How to calculate zakat on gold, step by step
Zakat on gold is simple arithmetic, but two common mistakes — ignoring karat purity and over-deducting debts — change the answer. This guide walks through every step.
Step 1 — Convert to pure gold weight
Pure gold is 24K. Lower karats contain other metals, and zakat is only due on the pure metal.
| Karat | Purity | 100g yields |
|---|---|---|
| 24 (999) | 100% | 100 g |
| 22 (916) | 91.67% | 91.67 g |
| 21 (875) | 87.5% | 87.5 g |
| 18 (750) | 75% | 75 g |
| 14 (585) | 58.33% | 58.33 g |
Example: 100g of 22K = 100 × (22 ÷ 24) = 91.67g pure, which exceeds the 85g nisab, so zakat is due.
Step 2 — Multiply by the price per gram
Multiply the pure weight by today's 24K gold price per gram. This calculator uses the live spot price, not the jeweller's retail price, because making charges and shop margin are not part of the zakatable asset.
Step 3 — Total assets, then deduct debts
Deduct debts that fall due within the year. Long-term debts such as a mortgage are not deducted in full — only the instalments due in the coming year.
Step 4 — Check whether nisab is reached
Nisab is a weight in each metal separately, not a single cash threshold. So:
Silver: is the weight ≥ 595 g?
Cash: is its value ≥ the lower of the two nisab values?
Common mistake: gold cannot be converted into a silver-equivalent value to test it against the silver nisab. For example, 50 g of gold is worth far more than 595 g of silver, yet no zakat is due on it because it has not reached 85 g of pure gold.
Cash has no weight of its own, so it is compared to the lower of the two nisab values — the more cautious reading and the one most scholars recommend.
Step 5 — Apply 2.5%
If not: no zakat
2.5% is one fortieth and is fixed in Shariah — it does not change with time or place.
Useful units
| Unit | In grams | Used in |
|---|---|---|
| Troy ounce | 31.1034768 g | Global markets |
| Tola | 11.6638038 g | India, Pakistan, Gulf |
| Mithqal | 4.3752 g | Precise nisab (20 mithqal) |
| Gold nisab | 85 g | Zakat threshold |
| Silver nisab | 595 g | Lower alternative |
Worked example
Suppose you own:
- 120 g of 22K gold
- 300 g of pure silver
- 3,000 AED in cash
- 1,000 AED of debt due
(110 g > 85 g nisab ✅)
Gold value = 110 × price per gram
Silver value = 300 × silver price per gram
Net wealth = (gold + silver + 3,000) − 1,000
Zakat = net wealth × 2.5%