Palladium melt value formula
Palladium is a platinum-group metal priced per troy ounce. The calculation is the same as for any precious metal.
Palladium melt value = weight (ozt) × palladium purity × palladium spot price
Example: a 20 gram 950 palladium bracelet contains 19 grams of palladium, or 0.611 ozt. If palladium were $1,000 per ounce, the melt value would be about $610.90.
Palladium purity and hallmarks
| Stamp | Palladium content | Where you find it |
|---|---|---|
| 999 PD, .9995 | 99.9% | Bullion bars, Canadian Maple Leaf and American Palladium Eagle coins |
| 950 PD, PALL | 95% | Wedding bands and men's jewelry |
| 500 PD | 50% | Some jewelry and alloys |
Palladium is also a common alloy metal in white gold and in dental alloys. In those cases the palladium is only a small share, and the item is valued mainly for its gold.
Where palladium scrap comes from
Most of the world's palladium goes into catalytic converters, with smaller amounts in electronics, dental work and jewelry. Jewelry and bullion can be valued by weight with this calculator. Catalytic converters and electronics need specialist recyclers because the metal is spread through other materials. For converters, see the note on the platinum calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much is palladium worth per gram?
Divide the palladium spot price per troy ounce by 31.1035. That gives the value per gram of pure palladium. Multiply by 0.95 for 950 palladium jewelry.
Is palladium worth more than gold?
Not at the moment, though it has been in the past. Palladium briefly traded above gold in 2019 to 2021. Compare the live prices at the top of the page.
How do I know if my jewelry is palladium?
Look for stamps such as 950 PD, PD950 or PALL. Palladium is lighter than platinum and looks similar. A jeweler can confirm it with an XRF test.
Do dealers buy palladium scrap?
Many gold and bullion dealers buy palladium bullion, and some buy palladium jewelry. Fewer buyers handle small palladium scrap lots, so the payout percentage is often lower than for gold.