A complete guide to calculating Zakat on gold: the nisab, the 2.5% rate, the one-year (hawl) condition, and all karats. With a free calculator using current gold prices.
Zakat is the third pillar of Islam — the obligatory annual charity due on wealth that reaches the nisab and is held for a full lunar year. Gold is one of the most common forms of zakatable wealth, especially given how widely jewelry, bars and gold savings are owned.
Gold Zakat = 2.5% of the full market value of your gold, provided it reaches the nisab and a full lunar year (hawl) has passed.
The nisab is the minimum amount of wealth on which Zakat becomes due. For gold, the nisab = 85 grams of pure gold (24K).
| Gold karat | Nisab weight | Approx. nisab value (May 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 24K (pure) | 85 g | ~SAR 27,200 |
| 22K | ~92.7 g | equivalent to SAR 27,200 |
| 21K | ~97.1 g | equivalent to SAR 27,200 |
| 18K | ~113.3 g | equivalent to SAR 27,200 |
Gold Zakat is only due once you have owned the gold for a full lunar year (the hawl). If you bought the gold 6 months ago, Zakat is not yet due. The hawl restarts if your gold drops below the nisab at any point during the year.
Example: you own 150 grams of 22K gold. The current 22K price is SAR 295/gram.
Step 1 — Total value: 150 × 295 = SAR 44,250
Step 2 — Check the nisab: 44,250 > 27,200 ✅ Zakat is due
Step 3 — Calculate 2.5%: 44,250 × 2.5% = SAR 1,106.25
There is a scholarly difference on this point. The Hanafi school: Zakat is due on all gold that reaches the nisab, including worn jewelry. The Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali schools generally: jewelry intended for personal use is exempt. Since Saudi Arabia follows the Hanbali school in most of its official rulings, many Saudi scholars recommend the cautious approach and paying Zakat on all gold that reaches the nisab.
Sources: Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) guidance and widely cited Islamic finance scholarship on gold Zakat. Figures and rules are set by the issuing authority and may change — verify current details on the official portal before relying on them. Last reviewed: June 2026.
⚠️ Disclaimer: All results are estimates based on publicly available Saudi government regulations and rates. Always verify important financial or legal decisions with your employer, bank, or the relevant Saudi authority (Ministry of Human Resources, GOSI, ZATCA, Jawazat, or SAMA).