Gold IRA Cost Calculator - Fees, Premiums and Break-Even in One Place (2026)
Enter the fees and premiums you've been quoted to see what a gold IRA really costs over time.
A gold IRA has two kinds of cost: account fees, which are mostly flat yearly amounts for the custodian and depository, and metal costs, the premium you pay over spot when you buy and the spread you give up when you sell. This calculator adds them up over your holding period, shows the total as a share of your investment, and estimates how much gold would need to rise for you to break even.
Enter the figures from the written quotes you've received. A preset fills in Augusta Precious Metals' commonly reported account fees as a starting point; premiums aren't preset, because they vary by product and day and should come from a written quote.
Estimate Your Gold IRA Costs
- Account fees over the period
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- Premium paid when buying
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- Discount when selling (at today's prices)
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- Estimated total cost
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- Total as a share of your investment
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- Average cost per year
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- Gold rise needed to break even
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Estimates only, using your inputs and assuming fees stay the same and gold's price is unchanged when you sell. Augusta's preset uses commonly reported figures ($50 setup, $100 custodian, $100 or $150 storage); confirm current fees in writing.
How the Calculator Works
The calculator adds three costs:
- Account fees: the setup fee plus yearly custodian and storage fees for each year you hold, minus any years waived by a promotion.
- Premium: the part of your investment that goes to the dealer's markup rather than metal. With a 5% premium, $100,000 buys about $95,238 of gold at spot.
- Selling discount: the amount below spot you'd receive when selling, applied to the metal you own.
It then shows the total as a percentage of your investment and the rise in gold's price you'd need before your metal, after selling costs, is worth what you put in plus fees.
What the Results Usually Show
Table: Illustrative ten-year costs on a $100,000 gold IRA (assumptions, not quotes) | Scenario | Account fees | Premium | Selling discount | Total | Break-even rise | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | Bullion at 3%, $250 a year | $2,550 | About $2,900 | About $970 | About $6,430 | About 6.7% | | Bullion at 5%, $250 a year | $2,550 | About $4,760 | About $950 | About $8,260 | About 8.8% | | Premium coins at 25%, $250 a year | $2,550 | $20,000 | $800 | About $23,350 | About 29.5% |
Two lessons stand out. Flat account fees are small on larger accounts, and the premium on the metal is usually the biggest cost by far. That's why product choice matters more than fee waivers. See gold premiums and spreads and proof coins vs bullion for an IRA.
Tips for Accurate Inputs
- Use written quotes. Ask each company for its setup, custodian and storage fees, and the premium over spot on the exact products you'd buy.
- Check whether fees scale. Some custodians charge maintenance fees based on account value; use the figure for your balance.
- Ask for today's buyback price on the same products to estimate the selling discount.
- Include waivers only if guaranteed in writing, and check what happens when they end.
Account Fees at Different Balances
Table: How $250 a year in fees compares with account size | Account size | Fees as % per year | |---|---| | $20,000 | 1.25% | | $50,000 | 0.50% | | $100,000 | 0.25% | | $250,000 | 0.10% |
Flat fees favor larger accounts. If your balance is small, a gold ETF in an existing IRA may cost less. See gold IRA vs gold ETF.
What the Calculator Doesn't Include
- Changes in gold's price, which will dominate your actual result.
- Taxes on withdrawals, which depend on your account type and bracket. See gold IRA taxes.
- Occasional fees, such as wire, distribution, shipping or account closing fees.
- Fee increases over time.
Want Augusta's current fees in writing? Request its free kit, then plug the numbers into the calculator.
Get Free Gold IRA KitHow much does a gold IRA cost per year?
Account fees are commonly about $200–$300 a year combined, plus a one-time setup fee. Metal premiums are a separate, usually larger, cost.
What's the biggest cost in a gold IRA?
Usually the premium over spot on the metal, especially for proof or premium coins.
Are Augusta's fees included?
The preset uses commonly reported Augusta account fees. Premiums vary, so enter your quoted figure.
How do I find the premium over spot?
Ask the dealer for the price per coin and the spot price at the same moment, then divide the difference by spot.
Does the calculator predict returns?
No. It estimates costs only and assumes gold's price is unchanged.
Get Real Numbers for the Calculator
Augusta's free kit lays out its fees so you can run an accurate comparison.