A general explanation of how zakat on gold is commonly understood. It is not a ruling: please confirm your own case with a qualified scholar.
Last reviewed: 13 November 2026
Zakat is the obligatory charity in Islam, due on certain kinds of wealth that a Muslim holds above a minimum amount for a full lunar year. Gold and silver are among the assets on which zakat is due. This page explains the usual framework in plain terms. It does not replace advice from a qualified scholar or your local zakat authority, because details differ between schools of thought and personal circumstances.
The nisab is the minimum amount of wealth on which zakat is due. For gold, it is commonly given as 20 mithqal, which is 85 grams of pure gold according to many scholars and institutions. Some, including the Hanafi school, state it as 87.48 grams of pure gold, which is 7.5 tola. Pure gold means 24K, so if your gold is 22K, only 22 parts in 24 count toward the amount. Our zakat on gold calculator lets you choose either figure.
The nisab is also sometimes assessed against the value of silver, or against the total of your wealth. Which measure to use is a question for your scholar or local authority.
The usual rate is 2.5%, or one-fortieth, of the value of the gold. It is due once you have held at least the nisab for a full lunar year, called the hawl. Because the lunar year is about eleven days shorter than the solar year, many people choose a fixed date each year to calculate their zakat, such as the start of Ramadan.
Zakat is paid on the value of the gold on the day you calculate. Many scholars say to use the current market value of the gold, which is close to the live spot-based value we show. The price a shop would actually pay you on that day may be a little lower. A common practice is to use a fair local market price. Our calculator uses the live international price converted into your currency, and it is not a replacement for the figure your scholar accepts.
This is the most discussed question. Scholars differ on whether zakat applies to gold jewellery that a woman wears regularly. Some say zakat is due on it once it reaches the nisab, while others say it is not due on jewellery worn for ordinary adornment, but is due on gold held as savings, bars, coins or jewellery kept for investment. If you are unsure, the cautious approach is to ask a scholar you trust, and to give based on their guidance. Our calculator shows the figure on the assumption that zakat applies, so you can see the amount and then decide with advice.
Gold is added to your other zakatable wealth, such as cash and savings. Scholars discuss how debts that are due soon are treated and whether they are deducted. The result depends on the kind of debt and the school of thought, so it is not something a calculator can settle.
Suppose someone holds 100 grams of 22K gold as savings. Its pure gold content is 100 × 22 ÷ 24, which is about 91.67 grams. That is above an 85-gram nisab. If the live value of pure gold is 100 per gram in their currency, the gold is worth 9,167, and 2.5% of that is about 229. This is an illustration, not a ruling.
Please also read our disclaimer. We are not able to give religious rulings.
Zakat is due after you have held at least the nisab for a full lunar year. A purchase made last month would normally start its year from the purchase date, unless it is added to other zakatable wealth that is already in its year. Ask a scholar how this applies to you.
Scholars differ. Some say yes once it reaches the nisab, and others say no for jewellery worn for ordinary adornment. Please follow the guidance of a scholar you trust.
The year for zakat is the lunar Hijri year, which is about eleven days shorter than the solar year. Many people pick a fixed date, such as the start of Ramadan, each year.
Most guidance uses the current market value of the gold on the day you calculate. Our calculator uses the live international value converted into your currency, which may be slightly different from what a local dealer would pay.
