Gold Price Pennyweight Calculator
Gold price pennyweight calculator for DWT tickets with purity and spot. Built for scrap counters that still price metal the old-school pennyweight way.
Gold Value Calculator
Current 14K price · —/gram · —/bhori
Using live market spot for this calculation.
Formula: weight × karat multiplier × spot price. 14K = 0.583
Walk a scrap ticket in a lot of U.S. shops and you'll still see DWT — pennyweight — not grams. Sellers who only think in grams convert under pressure and drop digits.
Buyers quote "fourteen at X a DWT" and expect you to keep up. Miss the unit and you nod at the wrong dollars.
This calculator keeps gold math in pennyweight so the ticket language matches the scale language.
What a pennyweight is (no folklore)
1 DWT = 1/20 troy ounce ≈ 1.55517 g
20 DWT = 1 troy ounce
It's a troy family unit. It is not a "penny's weight" on a kitchen scale. Full unit map: pennyweight vs grams vs troy ounce.
If your scale shows grams, convert once: grams ÷ 1.55517 ≈ DWT — then stay in DWT until the quote is done.
DWT value without mixing units
Pure DWT price = gold spot per troy oz ÷ 20.
Alloy DWT price = pure DWT price × purity (karat/24).
Example structure: at spot S $/troy oz, pure ≈ S/20 per DWT.
14K DWT ≈ (S/20) × 0.583.
Enter lot DWT × alloy rate for melt-style value. Or enter DWT × purity × (S/20).
Karat rates per DWT (EXAMPLE spot)
EXAMPLE spot: $4,000 / troy oz (illustrative) → pure = $200 / DWT.
| Karat | Purity | ≈ $/DWT at EXAMPLE spot |
|---|---|---|
| 10K | 0.417 | $83.40 |
| 14K | 0.583 | $116.60 |
| 18K | 0.750 | $150.00 |
| 22K | 0.917 | $183.40 |
| 24K | 0.999 | $199.80 |
Replace the EXAMPLE spot with live numbers in the tool. Linear scaling still holds: double the DWT, double the melt-style dollars at the same rate.
EXAMPLE — 12 DWT of 14K scrap
EXAMPLE pure DWT = $200; 14K ≈ $116.60 / DWT.
Lot: 12 DWT confirmed 14K, stones out.
Melt-style ≈ 12 × 116.60 ≈ $1,399.
Same metal in grams: 12 × 1.55517 ≈ 18.66 g. Run grams with a per-gram rate and you should land within rounding of the same dollars. If you don't, a unit got sideways.
Ticket habits that keep you honest
Write the unit next to every number: 12.4 DWT not just 12.4.
Ask whether the posted karat rate is per DWT of jewelry or per DWT of fine gold. Counters blur that sentence constantly.
Sorted lots only. Averaging 10K and 18K into one DWT rate is how both sides argue later. Sort guidance pairs well with the scrap gold calculator.
Related tools and guides
- Goldcalculator
- all gold calculators
- gold gram calculator
- gold ounce calculator
- scrap gold calculator
- pennyweight vs grams vs troy ounce
Frequently Asked Questions
How many grams in a pennyweight?
About 1.55517 g.
How many DWT in a troy ounce?
Exactly 20.
Is DWT still used?
Yes — especially on scrap and pawn tickets in parts of the U.S.
Can I convert DWT to troy ounces quickly?
Divide DWT by 20. 50 DWT = 2.5 troy oz.
Why doesn't my gram calculator match the DWT ticket?
Usually a purity mismatch or an avoirdupois/troy mix-up. Recheck unit and karat.
Does under-plumb change DWT math?
It changes effective purity, not the unit. See half karat under plumb.
Disclaimer
DWT estimates follow the weight and purity you enter. Settlement follows assay and buyer terms. Educational use only.