Know what your gold IRA really costs.
Storage fees are just the beginning. See how dealer markups, buyback discounts, administration and exit charges can affect your retirement savings.
Most calculators model the price of gold. This one starts with what you pay to buy, hold, and sell it.
It isn't just gold.
Certain gold, silver, platinum and palladium coins or bullion can qualify for an IRA. The rules depend on the particular product and the trustee arrangement—not a dealer's approval badge.
Got a gold IRA quote?
Enter the actual metal price and written buyback quote. Uncover the dealer premium and true break-even point.
Analyze my quote →Source-backed comparisonCompare real custodian fees.
Three official published schedules, with missing charges clearly identified. No invented overall rankings.
See fee disclosures →Answers worth reading before you roll over a dollar.
Original, sourced explainers on why someone might use an IRA, how physical custody works, what metals qualify, and why every line of the quote matters.
Why Put Gold in an IRA? Benefits, Costs, and When It May Not Make Sense
Why someone might hold physical gold in a tax-advantaged retirement account—and when a simpler investment may be preferable.
Read the guide →
Can You Hold Physical Gold in an IRA? Ownership, Storage & the Rules
Yes—but “owning” metal inside an IRA is different from taking it home. Here is the custody chain and what to check.
Read the guide →Gold, Silver, Platinum & Palladium: What Precious Metals Can Go in an IRA?
Gold is not alone. Explore all four potentially eligible metals, qualifying products, and costly exceptions.
Read the guide →
Gold IRA vs. Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA: The Category Mistake Explained
A “gold IRA” describes an investment strategy, not a different tax regime. Understand the real choices.
Read the guide →
Gold IRA Fees Explained: Dealer Premiums, Storage, Custody & Exit Costs
A complete, plain-English guide to all the charges that can separate your initial deposit from the amount you eventually receive.
Read the guide →
Gold IRA vs. Gold ETF vs. Physical Bullion: Which Ownership Route Fits?
Compare custody, liquidity, expense structures, possession and tax treatment without confusing products with accounts.
Read the guide →The real-cost calculator
Enter the fees from your written quote, or explore the labeled example below. Results update immediately. All calculations happen in your browser.
Your IRA scenario
The initial example uses STRATA's published $150 annual IRA fee and $115 commingled storage fee. All dealer premiums and discounts are hypothetical, not STRATA or dealer quotes.
Account & storage fees
IRA Gold fee calculation
iragold.co — illustrative, not investment advice.
Calculating costs…
This is the cumulative increase needed over 5 years, assuming unchanged fee rates and the modeled sale price.
— (annualized equivalent).
Where the cost comes from (flat gold price)
Want to compare actual dealer quotes? Copy our independent written quote request →
Ask for the numbers a sales pitch leaves out.
The CFTC and FINRA advise getting the complete terms in writing, including the exact buyback price, before turning over funds.
01 / PURCHASEWhat am I paying above spot?
Ask for the exact product, weight, spot reference, total invoice price and any commissions. Compare the same metal product across multiple written quotes.
02 / OWNERSHIPWhat's the full annual bill?
Custody, administration, storage, insurance, transactions and account servicing can differ. Check whether fees are flat, percentage-based, billed in advance or waived.
03 / EXITWhat would I receive tomorrow?
The dealer's buyback terms matter. A “buyback program” is not a guaranteed resale price; request a current written offer for the identical item.
Start with disclosed numbers.
We distinguish public custodian schedules from unknown dealer quotes. Missing data is labeled as missing—not silently filled with estimates.
STRATA Trust — precious-metals account tier
| Fee category | Published amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual IRA administration | $150 | Precious Metals Tier |
| Commingled storage | $115 / year | Gold and other eligible metals |
| Segregated storage | $175 / year | For gold and certain other metals; exceptions may apply |
| Electronic account setup | Waived | Paper setup lists $50 |
| Precious-metals purchase/sale/exchange | $40 | Per applicable transaction |
| Account closure | $250 | If closing the account; not a fee on every sale |
Source: STRATA's current public fee schedule. Additional depository handling, shipping, wire, third-party and dealer costs may apply. This is not a recommendation or endorsement.
Gold IRA questions worth asking
Can I hold gold IRA coins at home?
Generally, no. IRS guidance says eligible bullion in an IRA must remain in the physical possession of a bank or approved nonbank trustee. Do not rely on marketing claims about home-storage loopholes. IRS guidance.
Does every gold IRA dealer publish its markup?
No. That's why you should request a written product-level quote and buyback price instead of treating an unspecified markup as zero. The calculator's example percentages are hypothetical.
Is a gold IRA always more expensive than a gold ETF?
Costs and risks are structured differently. A physical-metals IRA may involve dealer spreads, custody and vault charges, while an exchange-traded product commonly has ongoing fund expenses and market-related risks. Compare the entire cost structure and your goals, not just one fee line.
Can you receive a rollover quote without giving a phone number?
This independent calculator never requires one. A custodian or dealer may need information to provide an account-specific proposal, but we don't collect it to show these results.
No invented “best companies.” No hidden pay-to-rank list.
We compare published custodian fees, identify missing dealer costs, and link to official sources. If paid referrals are introduced later, they will be explicitly labeled and kept separate from objective calculations. The calculator and quote analyzer remain available without signup. View the comparison. Browse the new learning guides.
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