Gold Price per Gram, Karat & Country, Explained (2026)
By the Profitvana Editorial Team · Updated September 2026
Gold is quoted as one global price, yet the number you see per gram differs by karat and by country. Here is how it all fits together in 2026.
From per ounce to per gram
Gold trades internationally in US dollars per troy ounce, a unit of 31.1035 grams (not the 28.35-gram avoirdupois ounce used for food). The reference price is the London Bullion Market Association's twice-daily auction and the continuous spot market around it. Divide the ounce price by 31.1035 and you have the price of one gram of pure gold in dollars; convert that at the live exchange rate and you have the 24K gram price in any currency, which is exactly what our gold-price pages do every hour.
What the karats mean
Karat is purity in twenty-fourths. 24K is pure gold (in practice 99.9% or 99.99%); 22K is 91.67% gold, the standard in India, the UK's sovereign and much of the Gulf; 21K is 87.5%, the everyday standard in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and the Levant; 18K is 75%, the European and Latin American standard for fine jewellery; 14K is 58.5%, common in the US and Canada; 9K is only 37.5% and is widespread in Britain and Australia. To price any karat, multiply the 24K gram price by the purity: 22K = 24K × 0.9167, 21K × 0.875, 18K × 0.75. Europe and much of Asia stamp the purity in parts per thousand instead — 916, 875, 750, 585, 375 — which are the same numbers written differently.
| Karat | Purity | Hallmark | Common in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.9% | 999 / 9999 | Bars, coins, China, Indonesia, Vietnam |
| 22K | 91.7% | 916 | India, UAE, UK sovereign, Thailand (96.5%) |
| 21K | 87.5% | 875 | Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar |
| 18K | 75% | 750 | Europe, Brazil, Morocco, Japan |
| 14K | 58.5% | 585 | USA, Canada, Mexico |
| 9K | 37.5% | 375 | UK, Australia, South Africa |
Why the price differs by country
The metal is identical everywhere, but each country prices it in its own currency, so the local gold price moves with both the world gold market and that currency's exchange rate. In 2024, for instance, gold rose about 27% in dollars but far more in Turkish lira, Egyptian pounds and Nigerian naira, because those currencies fell against the dollar at the same time. That is also why gold is a savings vehicle in those countries: it tracks the dollar price of the metal, not the local currency.
On top of the exchange rate, local markets add their own premium or discount. India's retail price includes import duty and 3% GST; Vietnam's SJC bars have traded well above the world price because of import controls; the Shanghai benchmark drifts above or below London with Chinese demand; Dubai and Doha, with no import duty and low or no VAT, sit closest to the converted world price.
Spot vs the shop price
What we show is the spot value of the metal. A shop's price adds a making charge (workmanship) that ranges from a few percent on plain bangles and bars to several times that on intricate pieces, a dealer premium on coins, and tax where it applies. When you sell, the shop pays close to spot for the metal content and nothing for the workmanship, so the making charge is lost the moment you buy. Spot is therefore the right figure for valuing gold you already own — for insurance, for zakat, or for deciding whether to sell — and the making charge is the number to compare when buying.
Why physical gold, not the daily charts
After years working in financial markets and technical analysis, our view is that gold's real value to most people is not a trade to time, but a tangible store of wealth held for the long term — outside the noise of daily price swings.
That is why these pages focus on the plain spot value per gram and karat: an honest number for valuing metal you hold, not a signal to buy or sell. Owning the asset, and knowing what it is worth, is the point.
Frequently asked questions
How is the gold price per gram calculated?
Gold trades globally in US dollars per troy ounce (31.1035 grams). Divide the ounce price by 31.1035 for the pure 24K gram price, then convert to the local currency.
How do I get the price of 22K or 21K gold?
Multiply the 24K gram price by the purity fraction: 22K = 24K price × 22/24 (91.7%), 21K × 21/24 (87.5%), 18K × 18/24 (75%).
Why is the shop price higher than the spot price?
Jewellers add a making/workmanship premium and some regions add tax, so retail always sits above spot. Spot is the right figure for valuing metal you already own.
What is the difference between a troy ounce and a regular ounce?
A troy ounce is 31.1035 grams; the ordinary (avoirdupois) ounce is 28.35 grams. Precious metals are always quoted in troy ounces, so dividing by 31.1035 gives the correct gram price.
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Written and reviewed by the Profitvana Editorial Team
Last reviewed September 2026
We research marketplace, payment, and finance fees directly against each platform’s official, published rates, re-check every platform monthly, and stamp each calculator with the date it was last verified. We publish exactly how we work — and never let ads change a result.
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