Zakat on gold is 2.5% of the gold you own once it reaches the nisab and a full lunar year has passed. This calculator adds up your gold of every karat, your silver and your cash, subtracts debts, and compares the result with the nisab at today's prices in your country.
The nisab: the minimum for zakat to be due
The nisab is the smallest amount on which zakat is due. For gold it is 85 grams of pure gold (24K); for silver it is 595 grams of pure silver. The calculator lets you choose which of the two measures your nisab. Contemporary scholars discuss which suits cash better, so ask a scholar if you are unsure.
The hawl: one lunar year
Zakat is not due until a full Hijri year has passed while you hold the nisab. Many people pick one fixed date each year, such as the first of Ramadan, to settle all their zakat together.
What counts toward the total
- Gold of every karat: converted to pure gold with (weight × karat ÷ 24) and valued at the 24K gram price.
- Silver: by its pure weight and current price.
- Cash and savings: what you hold in hand or in your bank account.
- Debts that are currently due: subtracted from the total in the calculator.
Many scholars also count trade goods and receivables you expect to collect; add their value to the cash field if they apply to you.
Worn jewelry: a recognized difference of opinion
Lawful jewelry that a woman wears is a long-standing question, and both views rest on evidence:
- Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali (the majority): no zakat is due on it while it is held for lawful use, like clothing or furniture.
- Hanafi: zakat is due, based on the general texts on zakat in gold and silver.
Gold kept as savings, whether bars, coins or pieces that are not worn, or gold held for trade, is subject to zakat according to most scholars. So enter in the calculator the gold you want to include, according to the view you are comfortable with.
A worked example (illustrative)
The numbers below are round figures for explanation, not today's price. Suppose a gram of 24K costs 4,800 currency units, and someone holds unworn savings gold of 60 g at 21K and 20 g at 18K, plus 120,000 in cash and 20,000 in debts due, with a full year passed:
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Pure gold | 60 × 21 ÷ 24 + 20 × 18 ÷ 24 | 67.5 g |
| Gold value | 67.5 × 4,800 | 324,000 |
| Net wealth | 324,000 + 120,000 − 20,000 | 424,000 |
| Nisab (85 g) | 85 × 4,800 | 408,000 |
| Comparison | 424,000 is above 408,000 | nisab reached |
| Zakat | 424,000 × 2.5% | 10,600 |
Note that the gold alone (67.5 g) is below 85 g, but adding it to the cash brings the total wealth up to the nisab by value, which is what the calculator does.
Consult a scholar for your situation
The calculator is a tool for arithmetic, not a fatwa. Questions about jewelry, debts, trade goods and the year of newly bought gold involve scholarly judgment, so put your case to a trusted scholar or the fatwa authority in your country. For more, read zakat on gold: nisab and how to calculate it, check the 24K gram price in Egypt to value your gold, or try the gold calculator. Displayed prices are indicative and may differ slightly from shop prices.
Frequently asked questions
What is the gold nisab and the zakat rate?
The gold nisab is 85 grams of pure gold (24K) and the rate is 2.5% (one fortieth), once your wealth reaches the nisab and a full lunar year has passed.
Do I convert 21K and 18K to pure gold before comparing with the nisab?
Yes. Multiply the weight by the karat and divide by 24, so 100 g of 21K equals 87.5 g of pure gold. The calculator does this automatically.
Is zakat due on jewelry I wear?
Scholars differ: the majority of Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali jurists say no zakat is due on lawful jewelry worn for use, while the Hanafi school says it is due. Ask a scholar or a trusted fatwa body in your country.
Are debts deducted before calculating zakat?
The calculator subtracts debts that are currently due from your total wealth. Scholars give details on how debt affects zakat, so if you owe a large amount, ask a scholar.
Should I pay zakat in cash or in gold?
Many scholars allow paying the value in cash at the gold price on the day of payment, and paying in gold itself is also permitted. Cash is usually easier for the recipient.