Mutual Fund Compare

Gold and silver return calculator

Written and reviewed by Omm · Last reviewed · General information, not investment advice

The price of gold or silver rising is not the same as you making money. GST, making charges, brokerage and holding costs all take a share. Enter what you paid, what it is worth now (or what you expect), the years held and your costs, to see the return you actually earn.

Metal

Between 1000 and 1000000000

Between 1 and 1000000

Between 0 and 1000000

years

Between 1 and 50

Costs
%

Between 0 and 50

%

Between 0 and 50

%

Between 0 and 10

After costs you earn about 3.93% a year.

Your return per year after costs

3.93%

Price growth per year

4.56%

Money in hand at the end

₹1,21,250

Gain or loss

₹21,250

Grams you get

16.17 g

Price per gram needed to get your money back

₹6,186

How it works

Grams = amount × (1 − buying cost) ÷ buying price. Final value = grams × selling price × (1 − selling cost) − holding cost. Net return per year = (final value ÷ amount)^(1 ÷ years) − 1

Of the money you invest, the buying cost (GST, making charges, brokerage) comes off first, so you get fewer grams than the amount divided by the price. When you sell, the selling cost (such as a buy-back deduction) comes off the sale value. A yearly holding cost, such as a locker or a fund’s expenses, is added up over the years you hold.

The price growth per year is the compound rate at which the price per gram rose, before any cost. The net return per year is the rate your own money grew at after all the costs. The gap between the two is what the costs took.

The break-even price is the price per gram you need on the day you sell just to get back what you invested. With meaningful costs it is above the price you paid, which shows how much the price must rise first.

Prices are not looked up for you. Enter the actual price you paid and the price at which you sold, or a price you expect. Past price rises do not predict future ones. Any tax on the gain is not included.

Example. Investing ₹1,00,000 when gold is ₹6,000 a gram and selling at ₹7,500 five years later is a price rise of about +4.56% a year. With 3% costs on buying, you get 16.17 grams, end with ₹1,21,250, and your own return is about +3.93% a year. The price must reach ₹6,186 a gram just to return your ₹1,00,000.

Read the guide: Buying gold and silver: jewellery, coins, funds and what each costs.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate my return on gold?

Work out the grams you bought after costs, multiply by the selling price after selling costs, subtract any holding costs, and compare with what you put in. The yearly return is that ratio raised to one divided by the years, minus one. The calculator does this.

Why is my return lower than the rise in the gold price?

Because costs take a share: GST and making charges when buying, a deduction when selling, and any locker or fund expenses. The calculator shows the price growth and your return after costs side by side.

Does this include tax?

No. Tax on the gain depends on how long you hold and the form you hold it in, and the rules change. Check the current rules before relying on the result.

Can I use it for silver?

Yes. Choose silver and enter the silver price per gram; the maths is the same.

Do past gold returns predict future returns?

No. Gold and silver prices rise and fall, sometimes for years. Use real prices you paid or want to test, and try a few scenarios, including a fall.

How do I calculate the return on gold bought every month?

This calculator is for one purchase and one sale. For a monthly investment use the gold SIP calculator, and for irregular purchases enter each one with its date in the XIRR calculator.

Sources

Rules, rates and definitions on this page come from these official sources. Check the current position there before you decide.

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