Zakat on Gold and Money: Nisab, 2.5% Rate and Worked Examples in SAR
Quick answer: Zakat is 2.5% of the wealth you have held for one full lunar year, if its value reaches the nisab. The nisab is the value of 85 grams of pure (24 karat) gold. Add your cash, savings, gold and trade goods, subtract debts that are due now, and if the total is at least the nisab, pay 2.5% of it.
The 3 conditions for zakat on money
- You own it fully. Money that is yours and that you can use.
- It reaches the nisab. The total is at least the value of 85 g of pure gold.
- A full lunar year has passed (al-hawl). The wealth stayed at or above the nisab for one Hijri year (354 or 355 days).
What is the nisab of zakat?
The nisab for gold is 85 grams of pure gold, and for silver about 595 grams. For cash, most people in Saudi Arabia compare their money with the value of 85 g of gold at today's price. Some scholars use the silver nisab for cash because it is lower, so more people pay. The Hasebio calculator uses the gold nisab.
Example: if one gram of 24 karat gold costs 400 SAR, the nisab is 85 × 400 = 34,000 SAR. Below that amount no zakat is due on your money.
400 SAR a gram is an example price only. Gold prices change every day: check today's price before you calculate.
Nisab for 21, 18 and 22 karat gold
The nisab counts pure gold. Jewellery is mixed with other metals, so you need more grams of it to reach the nisab: grams needed = 85 × 24 ÷ karat.
| Karat | Pure gold | Grams needed for nisab |
|---|---|---|
| 24 karat | 100% | 85 g |
| 22 karat | 91.7% | 92.7 g |
| 21 karat | 87.5% | 97.1 g |
| 18 karat | 75% | 113.3 g |
You can convert between karats with the gold converter.
How to calculate zakat on gold
- Weigh your gold and note its karat.
- Check if it reaches the nisab for that karat (table above).
- Find today's price per gram for that karat.
- Value = grams × price. Zakat = value × 2.5%.
Worked example: you have 150 g of 21 karat gold and its price is 350 SAR a gram (example price). 150 g is more than 97.1 g, so it reaches the nisab. Value = 150 × 350 = 52,500 SAR. Zakat = 52,500 × 2.5% = 1,312.50 SAR.
How to calculate zakat on money (cash and savings)
| Item | Amount (SAR) |
|---|---|
| Cash and bank balances | 50,000 |
| 100 g of 24 karat gold (× 400) | 40,000 |
| Shares held for trading | 10,000 |
| Minus debts due now | −5,000 |
| Net zakatable wealth | 95,000 |
| Nisab (85 g × 400) | 34,000 |
| Zakat (2.5%) | 2,375 |
95,000 is above the nisab, so zakat is 95,000 × 2.5% = 2,375 SAR. If the net total were 30,000 SAR, it would be below the nisab of 34,000 and no zakat would be due.
What counts and what does not
| Included | Not included |
|---|---|
| Cash at home and bank balances | Your home and the car you use |
| Gold and silver held as savings | Furniture and personal items |
| Goods held for sale (at sale value) | Tools and equipment you work with |
| Shares and funds held for trading | Money you spend before the year ends |
| Money owed to you that you expect to receive | Debts unlikely to be paid back |
Is there zakat on gold jewellery that is worn?
Scholars differ. Sheikh Ibn Baz and the Saudi Permanent Committee said zakat is due on worn jewellery once it reaches the nisab. The majority of the other schools (Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali) said there is no zakat on jewellery worn in the normal way. Ask a scholar you trust and follow his view.
Zakat for businesses
Companies in Saudi Arabia pay zakat to ZATCA on their zakat base, at 2.5% for a Hijri year (slightly more for a Gregorian year of 365 days). The zakat calculator has a business mode for a quick estimate. Individuals can also calculate and pay zakat on the official Zakaty platform.
Zakat al-Fitr is different
Zakat on money is yearly and depends on your wealth. Zakat al-Fitr is paid by every Muslim at the end of Ramadan and is a fixed amount of food. Read the Zakat al-Fitr 1448 guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the nisab of zakat in grams?
85 grams of pure (24 karat) gold, or about 595 grams of silver. For 21 karat gold you need about 97.1 grams, and for 18 karat about 113.3 grams.
How do I calculate zakat on gold?
Multiply the grams by today's price per gram for that karat, then multiply by 2.5%. Example: 150 g × 350 SAR = 52,500 SAR, and zakat is 1,312.50 SAR.
How much zakat on 100,000 SAR?
If you have held it for a full lunar year, zakat is 100,000 × 2.5% = 2,500 SAR.
Is zakat due on money I saved for less than a year?
No. Zakat is due when the wealth has stayed at or above the nisab for one full Hijri year.
Do I subtract my debts before zakat?
Debts that are due now are usually subtracted. Long-term loans paid in instalments are treated differently by scholars; usually only the instalments due this year are subtracted.
Official sources
- IslamQA 193553: nisab of gold (85 g) and silver (595 g), pure-metal basis
- Zakaty: ZATCA platform to calculate and pay zakat
- ZATCA: Zakaty platform features (2026)
This guide explains the general rules. It is not legal advice.