Zakat on Gold UK 2026
Zakat is due on gold at 2.5% of its current market value once your total gold holdings exceed 87.48 grams (7.5 tola / ~7 bori) and you have held it for one full lunar year.
The gold Nisab — how much gold triggers Zakat?
The gold Nisab is 87.48 grams of pure (24-carat) gold — equivalent to 7.5 tola or approximately 6.998 bori. If your total gold holdings exceed this weight, Zakat is due on the entire value at 2.5%, not just the amount above the threshold.
However, most UK scholars and charities advise using the silver Nisab (612.36 grams of silver, approximately £499 in 2026) as it is lower, ensuring that more Muslims fulfil their obligation. If your total zakatable wealth — cash, gold, silver, savings combined — exceeds the silver Nisab, Zakat is due.
How to calculate Zakat on gold — step by step
- Weigh your gold in grams, tola, or bori.
- Convert to grams if needed: 1 tola = 11.664g · 1 bori = 12.5g
- Adjust for carat purity: multiply grams by (carat ÷ 24). Example: 50g of 18ct = 50 × (18/24) = 37.5g pure gold.
- Find today's 24-carat spot price per gram in GBP (approximately £84.50/g in May 2026).
- Calculate value: pure grams × price per gram = total gold value.
- Add to all other zakatable assets (cash, silver, stocks, etc.).
- Subtract short-term debts payable within the year.
- Check against Nisab — if net total ≥ £499 (silver Nisab), Zakat is due.
- Pay 2.5% of total net zakatable wealth.
Worked example
Sarah has 30 grams of 22-carat gold jewellery and £2,000 in savings.
- Pure gold: 30 × (22/24) = 27.5g
- Gold value: 27.5 × £84.50 = £2,323.75
- Total zakatable wealth: £2,323.75 + £2,000 = £4,323.75
- No debts to deduct.
- Nisab check: £4,323.75 > £499 (silver Nisab) ✓
- Zakat due: £4,323.75 × 2.5% = £108.09
Tola and bori conversion table
| Unit | Grams | Value at £84.50/g |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tola | 11.664g | £985.61 |
| 7.5 tola (Nisab) | 87.48g | £7,392.06 |
| 1 bori | 12.5g | £1,056.25 |
| 7 bori | 87.5g | £7,393.75 |
| 10 tola | 116.64g | £9,856.08 |
Gold price as of May 2026 (approx. £84.50/g). Prices change daily — use our calculator for today's live-rate figure.
Is gold jewellery zakatable?
This is one of the most commonly asked questions in UK Zakat practice, particularly among South Asian Muslims.
Hanafi ruling (majority opinion in UK): Gold jewellery is zakatable regardless of whether it is regularly worn. Because gold is an intrinsically monetary asset, its use as jewellery does not exempt it from Zakat. This is the opinion followed by most scholars in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and their diaspora communities in the UK.
Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali ruling: Gold jewellery used for personal adornment (worn regularly, not stored or traded) is exempt from Zakat. If the jewellery is stored away or held as an investment, Zakat is due.
If you are unsure which school you follow, or wish to take the more cautious position, include all gold jewellery in your calculation. Our calculator includes gold so you can see the full figure.
Carat purity guide
| Carat | Purity | Multiply weight by |
|---|---|---|
| 24ct | 99.9% pure | 1.000 |
| 22ct | 91.7% pure | 0.917 |
| 21ct | 87.5% pure | 0.875 |
| 18ct | 75.0% pure | 0.750 |
| 14ct | 58.3% pure | 0.583 |
| 9ct | 37.5% pure | 0.375 |
Gold ETFs, gold savings accounts, and digital gold
If you hold gold through an ETF (exchange-traded fund), a gold savings account, or a digital gold platform (such as Royal Mint's DigiGold), the value of your holding is zakatable at 2.5% — include it in the stocks and investments section of the calculator. The underlying asset is gold, and the intention to hold wealth makes it zakatable.
Frequently asked questions
Is gold jewellery zakatable?
Most Hanafi scholars hold that gold jewellery is zakatable regardless of whether it is worn regularly, because gold is an intrinsically monetary asset. Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali scholars generally exempt jewellery used for personal adornment. If you follow the Hanafi school (the majority of South Asian Muslims in the UK), include all gold jewellery in your Zakat calculation.
How many grams of gold triggers Zakat?
The gold Nisab is 87.48 grams of pure (24-carat) gold. If your total gold holdings exceed this weight, Zakat is due on the full value at 2.5%. For lower-carat gold, convert to pure-gold equivalent: multiply the weight by the carat purity (e.g. 18ct ÷ 24 = 0.75).
How much is 7.5 tola of gold in grams?
7.5 tola equals 87.48 grams — this is exactly the gold Nisab. One tola = 11.664 grams. So 7.5 × 11.664 = 87.48g.
What is one bori of gold in grams?
One bori equals 12.5 grams of gold. The Nisab of 87.48 grams is equivalent to approximately 6.998 bori (just under 7 bori).
Do I pay Zakat on gold at the purchase price or market price?
Zakat is calculated on the current market (spot) value of your gold on your Zakat date — not the price you paid for it. If gold prices have risen, your Zakat is higher; if they have fallen, it is lower.
Is 18-carat gold zakatable at the same rate as 24-carat?
Yes — the 2.5% rate is the same, but you must first convert to a pure-gold equivalent. For 18-carat gold, multiply the weight by 0.75 (18÷24) to find the pure-gold grams, then multiply by the 24-carat spot price per gram.