How to use the gold return calculator
Enter how many grams you bought, the price per gram you paid, today’s price per gram and how long you have held it. If you bought jewellery, add the making charges from your bill. The calculator shows your real profit after all charges, and the yearly return (CAGR) it works out to.
For example, 10 grams bought at ₹6,000 a gram with 3% GST cost ₹61,800. At ₹14,950 a gram the gold is worth ₹1,49,500, a profit of ₹87,700, or about 34% a year over 3 years. Had it been jewellery with 15% making charges, the same gold would have cost ₹71,070 and returned about 28% a year.
How the return is calculated
Cost = grams × buy price × (1 + making %) × (1 + 3% GST)CAGR = (value today ÷ cost)1 ÷ years − 1
When you sell, a jeweller pays only for the metal at the day’s buying rate. Making charges and GST are not returned, which is why the return on jewellery is always lower than the rise in gold price.
Where to check today’s gold price
Gold prices change every day and differ by city and purity. 24K (999) is pure gold; 22K (916) is the usual jewellery purity and costs about 8% less per gram. Use the price for the same purity you bought, from your jeweller or the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) rate.
Tax when you sell gold
- Held over 24 months: long-term capital gain, taxed at 12.5% without indexation.
- Held 24 months or less: the gain is added to your income and taxed at your slab rate.
- Gold ETFs held over 12 months, and gold mutual funds held over 24 months, are also taxed at 12.5%.
Frequently asked questions
How is the return on gold calculated?
Your total cost is the gold price you paid plus making charges and 3% GST. Your value today is the quantity × today’s price per gram. Profit is value minus cost, and CAGR = (value ÷ cost)^(1 ÷ years) − 1.
Why is my return lower than the rise in gold price?
Making charges and GST are part of what you paid, but a buyer pays only for the metal when you sell. On jewellery with 15% making charges, gold has to rise by about 18% before you break even.
What is the GST on gold in India?
A jewellery or coin purchase carries 3% GST on the full bill, including making charges.
How is profit on selling gold taxed?
Physical gold held for more than 24 months is taxed as long-term capital gain at 12.5% without indexation. If sold sooner, the gain is added to your income and taxed at your slab rate.
Which is better: jewellery, coins or gold ETFs?
For investment, gold ETFs and gold mutual funds avoid making charges and storage worries. Coins and bars from banks or jewellers carry small premiums. Jewellery is the costliest way to invest because of making charges.
Last reviewed: 13-10-2026. Rates and rules are checked against official sources; tell us if something has changed. Contact