Gold Nisab & Zakat Calculator Guide
By James Carter · Updated 2 May 2026
Zakat on gold is obligatory when your gold holdings meet or exceed the Nisab threshold — 85 grams (Hanafi: 87.48g) of 24K gold held for a full lunar year (Hawl). This guide explains how to calculate the Nisab at today's gold price, how to compute the 2.5% Zakat due, and links to our live calculator.
Use our free Zakat calculator with live gold prices:
Open Zakat Calculator →What Is the Gold Nisab?
The Nisab is the minimum wealth threshold above which Zakat becomes obligatory. For gold, the Nisab is based on 20 mithqal of gold, which scholars have converted to:
- Shafi'i, Maliki, Hanbali schools: 85 grams of 24K gold
- Hanafi school: 87.48 grams of 24K gold (based on a slightly different mithqal conversion)
Most contemporary Islamic finance scholars and Zakat organizations worldwide use 85 grams as the standard. The Hanafi 87.48g figure is still used in South Asian communities and by some scholars in Turkey and Central Asia.
How to Calculate the Gold Nisab at Today's Price
The Nisab value changes daily as the gold price moves. The formula is:
Example using a USD spot price of $100/gram for 24K gold:
- Nisab (Shafi/Maliki/Hanbali) = 85 × $100 = $8,500
- Nisab (Hanafi) = 87.48 × $100 = $8,748
If the total value of your gold (plus cash and other zakatable wealth, depending on the ruling you follow) equals or exceeds this threshold after a full lunar year (Hawl), Zakat is due.
Our Zakat calculator fetches the live gold price and computes today's Nisab automatically — no manual calculation needed.
How Much Zakat Is Due on Gold?
Zakat on gold is 2.5% of the total value of your zakatable gold (i.e., 1/40). This applies to:
- Gold bullion bars and coins held as savings or investment
- Gold jewellery that is stored and not worn regularly (scholars differ on regularly-worn jewellery — most Hanafi scholars include it; most other schools exempt it)
- Gold holdings in digital or ETF form that represent physical gold
Formula:
Purity Conversion: 21K, 18K, and 22K Gold
If you own gold jewellery in a purity below 24K, convert the weight to its 24K equivalent before comparing to Nisab:
| Karat | Purity | Conversion factor | Example: 100g item → 24K equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.9% | 1.000 | 100.0g |
| 22K | 91.7% | 0.917 | 91.7g |
| 21K | 87.5% | 0.875 | 87.5g |
| 18K | 75.0% | 0.750 | 75.0g |
| 14K | 58.3% | 0.583 | 58.3g |
Sum the 24K-equivalent weight of all your gold holdings and compare to 85g (or 87.48g Hanafi) to determine if Nisab is met.
The Hawl Condition: One Full Lunar Year
Zakat on gold is only due if you have held gold above the Nisab continuously for a full Hawl (lunar year, ~354 days). The Hawl resets if your gold holdings drop below Nisab at any point during the year.
For most savers, the practical approach is to calculate on the same calendar date each year (e.g., the start of Ramadan or a fixed anniversary date). If your gold was above Nisab on that date last year and remains above it today, Zakat is due on the current value.
Silver Nisab vs Gold Nisab: Which to Use?
There are two Nisab standards scholars recognize for monetary wealth:
- Gold Nisab: 85g of 24K gold (currently higher in dollar value)
- Silver Nisab: 595g of silver (currently lower in dollar value — typically $350–$600)
Because the silver Nisab is lower, using it results in more people being required to pay Zakat (and a higher amount). Most contemporary scholars advise using the gold Nisab for gold, jewellery, and financial savings, since the hadith evidence for each metal's Nisab applies to that metal specifically. For mixed wealth (cash + gold + investments), scholars differ — consult a qualified scholar for your specific situation.
Use our live calculator: Zakat Calculator — Live Gold & Silver Prices
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