Guide Silver bars
Silver bars, 1 oz to 100 oz. How to choose.
Sizes, minted versus cast, refiners, and how the premium over spot changes with bar size.
Questions? Call the desk at 1-855-528-4653
Sizes at a glance
| Size | Fine silver | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 oz | 31.1 g | Small purchases and selling a little at a time. 1 oz bars |
| 5 oz | 155.5 g | A step up in size at a lower cost per ounce. 5 oz bars |
| 10 oz | 311 g | The most common stacking size. Nadir, Asahi, Nordic Mint |
| 1 kilo | 32.15 oz | Larger holdings. Nordic Mint kilo |
| 100 oz | 3.11 kg | The lowest cost per ounce of the retail sizes. Valcambi, Asahi |
For scale, the bars traded between banks in London are far larger: an LBMA Good Delivery silver bar weighs about 1,000 troy ounces (roughly 32 kg) and must be at least 999.0 fine.
Minted or cast?
Minted bars are cut from cast bars that have been rolled to an even thickness, then stamped in a minting press. They have crisp edges and designs, and smaller sizes often come sealed with a certificate. Cast bars are formed in moulds and keep a poured, slightly uneven surface. Refiners typically mint the small sizes and cast the large ones; Heraeus, for example, mints its 1 oz and 100 g silver bars and casts its kilo and larger bars.
Who makes them
A bar from a well-known refiner is easier to sell later. Several of the refiners we stock are on the London Bullion Market Association’s Good Delivery list for silver, including Valcambi (Switzerland), Asahi Refining (Salt Lake City and Brampton, Ontario) and Nadir (Istanbul).
Why bigger bars cost less per ounce
Every bar carries a premium over the spot price to cover making it, shipping it and selling it. Much of that cost is the same whether the bar weighs 1 oz or 100 oz, so it is spread across more ounces in a big bar. The LBMA notes the same effect in gold: a 1 gram bar is considerably more expensive, ounce for ounce, than a 1 oz bar. On every product page we show the current premium as a “% over spot” figure, so you can compare sizes directly. See how premiums work.
Bars or coins?
Government coins such as the American Silver Eagle and the Silver Maple Leaf usually cost more over spot than bars of the same weight, because you also pay for a sovereign mint’s design and legal tender status. Bars give you the most silver for your money; coins are instantly recognized. Many buyers hold both.
Sources: LBMA Good Delivery specifications; LBMA Alchemist, issue 61; Heraeus precious metal bars; LBMA, The Guide; LBMA Good Delivery list (silver).
What size silver bar should I buy?
Larger bars usually cost less over spot per ounce; smaller bars are easier to sell a little at a time. Many buyers hold a mix: 10 oz or kilo bars for the bulk, and 1 oz bars or coins for flexibility.
How many ounces are in a kilo silver bar?
32.15 troy ounces. One troy ounce is 31.1035 grams.
What is the difference between cast and minted bars?
Minted bars are cut from rolled strips of metal and stamped in a press, so they have sharp, even surfaces. Cast bars are formed in moulds and have a rougher, poured look. Both can be .999 fine.
Are silver bars IRA-eligible?
Silver bullion bars from recognized refiners that meet the minimum fineness can be held in a self-directed precious metals IRA through a custodian. See IRA-eligible metals.
Will you buy my silver bars back?
Yes. We run two-way markets. Call 1-855-528-4653 for a live bid.
