The Zakat nisab is the value of 85 grams of gold or 595 grams of silver. If your net zakatable wealth reaches that value and you have held it for one lunar year, you owe Zakat of 2.5%. Because silver is far cheaper than gold, the silver nisab is a much smaller amount of money, and the choice between the two changes who has to pay.
What is the nisab?
Nisab (نصاب) means the minimum threshold. It is the amount of wealth below which Zakat is not obligatory, and above which a Muslim becomes one of those who owe Zakat. It protects people with very little savings from a yearly obligation, and it is paired with a second condition, the hawl, which is one full lunar year of ownership. The calculation itself is explained in our step-by-step Zakat guide.
Where do 85 grams of gold and 595 grams of silver come from?
The figures come from authentic reports of the Prophet (peace be upon him):
- Silver: "There is no Zakat on less than five awqiyah of silver" (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). One uqiyah is 40 dirhams, so five awqiyah are 200 dirhams. Scholars convert this to about 595 grams of silver.
- Gold: The reports mention 20 dinars (mithqals) of gold, which scholars convert to about 85 grams of pure gold (Sunan Abi Dawud).
The conversion depends on the weight of the dirham and the dinar in the early period. Most contemporary councils, including the major fatwa bodies, use 85 grams for gold and 595 grams for silver. A few use 87.48 grams of gold, so you will see small variations. Using the commonly cited figures is acceptable.
In troy ounces, 85 grams is about 2.73 oz and 595 grams is about 19.13 oz.
Gold nisab or silver nisab: which should I use?
The two values are far apart. Silver is worth much less per gram than gold, so 595 g of silver is only a small fraction of the value of 85 g of gold. When your wealth is between the two values, the choice decides whether you owe Zakat.
Scholars have given reasons for each choice:
- Silver nisab. Used by many scholars and fatwa bodies, especially for cash and paper money. The reasoning is that it brings more people into giving Zakat, so it benefits the poor more. It was also the standard that applied to the most common coin, the silver dirham.
- Gold nisab. Used by some scholars and institutions, who point out that gold has been a more stable store of value than silver in modern times. Others use gold only for gold holdings.
There is no single agreed answer in the modern world. A practical approach used by many Muslims is to follow the opinion of their local scholar or fatwa council, or to use the silver nisab when in doubt, since it is the cautious option. It is better to pay when you are unsure than to risk missing an obligation.
How to find the nisab today
You need the current price of gold or silver per gram in your currency.
- Look up today's price of pure (24-carat) gold or silver per gram from a reliable market source.
- Multiply: gold nisab = 85 × price of gold per gram, or silver nisab = 595 × price of silver per gram.
- Compare the result with your net zakatable wealth on your Zakat date.
Example with illustrative prices: if silver is 0.80 per gram, the silver nisab is 595 × 0.80 = 476. If gold is 90 per gram, the gold nisab is 85 × 90 = 7,650. Prices change daily, so always use the current figure.
Our Zakat calculator lets you enter the gold and silver prices and choose the silver or gold nisab, then it shows your total and the Zakat due.
Is the nisab the same every year?
The weight (85 g or 595 g) stays the same. The money value changes with the market price of gold or silver. Check the price on your Zakat date each year. Plan the date in advance. If you pay in Ramadan, see when Ramadan 2027 begins.
Does the nisab apply to gold itself?
Yes. If you hold 85 grams of gold or more for a lunar year, Zakat is due on the gold, 2.5% of its value, regardless of your other wealth. For gold below 85 grams, you add its value to your other zakatable assets (cash, silver and so on) and compare the total with the nisab you follow.
Frequently asked questions
What is the nisab for Zakat in grams?
85 grams of gold or 595 grams of silver.
How much money is the nisab?
It depends on the market price of gold or silver on your Zakat date. Multiply the weight by the price per gram in your currency.
Is the nisab based on gold or silver?
Both appear in authentic reports. Many scholars apply the silver nisab to cash and savings because it is lower and benefits the poor more. Others use gold. Follow your local scholar.
If I have less than the nisab, do I pay Zakat?
No. Zakat is not obligatory below the nisab, though voluntary charity (sadaqah) is always encouraged.
Do debts reduce my wealth before the nisab test?
Yes. Debts you must repay soon are subtracted, and the nisab is compared with your net wealth.
This guide is educational and not a fatwa. Consult a qualified scholar for complex cases.