Jewelry Tool
Wastage Charge Calculator
Calculate how much a jeweler's wastage charge adds to your jewelry price. Wastage (5–12%) covers metal lost during fabrication.
💍 Wastage Charge Calculator
- Gold value (net weight)
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- Wastage in grams
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- Wastage cost
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- Total you pay
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is wastage in gold jewellery?+
Wastage refers to the gold lost during fabrication — melting, casting, filing, polishing. Jewellers charge 5–15% of the gold weight as wastage. Some is genuine loss; much is additional margin.
How is wastage charged?+
Wastage is expressed as a percentage of the gold weight. A 10% wastage on a 10g piece means you pay for 11g of gold even though the piece weighs 10g. Wastage cost = weight × wastage% × gold price/g.
What is a fair wastage rate?+
For machine-made plain items (bangles, chains): 3–5%. Handmade or intricate jewellery: 8–15%. Very high wastage (20%+) is generally a red flag.
Is wastage mandatory?+
No. Wastage is a jeweller's charge, not a tax. You can negotiate it or choose jewellers who charge lower wastage. Compare total price, not just gold rate.
How do wastage and making charge differ?+
Making charge is the fee for the craftsman's labour. Wastage compensates for metal lost in fabrication. Both are charged on top of the gold metal value. Together they typically add 10–25% to the metal cost.