What's the cheapest way to buy gold?

By premium-over-spot: gold ETFs (~0.4% expense ratio), then institutional 1kg bars (~1-2% premium), then 1oz coins (~3-7%), then fractional coins (10%+). For most retail buyers, 1oz American Eagle or Maple Leaf coins balance liquidity, divisibility, and premium. ETFs are cheapest if you don't need physical custody.

Are gold coins or gold bars better?

Coins are easier to sell in small lots (high recognizability, broad dealer market) and benefit from sovereign-backed authentication. Bars carry lower premium per ounce but can be harder to sell in fractional sizes. For investments under $10K, coins usually win on liquidity. For larger positions, bars win on cost basis.

What's a fair premium when buying gold?

As of 2026, fair premiums are roughly: 1g bar 10-15%, 1/10oz coin 8-12%, 1/4oz coin 5-8%, 1oz American Eagle/Maple Leaf 4-7%, 1oz generic round 3-5%, 1kg bar 1-3%. Premiums above these ranges suggest the dealer is over-charging or the product carries a numismatic premium you may not recover on sale.

Where should I buy gold online?

Look for dealers with multi-decade track records, transparent live pricing, BBB A+ rating, no minimum-purchase gimmicks, and a published buy-back policy. SD Bullion, JM Bullion, APMEX, Money Metals Exchange, and BullionVault are widely used. Compare premiums on the same SKU across all of them before ordering.

Do I have to pay sales tax on gold?

Depends on your state and the form. In the US, most states exempt investment-grade gold (and silver) from sales tax above a minimum purchase threshold; some states tax all bullion. Check your state's bullion tax rules before ordering. Online dealers typically calculate sales tax based on your shipping address.

Should I buy gold in person or online?

Online is usually cheaper (lower overhead, more competition, transparent pricing) but requires shipping insurance and trust in the dealer. In-person at a reputable coin shop adds 1-3% in premium but offers immediate possession and a face-to-face seller for buyback. For first-time buyers, in-person can be a good way to learn what to look for.

How do I avoid scams?

Stick to dealers on the BBB or NGC/PCGS authorized lists. Avoid 'rare coin' high-pressure phone sales (numismatic markups are how that industry makes money). Never wire money to a dealer you didn't reach by your own search. If a deal is meaningfully below spot price, it's almost certainly a scam.

How to Buy Gold in 2026

A practical, opinionated guide to buying gold in 2026 — coins vs bars vs ETFs vs IRAs, where to buy, what premium to expect, and what to avoid.

Written by

MetalCharts Editorial

Published May 12, 2026

The six-step framework

Decide what kind of gold to buy. Choose between physical (coins, bars), paper (gold ETFs like GLD/IAU/SGOL), or tax-advantaged (gold IRA). Each has different liquidity, premium, and storage requirements.
Determine your budget. Premium-as-percentage drops sharply with order size. A 1g gold bar can carry 10-15% premium; a 1oz American Eagle ~5-7%; a 1kg bar under 2%.
Pick a reputable dealer. Verify the dealer is on the LBMA Good Delivery list (for institutional bars), is BBB-accredited, has a transparent buy-back policy, and accepts wire transfer or ACH (avoid dealers requiring crypto-only payment).
Compare premiums across products and dealers. Same product can vary 1-3% across dealers. Use our partner-banner pricing or compare directly. The lowest sticker price isn't always the best deal once shipping and taxes are included.
Plan storage before you buy. Home safe with insurance, bank safe-deposit box, or third-party vault (Brink's, Loomis, Citadel Global Depositories). Cost vs convenience vs counterparty trade-off.
Place the order. Lock the spot price (most dealers do this for the duration of the order), pay via the dealer's preferred method, track shipping with insurance, inspect on arrival.

Physical vs paper vs tax-advantaged

Physical gold — coins and bars you can hold — offers the cleanest counterparty-free exposure. The trade-off is premium over spot (3-15% depending on size and product) and storage / insurance overhead.

Gold ETFs (GLD, IAU, SGOL, GLDM) offer the cheapest exposure by premium — just an expense ratio of 0.10-0.40% per year — but introduce counterparty risk (the custodian, the trust structure, the authorized participants). Best for investors who want gold price exposure without physical custody.

Gold IRAs are self-directed retirement accounts that hold physical gold in an IRS-approved depository on your behalf. Tax-advantaged but with setup fees, custodian fees, and storage fees that typically add 0.5-1.5% per year to the cost of holding. Worth it for retirement savers who want gold but lose tax efficiency in a taxable account.

For most retail buyers, a mix is sensible: a core position in physical 1oz coins or 1kg bars for counterparty-free exposure, a smaller ETF allocation for tactical positioning, and a gold IRA only if you have meaningful retirement assets you want to allocate long-term.

What to track before buying

Always check the live gold spot price before placing an order — dealer prices update with spot, and you want to know whether the dealer’s sticker is reasonable.

For broader market context, watch the US Dollar Index, real interest rates, and the gold-silver ratio. These are the macro drivers that move gold; sustained moves in them often signal whether spot is closer to a buyable dip or a top.

Frequently asked questions

What's the cheapest way to buy gold?: By premium-over-spot: gold ETFs (~0.4% expense ratio), then institutional 1kg bars (~1-2% premium), then 1oz coins (~3-7%), then fractional coins (10%+). For most retail buyers, 1oz American Eagle or Maple Leaf coins balance liquidity, divisibility, and premium. ETFs are cheapest if you don't need physical custody.
Are gold coins or gold bars better?: Coins are easier to sell in small lots (high recognizability, broad dealer market) and benefit from sovereign-backed authentication. Bars carry lower premium per ounce but can be harder to sell in fractional sizes. For investments under $10K, coins usually win on liquidity. For larger positions, bars win on cost basis.
What's a fair premium when buying gold?: As of 2026, fair premiums are roughly: 1g bar 10-15%, 1/10oz coin 8-12%, 1/4oz coin 5-8%, 1oz American Eagle/Maple Leaf 4-7%, 1oz generic round 3-5%, 1kg bar 1-3%. Premiums above these ranges suggest the dealer is over-charging or the product carries a numismatic premium you may not recover on sale.
Where should I buy gold online?: Look for dealers with multi-decade track records, transparent live pricing, BBB A+ rating, no minimum-purchase gimmicks, and a published buy-back policy. SD Bullion, JM Bullion, APMEX, Money Metals Exchange, and BullionVault are widely used. Compare premiums on the same SKU across all of them before ordering.
Do I have to pay sales tax on gold?: Depends on your state and the form. In the US, most states exempt investment-grade gold (and silver) from sales tax above a minimum purchase threshold; some states tax all bullion. Check your state's bullion tax rules before ordering. Online dealers typically calculate sales tax based on your shipping address.
Should I buy gold in person or online?: Online is usually cheaper (lower overhead, more competition, transparent pricing) but requires shipping insurance and trust in the dealer. In-person at a reputable coin shop adds 1-3% in premium but offers immediate possession and a face-to-face seller for buyback. For first-time buyers, in-person can be a good way to learn what to look for.
How do I avoid scams?: Stick to dealers on the BBB or NGC/PCGS authorized lists. Avoid 'rare coin' high-pressure phone sales (numismatic markups are how that industry makes money). Never wire money to a dealer you didn't reach by your own search. If a deal is meaningfully below spot price, it's almost certainly a scam.