot" delivery) with no premiums applied. It's set by global supply and demand on exchanges like COMEX (New York) and the London Bullion Market. Every silver transaction worldwide references this same baseline price. What you actually pay or receive depends on the spot price plus dealer markups (if buying) or discounts (if selling).
Why You Don't Get Spot Price When Selling
When selling scrap silver, jewelry, or coins, dealers pay less than spot to cover refining costs, overhead, and profit. Online refiners might pay 90–98% of spot for bulk material, while pawn shops pay as little as 50–70%. The difference comes down to volume, purity documentation, and dealer overhead. This is why comparing multiple dealers matters so much.
Today's Prices by Silver Purity
Different silver grades have different values based on purity (measured in parts per thousand). Pure 999 fine silver equals 100% of spot price. Sterling (925) is worth 92.5% of spot, coin silver (900) is worth 90%, and European (800) is worth 80%. Here are today's prices for each grade per gram:
Live Silver Prices by Purity Grade Today
Current market rates for each common silver purity. Used to calculate scrap value, jewelry worth, and dealer payout offers.
Why Does Silver Price Change Every Day?
Understanding the major factors that drive silver price movements and how to interpret market signals.
Industrial Demand
Silver is essential for electronics, solar panels, photography, water purification, and electric vehicles. Approximately 50% of silver demand comes from industrial uses. Strong manufacturing activity in Asia, Europe, and North America drives demand and price. During recessions, industrial demand drops, pressuring prices lower. Tech innovations (like 5G infrastructure expansion) create new demand spikes.
US Dollar Strength
Silver prices move inversely to USD strength (measured by the US Dollar Index). A strong dollar makes silver more expensive for international buyers using euros, yuan, or yen — reducing demand and pushing prices down. Conversely, a weak dollar makes silver cheaper overseas, attracting more buyers and lifting prices. Currency movements can account for 20–30% of daily price swings.
Mine Supply Disruptions
The world's top silver producers are Mexico, Peru, Russia, and China. Production disruptions from labor strikes, environmental regulations, or mine shutdowns can tighten supply overnight. Meanwhile, major silver discoveries or new mining operations can increase supply and pressure prices downward. A single significant mine closure can move prices 5–10%.
Inflation Expectations
Silver is viewed as an inflation hedge — a tangible asset that preserves purchasing power when currency weakens. When inflation expectations rise (based on central bank statements, employment reports, or commodity prices), investment demand for silver increases, lifting prices. Deflation fears do the opposite, causing investors to sell precious metals.
Investment Flows & Sentiment
Silver ETF holdings, futures positioning, and physical bullion purchases from retail and institutional investors heavily influence price action. When investor sentiment turns positive (often called "risk-on"), money flows into speculative positions, lifting prices rapidly. Conversely, "risk-off" sentiment (when investors flee to safety) can trigger sharp selling. Social media trends and retail investor coordination can amplify these swings.
Interest Rates & Central Banks
Silver pays no dividend or interest, so rising interest rates reduce its appeal relative to bonds and savings accounts. When central banks raise rates, precious metal prices typically fall. Lower rates (or near-zero rates) increase demand for non-yielding assets like silver. Federal Reserve announcements, ECB decisions, and Bank of Japan policies all trigger immediate silver price reactions.
Gold/Silver Ratio
This ratio (gold price ÷ silver price) typically ranges from 60–90. When the ratio is high (say 80+), silver is relatively cheap compared to gold historically, attracting value buyers who expect silver to outperform. Conversely, a low ratio might suggest silver is expensive. Today's ratio is —. Traders use this metric to identify relative value opportunities.
Geopolitical Events
Wars, trade tensions, sanctions, and political instability can trigger "risk-off" moves into precious metals. The invasion of Ukraine in 2022 spiked silver prices as investors sought safe havens. Conversely, peace announcements or de-escalation can reverse the trend. Always watch geopolitical headlines for sudden price catalysts.
Economic Data Releases
US employment reports, GDP figures, inflation data (CPI), and consumer spending reports move silver prices as they signal future economic health and interest rate direction. Strong jobs reports often push prices down (suggesting higher rates ahead), while weak economic data lifts prices (suggesting rate cuts or stimulus). These reports are released on set schedules and are major price catalysts.
How to Use Market Information When Selling
Understanding why silver price changed helps you make better selling decisions. If prices are rising on strong industrial demand or dollar weakness, selling soon may be smart before sentiment reverses. If prices dipped on temporary rate fears or profit-taking, waiting for a bounce may be worthwhile.
Use the 7-day and 30-day chart views above to identify trends. An uptrend (higher highs, higher lows) suggests strength — likely a good time to sell near highs. A downtrend (lower highs, lower lows) suggests waiting may pay off. Sideways consolidation often precedes a breakout move in either direction. Selling near 52-week highs historically maximizes your payout. Even a $3/oz improvement across 10 ounces adds $30 to your proceeds.
What You'll Actually Get Paid for Silver Today
The silver spot price shown above is the global wholesale market reference — but it's NOT what dealers pay you. When you sell scrap silver, jewelry, coins, or bars, you receive only a percentage of the melt value, typically between 50–98% depending on dealer type.
Dealers apply discounts because they incur real costs: precious metals refining ($5–20 per lot), shipping and insurance, secure storage, regulatory compliance, staff wages, rent, utilities, and profit margins. A responsible dealer takes 5–15% from bulk material and up to 40% from small quantities.
Dealer Payout Comparison — Today's Spot Price: $—/oz
| Dealer Type | % of Melt Value | Est. Price/oz Today | Processing Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏭 Online Refiners | 90–98% | $—–$— | 1–3 weeks | Large quantities, highest rates |
| 🪙 Coin & Bullion Shops | 75–90% | $—–$— | Same day | Bullion bars, coins, certified products |
| 💍 Jewelry Stores | 60–85% | $—–$— | Same day | Broken sterling jewelry, mixed lots |
| 🏪 Pawn Shops | 50–70% | $—–$— | Immediate | Emergency cash only |
| 🏦 Scrap Metal Dealers | 70–85% | $—–$— | 1–2 weeks | Industrial scrap, large mixed lots |
How to Get the Best Dealer Payout
1. Shop Around & Get Multiple Quotes
Call or visit at least 3 dealers in your area. Payout rates vary by 10–20% even on the same day. Get quotes in writing and ask whether rates are final or subject to reassay results. A small time investment can easily earn you an extra $50–$200.
2. Combine Your Silver for Better Rates
If you have scrap spread across multiple items (5 grams total), combining everything often yields 5–10% better percentage payouts per ounce. Larger quantities cost dealers less per unit to process.
3. Document Purity Levels
Bring proof of purity marks (999, 925, 900, 800). Undocumented scrap requires lab assay, which adds processing costs and may reduce your payout. Clean, marked items command premium rates.
4. Time Your Sale Near Price Peaks
Monitor the price chart above. Selling when silver is near 52-week highs maximizes proceeds. Even a $2/oz difference across 10 ounces means $20 more in your pocket.
5. Choose the Right Dealer for Your Items
- Online Refiners (90–98%): Best rates but requires shipping + 1–3 weeks. Ideal for bulk quantities or pure bullion. Lowest fees overall.
- Coin & Bullion Shops (75–90%): Fast, local, same-day cash. Perfect for coins, bars, certified products. Good balance of price and speed.
- Jewelry Stores (60–85%): Good for broken sterling jewelry and mixed items. Convenient if you need fast local service.
- Scrap Metal Dealers (70–85%): Handle large mixed lots. Industrial rates apply. Usually 1–2 weeks for payment.
- Pawn Shops (50–70%): Lowest rates. Only use for emergency cash when time is critical and other options unavailable.
💡 Pro Tip: The percentages above assume clean, documented silver in good condition. Damaged items, unknown purity, or tiny quantities (under 1 oz) receive additional discounts. Always ask dealers upfront about extra fees or discounts specific to your items.
What Common Silver Items Are Worth Today
Melt value calculations for typical items at current spot price. Remember: dealers pay 50–98% of melt value depending on type.
Understanding Melt Value vs. Dealer Payout
The prices above are the melt value — what your silver is worth based purely on its precious metal content. This is the starting point for any dealer negotiation. However, dealers never pay 100% of melt value.
Refining cost (1–3%): Processing scrap requires assaying (purity testing), melting, and refining — all at the dealer's cost.
Business overhead (2–5%): Rent, utilities, insurance, staff wages, and regulatory compliance are passed to sellers as discounts.
Market risk (2–5%): Dealers hold inventory that could drop in value between purchase and resale. This risk requires margin.
Profit margin (3–15%): Online refiners take 5–8%; pawn shops with high overhead may take 30–40%.
Example: if your item's melt value is $100, an online refiner pays $98 (98%), a coin shop pays $75–85 (75–85%), a pawn shop may pay only $50 (50%). Shopping around can earn you 30–40% more per ounce.
Calculate Your Silver's Exact Value
Get a precise melt value plus dealer payout estimates for your specific items in seconds.
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How to Sell Silver
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Silver Purity Chart
Reference guide for all silver purity grades.
Silver Prices Today: Frequently Asked Questions
The silver spot price today is shown live at the top of this page. It reflects the global wholesale reference price for pure 999 fine silver per troy ounce, sourced from major commodity exchanges (COMEX, London Bullion Market) and updated every hour.
Silver prices fluctuate based on multiple factors: industrial demand from electronics and solar manufacturing, US dollar strength, inflation expectations, mining supply disruptions, investment flows into ETFs and futures, and the global gold-to-silver ratio. Even small shifts in any of these drivers can move prices significantly.
Compare today's price to the 52-week average and recent highs. If silver is near recent peaks and above its long-term moving average, conditions favor selling. Always factor dealer payout percentages (70–95% of melt value) into your decision. If you need cash urgently, sell. If you can wait, monitor the trend.
Our silver price refreshes every hour from Trading Economics and global market data feeds. During active trading hours (Sunday 6 PM ET to Friday 5 PM ET), real-time exchange prices fluctuate continuously, but our displayed value updates at hourly intervals to balance freshness with API stability.
The spot price is the global wholesale reference for pure 999 silver. Dealers buying your scrap pay a percentage of melt value (typically 70–95%) to cover refining costs, business overhead, and profit. Online refiners pay highest (90–98%), pawn shops lowest (50–70%). Always get multiple quotes.
No. The spot price shown is the raw market price before any taxes, premiums, or dealer markups. When buying physical silver, you'll pay spot plus a premium (typically 5–20% for bars, more for coins). When selling, you'll receive spot minus the dealer's discount. Sales tax rules vary by state and product type.