Gold nisab by karat — how many grams of each?
The gold nisab is always the same: 85 grams of pure gold. But because retail gold is alloyed, each karat needs a different gross weight to reach 85g of net gold.
The full table
Nisab is always measured on pure gold (24K). The calculation is simple: required weight = 85 ÷ purity.
| Karat | Purity | Weight needed | In tola | In mithqal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 100% | 85.00 g | 7.29 | 19.43 |
| 22K | 91.67% | 92.73 g | 7.95 | 21.20 |
| 21K | 87.5% | 97.14 g | 8.33 | 22.20 |
| 18K | 75% | 113.33 g | 9.72 | 25.90 |
| 14K | 58.33% | 145.71 g | 12.49 | 33.30 |
Conversions: 1 tola = 11.6638038 g · 1 mithqal = 4.3752 g · 1 troy ounce = 31.1034768 g
Three common mistakes in nisab tables
1. Confusing gross weight with pure gold
100g of 18K is not 100g of gold. Its net weight is 100 × 0.75 = 75 grams, which is below the nisab. Many published tables value the gross weight, which overstates the zakat by roughly 33%.
2. An inaccurate 21K figure
85 ÷ 0.875 = 97.14 grams. The figure 97.33 that circulates on several sites comes from a sloppy rounding. The difference is small, but it shows the table was not calculated.
3. Omitting 22K and 14K entirely
22K is the best-selling karat in the Gulf, and 14K is common in intricate pieces. Many published tables list only 18, 21 and 24, leaving users without a number for what they actually own.
Which table should I use: 85g or 87.48g?
| Karat | On 85g | On 87.48g | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 85.00 g | 87.48 g | +2.9% |
| 22K | 92.73 g | 95.43 g | +2.9% |
| 21K | 97.14 g | 99.98 g | +2.9% |
| 18K | 113.33 g | 116.64 g | +2.9% |
| 14K | 145.71 g | 149.97 g | +2.9% |
This calculator starts from the widely used 85g. You can switch to the precise figure with the "Use the precise nisab" option in the calculator. Follow the authorities recognised in your country.
Worked example
You own a 22K piece weighing 100 grams, set with 5 grams of stones. Is zakat due?
Less stones = 100 − 5 = 95 g of gold
Net gold = 95 × (22 ÷ 24) = 87.08 g
vs nisab: is 87.08 g > 92.73 g? No
→ No zakat on this piece. You are 5.65 g of pure gold short.
Now 110g of 22K with no stones:
Net = 110 × 0.9167 = 100.83 g > 92.73 g ✓
→ Zakat is due.
Frequently asked questions
What is the nisab for 22K gold?
The pure-gold nisab is a fixed 85 grams. Because 22K is 91.67% pure, you need 92.73 grams of 22K to reach 85g of pure gold. So 100g of 22K exceeds the nisab, while 90g does not.
What is the nisab for 18K gold?
18K is 75% pure, so you need 113.33 grams of 18K to reach 85g of pure gold. This means a 100g piece of 18K jewellery does not reach the nisab, because its net gold weight is only 75g.
Why is the nisab 85g and not 87.48g?
The majority of scholars use 85 grams, which is the commonly cited figure. The 87.48g figure comes from 20 mithqal at 4.3752g each, and is adopted by the Islamic Fiqh Council and bodies following the precise calculation. The difference is about 2.9%.
How do I convert the nisab into tola?
The 85g gold nisab equals 7.29 tola, since one tola is 11.6638 grams. So the 22K nisab of 92.73 g is about 7.95 tola.
What is the 18K gold nisab?
18K is 75% pure, so you need 113.33 grams of 18K to reach 85g of pure gold. That means a 100g piece of 18K jewellery does not reach the nisab, because its net gold weight is only 75g.
What is the 21K gold nisab?
21K is 87.5% pure, so 85 ÷ 0.875 = 97.14 grams. Note that several published tables give 97.33, which comes from sloppy rounding rather than from calculation.
What is the 14K gold nisab?
14K is 58.33% pure, so you need 145.71 grams to reach 85g of pure gold. It is a very high threshold, which is why most 14K jewellery never reaches the nisab in ordinary quantities.