How to Calculate Zakat on Gold: Formula and Examples

Calculating Zakat on gold is straightforward once you know your gold’s weight, purity and current value. In most cases, eligible gold is valued at today’s applicable gold price and Zakat is calculated at 2.5%.

You must also consider whether your total Zakatable wealth reaches the nisab and whether a lunar year—known as a hawl—has passed.

How do you calculate Zakat on gold?

To calculate Zakat on gold, find the current value of the gold you own and multiply it by 2.5% (or divide it by 40). Zakat is generally due when your eligible wealth reaches the nisab and you have owned at least the nisab amount for one lunar year.

Gold Zakat formula

Gold Zakat = Current value of eligible gold × 2.5%

Or:

Gold Zakat = Current value of eligible gold ÷ 40

For example, if your eligible gold is worth $6,000:

$6,000 × 2.5% = $150

Your Zakat on the gold would be $150.

You can also use our free Gold Zakat Calculator to enter the weight, purity, price and currency of your choice.

Gold Zakat calculation in four steps

Weigh all the gold that should be included.
Identify the purity of each item, such as 24K, 22K, 21K or 18K.
Calculate its current market value using an appropriate gold price.
Multiply the eligible value by 2.5%.

Before paying, confirm that your Zakatable wealth reaches the applicable nisab and that your Zakat date has arrived.

What is the nisab for gold?

Nisab is the minimum amount of wealth at which Zakat becomes obligatory.

The gold nisab is commonly expressed as approximately 85 grams of pure gold, although some recognised institutions use the more precise conversion of 87.48 grams. For example, the National Zakat Foundation explains that both 85 grams and 87.48 grams are used under recognised conversions.

Because conversion standards and scholarly approaches can differ, follow the standard recommended by a trusted scholar or Zakat institution in your region. This website’s calculator uses 85 grams of pure gold and clearly states that methodology.

Important: nisab is not always assessed by looking at gold alone. Cash, savings, silver, investments and certain business assets may also need to be included in your overall Zakat calculation.

Worked example: calculating Zakat on 100 grams of 24K gold

Suppose you own:

Gold weight: 100 grams
Purity: 24K
Current 24K gold price: $100 per gram

First calculate the value:

100 × $100 = $10,000

Now calculate 2.5%:

$10,000 × 0.025 = $250

The Zakat due would be $250, provided the relevant Zakat conditions have been met.

If you wanted to pay the Zakat from the gold itself rather than in cash, 2.5% of 100 grams would be:

100 × 0.025 = 2.5 grams

How to calculate Zakat on 22K gold

You should account for purity when calculating Zakat on 22K gold. There are two simple methods.

Method 1: Use the current 22K price

If a reliable jeweller or gold-price source gives you the price per gram for 22K gold, use:

Weight of 22K gold × Current 22K price per gram × 2.5%

Example:

Weight: 100 grams
22K price: $90 per gram

100 × $90 = $9,000

$9,000 × 2.5% = $225

The Zakat would be $225.

Method 2: Convert it into pure-gold equivalent

If you only know the 24K price, calculate the pure-gold content first:

Gold weight × Karat ÷ 24 = Pure-gold weight

For 100 grams of 22K gold:

100 × 22 ÷ 24 = 91.67 grams of pure gold

If 24K gold is $100 per gram:

91.67 × $100 = $9,167

$9,167 × 2.5% = approximately $229.18

Small differences may occur because local 22K market prices can include spreads or other pricing factors.

Gold-purity conversion table

Gold purity	Approximate gold content	Pure-gold calculation
24K	100%	Weight × 1.000
22K	91.67%	Weight × 0.9167
21K	87.5%	Weight × 0.875
18K	75%	Weight × 0.750
14K	58.33%	Weight × 0.5833

If you have items of different purities, calculate each group separately and then add their values together.

How to calculate Zakat on gold jewellery

To calculate Zakat on gold jewellery:

Separate the jewellery by purity.
Find its gold weight.
Exclude stones and non-gold parts where their weight can be determined.
Value the gold content using the current applicable price.
Multiply the eligible value by 2.5%.

For example, suppose a necklace weighs 50 grams, but stones and non-gold fittings weigh 5 grams. The gold weight used for the calculation would be:

50 − 5 = 45 grams

You would then value the 45 grams according to its gold purity.

Do not normally use the jewellery’s original purchase price. Gold prices change, so the calculation should be based on an appropriate current value on your Zakat date.

Is Zakat due on gold jewellery worn regularly?

There is a recognised difference of scholarly opinion about gold and silver jewellery kept for permissible personal use.

The Hanafi position generally requires Zakat on gold and silver jewellery when the relevant conditions are met. Other recognised schools may exempt jewellery that is genuinely kept for normal personal use, while Zakat can still apply to jewellery held as savings, investment or in excessive quantities.

This is not merely a mathematical question. If most of your gold is personal jewellery, ask a qualified scholar which approach applies to your circumstances. Our calculator can calculate the amount under the approach you choose, but it does not replace individual religious guidance.

Which gold price should you use?

Use a reliable current price applicable to your gold’s purity and unit of measurement on your Zakat calculation date.

For example:

Use the 24K price for pure gold.
Use the 22K price for 22K jewellery if a reliable rate is available.
If only the 24K rate is available, convert lower-karat gold into its pure-gold equivalent.
Use a per-gram price when your gold is measured in grams.
Use a per-tola price when the weight is recorded in tolas.

A dealer’s realistic valuation of the gold content may be more appropriate than a retail jewellery price containing design, labour or brand charges. Use one reasonable and consistent valuation method.

How to calculate Zakat on gold in tolas

One tola is commonly treated as approximately 11.6638 grams.

You can calculate directly in tolas if you know the current price per tola:

Number of tolas × Current price per tola × 2.5%

Example:

Gold owned: 10 tolas
Current applicable value: PKR 350,000 per tola

10 × PKR 350,000 = PKR 3,500,000

PKR 3,500,000 × 2.5% = PKR 87,500

The Zakat would be PKR 87,500, subject to the applicable nisab, hawl and jewellery rulings.

Can Zakat on gold be paid in cash?

Zakat on gold is commonly paid in cash based on the eligible gold’s current value. This can make distribution easier for recipients.

Using the earlier example, if the gold is worth $10,000, the owner may pay $250 rather than giving 2.5 grams of gold. Where necessary, part of the gold may also be sold to meet the obligation.

Do you calculate Zakat on gold separately from cash?

Not necessarily. When assessing whether you have reached nisab, you may need to combine gold with other Zakatable assets, including:

Cash
Bank savings
Silver
Certain investments
Money owed to you that is likely to be repaid
Zakatable business assets

Applicable short-term liabilities may then be considered according to the scholarly method you follow.

This is why someone with less than 85 grams of gold may still owe Zakat if the gold’s value, when combined with other Zakatable wealth, reaches the applicable nisab.

When should Zakat on gold be calculated?

Zakat is generally calculated once every lunar year on your established Zakat date.

On that date:

Identify all your Zakatable assets.
Apply the current values.
Deduct eligible liabilities under the method you follow.
Compare the remaining amount with nisab.
Pay 2.5% if Zakat is due.

A lunar year is approximately 354 days, so a fixed Islamic-calendar date is usually easier to maintain than moving the calculation according to the solar calendar.

Common mistakes when calculating gold Zakat

Avoid these frequent errors:

Using the gold’s old purchase price instead of a current value
Treating 18K, 21K, 22K and 24K gold as equally pure
Including the weight of stones as though it were gold
Forgetting to include other Zakatable wealth
Assuming that owning less than 85 grams of gold automatically means no Zakat is due
Using the retail price of a new jewellery item without considering its actual gold value
Ignoring the scholarly difference concerning personal jewellery
Calculating 2.5% as 0.25%
Following a solar year without adjusting the rate or obtaining guidance
Paying without checking who is eligible to receive Zakat

Frequently asked questions

What percentage of gold is paid as Zakat?

The standard Zakat rate is 2.5%, which is equal to one-fortieth of the eligible value.

How much Zakat is due on 100 grams of gold?

If 100 grams of eligible gold is worth $10,000, the Zakat is $250. If paying with gold itself, 2.5% of 100 grams is 2.5 grams.

Is Zakat calculated on gold’s weight or value?

It can be expressed either way. You may give 2.5% of the eligible gold’s weight or pay 2.5% of its current eligible value in cash.

Is Zakat due on less than 85 grams of gold?

It may still be due if your gold is combined with cash, savings and other Zakatable assets and the total reaches the applicable nisab. The answer also depends on the nisab and scholarly method being followed.

Should stones in jewellery be included?

Zakat is generally calculated on the gold rather than diamonds, gemstones and other non-gold components. Their weight should be excluded where it can be reasonably identified.

Does a husband pay Zakat on his wife’s gold?

Zakat is generally the responsibility of the gold’s owner. A husband may pay on his wife’s behalf with her knowledge and agreement, but ownership should first be established.

Calculate your gold Zakat

For a quick estimate, use our free Gold Zakat Calculator. You can enter:

Gold weight
Grams or tolas
Gold purity
Current gold price
Your preferred currency

The calculator will show the pure-gold equivalent, estimated value, applicable nisab position and Zakat amount.

In summary: calculate the current eligible value of your gold and multiply it by 2.5%. Before paying, check the nisab, lunar-year requirement, ownership and the scholarly ruling applicable to personal jewellery.

Sources and further reading

Religious disclaimer: This guide provides general educational information. Zakat rulings can vary according to personal circumstances and recognised scholarly opinions. Consult a qualified scholar for an individual ruling.

Last reviewed: 31 July 2026