What Gold Bar Sizes Are Available?
Gold bars are produced in standardized sizes ranging from 1 gram (0.032 troy ounces) to 400 troy ounces (12.4 kilograms). The range exists because different investors, institutions, and central banks have different objectives, budgets, and storage requirements.
Every bar listed below is produced by LBMA (London Bullion Market Association) accredited refiners. The LBMA accreditation ensures consistent purity (.9999 for most modern bars), accurate weight, and global tradability. Major refiners include PAMP Suisse, Valcambi, Argor-Heraeus, Perth Mint, and the Royal Canadian Mint.
Complete Gold Bar Size Chart
All prices and premiums calculated at $2,500/oz spot gold. Premiums reflect normal market conditions from competitive online dealers.
| Size | Weight (grams) | Weight (troy oz) | Approximate Value | Typical Premium | Premium in Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 gram | 1.000 | 0.0322 | $80 | 15-30% | $12-24 |
| 2.5 gram | 2.500 | 0.0804 | $201 | 10-18% | $20-36 |
| 5 gram | 5.000 | 0.1607 | $402 | 7-14% | $28-56 |
| 10 gram | 10.000 | 0.3215 | $804 | 5-10% | $40-80 |
| 20 gram | 20.000 | 0.6430 | $1,608 | 4-8% | $64-129 |
| 1 troy oz | 31.103 | 1.0000 | $2,500 | 2-5% | $50-125 |
| 50 gram | 50.000 | 1.6075 | $4,019 | 2.5-5% | $100-201 |
| 100 gram | 100.000 | 3.2151 | $8,038 | 2-4% | $161-322 |
| 10 troy oz | 311.035 | 10.0000 | $25,000 | 1.5-3% | $375-750 |
| 1 kilogram | 1,000.000 | 32.1507 | $80,377 | 1-2.5% | $804-2,009 |
| 100 troy oz | 3,110.348 | 100.0000 | $250,000 | 1-2% | $2,500-5,000 |
| 400 troy oz | 12,441.393 | 400.0000 | $1,000,000 | 0.25-0.75% | $2,500-7,500 |
Which Sizes Are Best for Which Investor?
Small Bars (1g to 10g): Entry-Level and Gifting
The 1 gram to 10 gram range serves two purposes: entry-level gold ownership and gifts. The gold content is real, the bars are produced by reputable refiners, and they carry assay certification.
The problem is premiums. A 1 gram bar at 20% premium means paying $96 for $80 worth of gold. That $16 premium must be recovered through price appreciation before the position breaks even. At the 5 gram size, premiums compress to 7-14%, and the math becomes more reasonable.
These sizes are not efficient for building a meaningful gold position. An investor allocating $5,000 to gold is far better served by a single 1 oz bar at 3% premium (about $144 in premiums) than by thirty-two 1 gram bars at 20% premium (roughly $1,000 in premiums). Same gold, hundreds of dollars saved.
Best for: Gifts, introducing someone to physical gold, very small monthly purchases, barter and divisibility-focused stackers.
Mid-Range Bars (1 oz to 100g): The Core Retail Market
The 1 troy ounce bar is the most popular retail gold bar size worldwide. It balances three critical factors: affordable entry (roughly $4,900-5,050 at current prices), reasonable premiums (2-5%), and high liquidity (every dealer buys and sells 1 oz bars).
The 10 gram and 20 gram sizes sit between fractional and 1 oz, offering a step up from small bars without the full commitment of an ounce. In Europe and Asia, gram-denominated bars are more popular than troy ounce bars.
The 50 gram and 100 gram bars offer incrementally better premiums than 1 oz bars while remaining accessible to most retail investors. A 100 gram bar (3.215 oz) at roughly $15,600-16,000 represents a meaningful gold allocation at a competitive premium.
Best for: Core gold accumulation, IRA holdings, investors buying $2,000-10,000 at a time.
Large Bars (10 oz to 1 kilo): Serious Allocations
The 10 oz bar is the sweet spot for investors making $50,000+ gold purchases. Premiums of 1.5-3% represent significant savings over coins or 1 oz bars. A 10 oz bar at 2% premium saves roughly $1,000-1,500 compared to ten individual 1 oz bars at 5% premium each.
The 1 kilogram (32.15 oz) bar drops premiums further, to the 1-2.5% range. At roughly $155,000-158,000, kilo bars are appropriate for high-net-worth portfolios or institutional buyers. Liquidity is slightly lower than 1 oz and 10 oz bars (fewer buyers at this price point), but any major dealer will buy a kilo bar from a recognized refiner at competitive spreads.
Best for: Investors allocating $50,000 to $250,000 to gold, prioritizing lowest cost per ounce.
Institutional Bars (100 oz and 400 oz Good Delivery)
The 100 troy ounce bar (roughly $480,000) and the 400 troy ounce London Good Delivery bar (roughly $1.9 million) are institutional products. The 400 oz Good Delivery bar is the standard unit of the London gold market, the world’s largest physical gold trading center.
Good Delivery bars must meet LBMA specifications: 350-430 troy ounces (most fall between 395-405 oz), minimum .995 fineness, and markings from an LBMA-accredited refiner. Each bar is individually serialized and its chain of custody tracked.
Individual investors can purchase 100 oz bars from major dealers, though delivery and insurance logistics require planning. 400 oz bars are generally not available through retail channels and are traded between banks, refiners, and institutional accounts.
Best for: Institutional allocations, central bank reserves, LBMA market participants.
How Does Bar Format Affect Premium?
Minted vs Cast Bars
Minted bars are cut from rolled gold sheet, stamped with designs, and finished with polished surfaces. They typically come in tamper-evident assay card packaging. Most bars under 100 grams are minted. PAMP’s Lady Fortuna design and Valcambi’s CombiBar are well-known minted products.
Cast bars are produced by pouring molten gold into molds. They have a rougher, more industrial appearance with less precise edges. Cast bars dominate the larger sizes (10 oz, kilo, 100 oz). They cost less to produce, and the savings are passed through in lower premiums, typically 0.5-1% less than minted bars of the same weight.
For pure investment (maximum gold per dollar), cast bars are the better choice. For presentation, gifts, or aesthetic preference, minted bars justify the small premium difference.
Assay Card Packaging
Most minted bars from major refiners ship sealed in credit-card-style assay packaging. The card includes the bar’s serial number, weight, purity, and the assayer’s signature. The package is tamper-evident: opening it is visible and reduces resale value.
Keeping bars in sealed assay packaging simplifies resale. Dealers buy sealed bars at tighter spreads because the packaging provides a layer of authentication. An opened PAMP Suisse bar trades at the same gold value but may face a wider buyback spread than a sealed one.
What Are the Most Popular Bars by Refiner?
| Refiner | Country | Popular Sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAMP Suisse | Switzerland | 1g, 5g, 10g, 1 oz, 100g, 1 kilo | Lady Fortuna design, highest brand recognition |
| Valcambi | Switzerland | 1g, 10g, 1 oz, 100g, 1 kilo | CombiBar divisible bars, clean minimalist design |
| Argor-Heraeus | Switzerland | 1g, 10g, 1 oz, 100g, 1 kilo | Kinebar hologram security feature |
| Perth Mint | Australia | 1 oz, 10 oz, 1 kilo | Government-backed, green assay card |
| Royal Canadian Mint | Canada | 1 oz, 10 oz, 1 kilo | Government-backed, .9999 purity |
| Credit Suisse | Switzerland | 1 oz, 10 oz | Legacy brand, now produced by other refiners |
All LBMA-accredited bars contain the stated gold weight and purity. The brand premium between a PAMP Suisse 1 oz bar and a generic LBMA refiner 1 oz bar is typically $5-20, a small difference in the context of a $2,500+ purchase.
How Do Gold Bar Premiums Compare to Coins?
For the same weight of gold, bars consistently carry lower premiums than coins:
| Product (1 oz) | Typical Premium |
|---|---|
| Generic LBMA bar | 2-3% |
| PAMP Suisse/Valcambi bar | 3-5% |
| Krugerrand | 4-5% |
| Canadian Maple Leaf | 4-6% |
| American Eagle | 5-7% |
The premium gap reflects fabrication costs (bars are simpler to produce), sovereign guarantee premiums on government coins, and domestic demand factors. For a detailed analysis, see our guide to gold premiums and the bars vs coins comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best gold bar size to buy?
The 1 troy ounce bar offers the best balance of premium, liquidity, and accessibility for most retail investors. For buyers making $25,000+ purchases, the 10 oz bar provides meaningfully lower premiums. Below 1 oz, the premium penalty makes bars inefficient for investment.
Are gold bars a better investment than coins?
Bars offer lower premiums (more gold per dollar) while coins offer higher liquidity and recognition. For pure cost efficiency, bars win. For maximum resale flexibility, coins have an edge, particularly American Eagles in the US market. Many investors hold both.
How do I store large gold bars?
A 1 oz bar fits in a home safe. A kilo bar (2.2 pounds, roughly the size of a smartphone) also fits in most safes but represents $80,000+ in concentrated value. For bars 10 oz and larger, consider insured depository storage through providers like Delaware Depository, Brinks, or IDS. The annual storage cost of 0.3-0.5% is modest relative to the security benefit.
Can I buy gold bars for an IRA?
Yes. Gold bars must be .995 fine or higher (virtually all modern bars from LBMA refiners meet this) and stored at an IRS-approved depository. Popular IRA bar sizes are 1 oz, 10 oz, and 1 kilo. The bars must be held by the custodian, not stored at home.
What is a Good Delivery bar?
A Good Delivery bar is a 400 troy ounce (approximately 12.4 kg) gold bar that meets LBMA specifications for purity, weight, dimensions, and markings. These are the bars that settle trades on the London gold market and are held in central bank reserves. They are not practical for retail investors.