Zakat on gold guide

How Much Gold Reaches Nisab? The Answer in Grams, Tolas and Karats

If your gold is measured in grams, tolas or karats, the Nisab question can look more complicated than it is. The quickest answer is a weight—but using that answer correctly also requires checking the unit, purity, other zakatable wealth and the scholarly method you follow.

Reviewed for source accuracy: 9 August 2026

This guide provides general Islamic educational information, not a personal fatwa. Recognized scholars differ on the modern gram conversion, treatment of alloyed gold, personal-use jewellery, aggregation of assets and some hawl details. Follow a qualified scholar or trusted Zakat authority for your school and circumstances.

In this guide

The gold Nisab in one answer
Why the threshold is twenty dinars
Why 87.48 g and 85 g are both quoted
Gold Nisab in tolas and troy ounces
Nisab for 24K, 22K, 21K, 18K and 14K gold
How to check whether your gold reaches Nisab
Worked examples
Does personal jewellery count?
Mistakes that change the answer
Frequently asked questions

How much gold reaches Nisab?

A widely used gold Nisab is 87.48 grams of pure gold, equal to 7.5 standard tolas or 2.8125 troy ounces. Another recognized conversion uses 85 grams. The classical threshold is twenty gold dinars. Use the conversion adopted by your trusted scholar or Zakat authority, and compare gold in grams for accuracy.

Measure	Widely used conversion	Recognized alternative
Classical measure	20 gold dinars	20 gold dinars
Grams of pure gold	87.48 g	85 g
Standard tolas at approximately 11.664 g each	7.5 tolas	Approximately 7.29 tolas
Troy ounces at 31.1035 g each	2.8125 troy oz	Approximately 2.733 troy oz

The weight is not the amount of Zakat you pay. It is the threshold used to decide whether the relevant conditions have been reached. Once Zakat is due, the usual annual rate on eligible gold and monetary wealth is 2.5%, not 87.48 grams.

Why is the gold Nisab based on twenty dinars?

The modern figures are attempts to express a classical Islamic measure in today’s units. In Sunan Abi Dawud 1573, the gold threshold is twenty dinars. The report states that when twenty dinars have been possessed for a year, half a dinar is payable. Half of one dinar out of twenty is one-fortieth, which equals 2.5%.

This gives three connected ideas:

Twenty dinars establish the classical gold threshold.
A lunar-year holding condition applies to this annual category of wealth.
Half a dinar on twenty dinars establishes the one-fortieth rate.

The Qur’an establishes the obligation and moral purpose of Zakat. For example, Surah At-Tawbah 9:103 connects taking charity from wealth with purification. The Sunnah supplies detailed thresholds used in calculation.

Nisab is the starting threshold, not an exemption band

If eligible wealth is below the adopted Nisab, Zakat on that category is not due. If it equals or exceeds the threshold and the other conditions are met, Zakat is generally calculated on the full eligible amount—not only on the few grams above Nisab.

For the broader meaning of the term, including the silver standard and other assets, read What Is Nisab?

Why do some sources say 87.48 grams and others say 85 grams?

The difference comes from converting historical dinar and mithqal weights into modern metric units. It does not mean one source accepts Nisab and another rejects it. Reputable scholarly services may use different conversion methodologies.

The National Zakat Foundation’s Nisab guidance lists 87.48 g as its gold standard and acknowledges 85 g as another opinion. Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta uses the value of 85 g of gold in its guidance.

Which gold Nisab figure should you use?

Use the figure adopted by the qualified scholar, school or Zakat organization you trust, then apply it consistently. Do not switch between 85 g and 87.48 g merely to produce the preferred answer in a particular year.

A cautious practical approach

If your gold or net zakatable wealth falls between the two thresholds, the difference can affect whether you appear to have reached Nisab. That is the moment to ask a qualified scholar for a method-specific answer. Voluntary charity remains open even where the legal obligation is uncertain, but it should not be presented as a substitute for getting a sound ruling.

How many tolas of gold reach Nisab?

Using the standard South Asian conversion of approximately 11.664 grams per tola:

87.48 g ÷ 11.664 g = 7.5 tolas.
85 g ÷ 11.664 g = approximately 7.29 tolas.

The National Zakat Foundation’s gold and jewellery guide likewise converts 87.48 g to 7.5 tolas using a tola of about 11.66 g.

Why grams are safer than the word “tola”

Traditional labels may not be used identically by every jeweller or market. Before concluding that seven, 7.5 or another number of tolas reaches Nisab, ask for the exact weight in grams. A digital scale reading removes the ambiguity.

Gold Nisab in troy ounces

Bullion is commonly measured in troy ounces, not the everyday avoirdupois ounce. Using 31.1035 grams per troy ounce, 87.48 grams equals 2.8125 troy ounces, while 85 grams equals approximately 2.733 troy ounces.

How much 24K, 22K, 21K, 18K or 14K gold reaches Nisab?

Nisab figures refer to gold, while jewellery is usually an alloy. Twenty-four-karat gold is treated as pure for ordinary calculations; 22K is 22/24 gold, 18K is 18/24 gold, and so on. The purity relationship is supported by hallmarking standards: for example, the UK’s Hallmarking Act schedules list 22 carat as 916.6 parts per thousand and 18 carat as 750 parts per thousand.

Pure-gold-equivalent formula

Use this formula only when your scholar or calculator instructs you to compare actual gold content:

Pure gold content = total item weight × karat ÷ 24

Or, to find the gross alloy weight containing a particular pure-gold amount:

Gross alloy weight = adopted pure-gold threshold ÷ (karat ÷ 24)

Gold purity	Approximate gold content	Gross weight containing 87.48 g pure gold	Gross weight containing 85 g pure gold
24K	100%	87.48 g	85 g
22K	91.67%	95.43 g	92.73 g
21K	87.5%	99.98 g	97.14 g
18K	75%	116.64 g	113.33 g
14K	58.33%	149.97 g	145.71 g

This table is a purity calculation, not a universal legal ruling. Juristic treatment of mixed-metal gold can differ. For example, a Hanafi answer reviewed by SeekersGuidance treats gold items from 14K to 24K as subject when their total weight reaches 87.48 g, rather than requiring the larger gross weights in this table. Follow the method of your trusted scholar.

Do not confuse karat with carat weight

Karat, often spelled carat outside the United States, describes gold purity. A carat used for diamonds and other gemstones is a unit of gemstone weight. The stone’s weight and value should not be silently counted as gold.

How to check whether your gold reaches Nisab

Step 1: Choose a consistent scholarly method

Confirm whether your guidance uses 87.48 g or 85 g, how it treats alloyed gold and whether your personal-use jewellery is zakatable. This first decision controls the rest of the calculation.

Step 2: List the gold you own

Include gold bars, coins, investment gold and any jewellery treated as zakatable under your method. Keep each owner’s assets separate because Zakat is assessed on individual ownership, not automatically on a family’s combined jewellery.

Step 3: Record weight and purity

Use grams where possible. Check the hallmark, receipt or professional appraisal for 24K, 22K, 21K, 18K or another purity. If an item contains stones or substantial non-gold parts, ask a jeweller for the gold-only weight or an appropriate valuation.

Step 4: Convert consistently

If your selected method uses pure-gold content, multiply each item’s gross weight by its karat and divide by 24. If it uses total qualifying item weight or current realizable value, follow that method instead. Do not mix methods inside one calculation.

Step 5: Include other zakatable assets where required

Gold does not always stand alone. Cash, savings, silver, trade inventory and other eligible assets may need to be added. A person with less than 87.48 g of gold can still cross Nisab through combined zakatable wealth. A scholar-reviewed SeekersGuidance explanation illustrates this combined-assets approach.

Step 6: Check hawl and calculate the amount due

For annual Zakat on this type of wealth, confirm that the relevant lunar-year condition has been met. Learn the timing basics in What Is Hawl? If all conditions are satisfied, calculate 2.5% of the full eligible value using the method you follow.

For the complete calculation workflow, use the Zakat calculator or follow the detailed guide on how to calculate Zakat on gold.

Gold Nisab examples

Example 1: 90 grams of 24K gold

A person owns 90 g of 24K gold. Under either the 87.48 g or 85 g conversion, the gold has reached Nisab. If the relevant hawl and other conditions are satisfied, 2.5% of 90 g is 2.25 g of gold, or the equivalent cash value under the adopted valuation method.

Example 2: 95 grams of 22K gold

Under a pure-gold-content calculation, 95 × 22 ÷ 24 equals approximately 87.08 g of pure gold. That is slightly below 87.48 g but above 85 g. The result therefore depends on the adopted threshold—and may also differ under a juristic method that treats the total weight of qualifying gold alloy as gold. This is a clear case for consistent scholarly guidance.

Example 3: 70 grams of gold plus savings

The gold alone is below both common gold-weight thresholds. However, its current value may need to be added to cash, savings and other zakatable assets. If the net total reaches the applicable Nisab value, Zakat may still be due on the combined eligible wealth.

Example 4: A 100-gram necklace with stones

The necklace’s gross weight cannot safely be treated as 100 g of gold. Stones, clasps and other components may be included in that figure. Islamic Relief’s scholar-reviewed jewellery guidance explains that precious stones and gold-plated items are not themselves subject as gold, while white gold is assessed for its gold content. Obtain a gold-only weight or sound valuation.

What is the gold Nisab worth today?

The metal weight under your chosen conversion remains fixed, but its cash value changes with the gold price. That is why a static article should not promise one permanent Nisab amount in rupees, pounds, dollars or another currency.

Gold Nisab value formula

Gold Nisab value = adopted gold weight × current price per gram for the corresponding gold basis

For example, if a purely hypothetical 24K gold price were 100 currency units per gram:

87.48 g × 100 = 8,748 currency units.
85 g × 100 = 8,500 currency units.

Replace 100 with a reliable current rate on your Zakat date. For an updated figure, visit the site’s current gold Nisab value. If that page is not updated automatically, remove the link rather than showing an outdated amount.

Buying price, spot price or resale price?

Valuation practices differ. The National Zakat Foundation explains that its live calculation uses a real-world value intended to reflect accessible market rates rather than simply reproducing a headline spot price. Follow the valuation basis used by your trusted Zakat authority, and apply it consistently to both the threshold and the gold being assessed.

Should gold always be compared with the gold Nisab?

If gold is the only zakatable asset, some guidance—including the National Zakat Foundation page cited above—says to use the gold measure. If a person owns a mixture of cash, gold, silver and other zakatable assets, many scholars use the lower silver-based Nisab value, while other approaches retain the gold standard.

This choice can materially change the result because gold and silver no longer have the same relative purchasing power they had historically. Read gold Nisab versus silver Nisab, then follow one trusted method rather than selecting whichever threshold is convenient.

Does personal gold jewellery count toward Nisab?

Classical schools differ. According to the National Zakat Foundation’s summary, the Hanafi school includes gold and silver jewellery kept for personal use, while the other three Sunni schools generally exempt permissible personal-use jewellery, subject to their details and conditions. Gold held for investment or trade is treated differently from ordinary personal adornment.

This means two people with identical jewellery may receive different answers because they follow different recognized juristic methods or have different intentions for the gold. A headline weight alone cannot resolve that question.

See the focused guide to Zakat on gold jewellery before counting—or excluding—personal ornaments.

Common mistakes when checking the gold Nisab

Calling 87.48 g the only recognized conversion and hiding the 85 g opinion.
Assuming every local “tola” label represents exactly the same number of grams.
Comparing the gross weight of stone-set jewellery with a pure-gold threshold.
Treating 22K or 18K jewellery as if its entire weight were 24K without checking the adopted legal method.
Ignoring cash and other zakatable assets because the gold alone is below Nisab.
Paying 2.5% only on the amount above Nisab instead of the full eligible amount.
Using a solar year without adjusting the rate or seeking guidance on the calculation.
Using today’s threshold with an old gold price when calculating a missed historical Zakat year.
Including diamonds, gemstones, making charges or gold plating as though all were solid gold.
Switching between gold and silver standards without a consistent scholarly basis.

Frequently asked questions

Is Nisab 85 grams or 87.48 grams of gold?

Both are recognized modern conversions of the classical twenty-dinar measure. Many Zakat organizations use 87.48 g, while other authorities use 85 g. Follow the conversion adopted by a qualified scholar or trusted Zakat authority and use it consistently.

Is 7.5 tolas of gold Nisab?

Yes, 7.5 tolas equals 87.48 g when one tola is approximately 11.664 g. Because local usage of “tola” can vary, verify the actual gram weight before deciding.

Is seven tolas of gold enough for Nisab?

Seven standard tolas at approximately 11.664 g each equal about 81.65 g, which is below both 85 g and 87.48 g. However, other zakatable assets may bring the owner’s total wealth above Nisab, and some markets use a different local tola convention.

Does 85 grams of 22K gold reach Nisab?

Its pure-gold content is approximately 77.92 g because 85 × 22 ÷ 24 = 77.92. Under a pure-gold-content comparison, it is below both thresholds. A classical Hanafi alloy method may assess qualifying mixed-karat gold by total weight, so obtain guidance for the method you follow.

How much is the Nisab for 18K gold?

Under a pure-gold-equivalent calculation, approximately 116.64 g of 18K contains 87.48 g of pure gold; 113.33 g contains 85 g. This mathematical conversion is not a universal juristic rule for alloyed jewellery.

If I own exactly the Nisab amount, is Zakat due?

Reaching the threshold includes being equal to it. If the other applicable conditions, including hawl for this annual category, are satisfied, Zakat becomes due according to the method followed.

Do I pay Zakat only on gold above 87.48 grams?

No. Nisab is a threshold, not a tax-free allowance. Once the conditions are met, the usual calculation applies to the full eligible gold or net zakatable wealth.

How much Zakat is due on 100 grams of gold?

At the usual 2.5% annual rate, the gold equivalent is 2.5 g. For cash payment, calculate the eligible gold’s current value under your adopted valuation method and multiply by 0.025.

Do diamonds and stones count toward the gold Nisab?

Not as gold. Determine the gold component separately. Stones held as trade inventory may have a different Zakat treatment, so intention and asset type matter.

Can gold below Nisab still make Zakat due?

Yes. Gold may be combined with cash, savings, silver and other zakatable assets under the method you follow. Their net value can reach the relevant Nisab even when the gold does not reach the gold weight by itself.

The simplest way to remember the gold Nisab

Remember four numbers: twenty dinars is the classical measure; 87.48 g is a widely used modern conversion; 85 g is another recognized conversion; and 2.5% is the usual annual rate after the threshold and other conditions are met.

For tolas and mixed-karat jewellery, do not rely on the label alone. Confirm the gram weight, purity, non-gold components and scholarly method. Those four checks prevent most calculation errors.

If this table settled a question your family asks every year, share the guide before the next Zakat date. A two-minute check of grams and karats can prevent both underpayment and unnecessary confusion.

Sources and further reading

Last source review: 9 August 2026. Metal prices change frequently; religious guidance should be reviewed when scholarly standards or site methodology changes.