Live silver spot price updated hourly from COMEX and LBMA. Real-time purity rates for .999 fine, .925 sterling, .900 coin, and .800 European silver. Actual dealer payouts by purity and buyer type. Use our free scrap silver calculator to find out exactly what your silver, jewelry, silverware, or bullion is worth today at the live spot price.
The silver spot price is the global wholesale market rate for one troy ounce of .999 fine silver. It is set on the COMEX (Commodity Exchange, New York) and LBMA (London Bullion Market Association) and updates continuously during trading hours. This is the baseline price used by dealers, refiners, and investors worldwide. Your local dealer's payout — what they actually hand you for your silver — will be 70–90% of this spot price, depending on the form, purity, and buyer type.
Whether you're selling scrap silver from a jewelry box, broken sterling flatware from an estate, pre-1965 U.S. coin collections, or a bag of silver bullion, the price you receive depends on three factors: the current spot price, the purity of your silver, and the dealer's margin. This page shows you all three — the live spot, the purity breakdown, and what real dealers typically pay. Use the calculator to get an instant estimate, then contact local refiners and coin dealers to compare their offers.
Real-time melt value per troy ounce for every major silver purity grade, calculated live from the spot price. The .999 price is the baseline (pure silver). All other purities are calculated by multiplying the spot price by their purity fraction — for example, .925 sterling silver is worth 92.5% of the .999 price. The table shows the 24-hour price range so you can see how volatile the market is today. Use this table to cross-check dealer quotes — if a dealer quotes significantly below these prices, they may be taking an unfair margin.
| Silver Type | Purity | Price / Troy Oz | Price / Gram | 24h Range | Change |
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See the full silver purity chart · silver hallmarks guide
Click any card for a dedicated purity calculator at today's live rate.
Not all silver is created equal. The term "purity" refers to how much of an item is actually pure silver versus other metals (copper, nickel, zinc, etc.). Understanding purity is critical because it directly affects the value. A 10-gram piece of .999 fine silver is worth 24.75% more than the same 10-gram piece of .800 European silver.
.999 fine silver is 99.9% pure silver — the highest standard. This grade includes investment bullion coins (American Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs), bars, and rounds. Dealers pay closest to spot price for .999 silver because refining costs are minimal. If you're selling .999 silver, expect to receive 82–98% of the spot price depending on the form (coins pay better than cast bars) and the buyer type (online refiners pay better than pawn shops).
.925 sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver, the international standard for fine jewelry and flatware. The remaining 7.5% is typically copper, which adds durability and hardness. Most sterling silver items are marked with a small "925" hallmark. Sterling silver is worth about 92.5% of the .999 price. Dealers pay 70–90% of melt value for sterling because jewelry often requires melting and refining, adding labor costs.
.900 coin silver is 90% pure silver, used in U.S. dimes, quarters, half-dollars, and dollars minted before 1965. These coins contain 90% silver and 10% copper. A single pre-1965 quarter contains 0.18 troy ounces of pure silver. Dealers pay 80–90% of melt value for coin silver because the coins must be sorted, weighed, and melted. Junk silver (circulated pre-1965 U.S. coins) trades at a slight premium to melt value due to collector interest, often 5–10% above melt.
.800 silver is 80% pure silver, the standard in Europe, Scandinavia, and parts of Asia. Common in German, Russian, and Scandinavian flatware, decorative items, and some jewelry. .800 silver is worth exactly 80% of the .999 spot price. Dealers typically pay 75–88% of melt value for .800 items because they are less common in the U.S. market and require additional refining work.
There is a crucial distinction between the silver spot price you track on a market chart and the actual cash a dealer will hand you for a piece of scrap silver, a sterling silver necklace, or a hallmarked bullion bar. The spot price is a wholesale benchmark — the rate at which large financial institutions trade standardized contracts for .999 pure silver for immediate delivery on the COMEX and LBMA exchanges. It is not a retail price, and it is almost never what any individual seller receives.
When you bring silver to a coin shop, an online refiner, or a pawn shop, that dealer must account for several costs: assessing and testing the hallmark, weighing precisely, refining fees to convert raw scrap into tradeable metal, shipping, insurance, and their own margin. The result is a payout between 75% and 98% of melt value depending on purity and buyer type. Online refiners pay highest; pawn shops pay least.
| Purity | Spot Value / oz | Online Refiner Payout | Coin Shop Payout | Pawn Shop Payout |
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Full guide: where to sell scrap silver for the best price →
The spot price is a wholesale price set on global commodity exchanges. It assumes immediate delivery of pure silver with zero transaction costs. Real-world dealers must account for multiple expenses. First, they must test and verify the purity of your item using acid tests, X-ray fluorescence, or assay — this costs money and takes time. Second, if your silver is not already pure (.999 bullion), they must melt it down, separate impurities, and recast it into tradeable form. Third, they must account for weight loss during melting — silver always loses 1–3% due to oxidation and handling. Fourth, they must store, insure, and eventually ship the refined silver to a buyer or refinery. Fifth, they need to maintain profit margin — typically 5–15% on scrap silver.
Online Refiners: Pay 82–98% of melt value. They operate at scale, melt high volumes, and have lower per-item costs. Downside: 2–4 week turnaround, and you must ship your items.
Local Coin Dealers: Pay 70–85% of melt value. They test on-site, have immediate liquidity, and give you cash same-day. Downside: They take a larger margin because they're smaller and serve walk-in customers.
Pawn Shops: Pay 60–75% of melt value. They focus on speed and convenience (instant cash) but are generalists — they don't specialize in silver and often underpay. Use pawn shops only as a last resort or for quick emergency cash.
Private Buyers (eBay, Facebook): Can pay 90–110% of melt value if you sell to collectors. Pre-1965 junk silver coins, old flatware, and rare items often command premiums. Downside: Takes time to find buyers, handle payments, and ship safely.
Use this calculator to know your silver's melt value before you contact any dealer. Write it down. Then call 3–5 local coin dealers and online refiners, tell them the weight and purity, and ask for quotes. Compare. Most dealers will beat their initial offer if you show them competing quotes — they want your business. Online refiners typically pay best for bulk quantities (10+ oz). Coin dealers typically pay best for rare dates or high-quality coins. Don't settle for the first offer you get.
Six major forces drive the silver spot price. Understanding them helps you time buying and selling decisions.
Silver prices don't move in isolation. These six factors interact constantly. For example, when the Federal Reserve raises interest rates, two things happen: (1) the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion increases, which puts downward pressure on silver, and (2) rising rates often signal inflation concerns to investors, which increases safe-haven demand for precious metals, putting upward pressure. The net effect depends on which force is stronger on any given day. Similarly, a strong U.S. dollar makes silver more expensive for foreign buyers, reducing demand, but a geopolitical crisis can trigger simultaneous dollar strength and precious metals demand, creating sharp volatility.
Industrial demand — the largest factor — is driven by smartphone production, solar panel manufacturing, and electric vehicle batteries. When tech companies announce new product launches or EV sales surge, silver demand increases and prices often rise 2–4 weeks later as factories increase orders. Conversely, when major tech companies reduce production orders or solar installations slow, industrial demand drops and prices fall.
The U.S. dollar index is inversely correlated with silver prices — when the dollar strengthens, silver gets cheaper for foreign buyers, reducing demand. This happens because 95% of global silver trades in USD. A weak dollar makes silver attractive to overseas buyers, pushing prices up. Inflation expectations are reflected in bond yields. When investors fear inflation, they demand higher yields on bonds, which raises interest rates. Higher rates reduce silver's appeal (why hold silver when bonds pay 5%?), but real inflation has historically favored silver prices over the long run.
Typical value ranges at today's spot price. Actual value depends on exact weight and purity — use the calculator for your specific item.
For detailed per-item valuations: Jewelry calculator · Silverware calculator · Junk silver calculator · Bar calculator
A sterling silver ring (5 grams, .925 purity): 5g ÷ 31.1035 × 0.925 × spot price = ~$4.85 melt value per gram of spot. Dealers will pay $6–$9 depending on form and buyer type.
A place setting of old flatware (45 grams, .925 purity): 45g ÷ 31.1035 × 0.925 × spot = approximately $40–$50 melt value. Dealers will pay $32–$45 depending on whether the pattern is collectible or plain.
A bag of pre-1965 quarters (500 grams, .900 purity): 500g ÷ 31.1035 × 0.900 × spot = approximately $475–$500 melt value. Dealers will pay $380–$450 depending on condition and buyer type.
A 10 oz silver bar (283.5 grams, .999 purity): 10 oz × spot price = full melt value. Online refiners will pay 93–98%; local dealers may offer 85–92%.
Most people have more silver than they realize. Check: old jewelry drawers for broken necklaces, outdated rings, and costume pieces marked "925" or "STERLING"; kitchen cabinets for old flatware (especially inherited sets from grandparents); collections of pre-1965 U.S. coins (dimes, quarters, half-dollars); old decorative items like picture frames, cigarette cases, or tea sets; and antique items from estate sales or thrift stores. Use a magnet — pure silver is non-magnetic. If a magnet sticks, it's likely plated or fake. Any item marked 925, 800, 900, 999, or STERLING contains real silver and has real melt value at today's spot price.