How to Use This Calculator
For each silver purchase you've made, select the product type, enter the quantity (troy ounces for bullion; dollar face value for junk silver), the total price you paid to the dealer, plus any shipping and payment surcharge. Hit Add Purchase. Add as many purchases as you like — the summary panel updates instantly.
Set today's silver spot price to see your paper gain or loss at current market. Use the break-even settings to enter your dealer's typical buyback spread (the discount below spot at which they buy from you) to find the exact spot price you need the market to reach before your stack is profitable at resale.
Why Track Your True Cost Basis?
Every silver stacker knows the spot price, but the spot price is not what you paid — and it's not what a dealer will pay you when you sell. Your actual purchase included a dealer premium, shipping, and possibly a credit card surcharge. Ignoring those costs can mean selling at a real loss while thinking you've profited.
This calculator computes your weighted average all-in cost per troy ounce across every purchase, so you always know exactly what spot price you need before your stack is in the green.
Product Types & Silver Content
Different silver products contain different amounts of pure silver per unit. Here's how this calculator handles each:
- Bullion (bars, rounds, ASEs): Enter quantity directly in troy ounces of fine silver. A 1 oz ASE = 1 troy oz of .999 fine silver; a 100 oz bar = 100 troy oz.
- 90% Junk Silver (pre-1965 US dimes, quarters, halves, dollars): Enter the total face value in dollars. The calculator uses the industry-standard factor of 0.715 troy oz of fine silver per $1 face value, which accounts for average circulation wear.
- 40% Kennedy Halves (1965–1970): Enter face value. These contain 0.1479 troy oz per dollar of face value — about half the content of 90% coins.
- 35% War Nickels (1942–1945): Enter face value. Each nickel = 0.05626 troy oz, so $1 face value (20 coins) = 1.125 troy oz.
- Custom purity: Enter gross troy oz weight and purity percentage. Good for sterling silver (.925), 80% Canadian coins, or any non-standard alloy.
Understanding the Break-Even Calculation
Your break-even spot price is: Break-even spot = (Total all-in cost ÷ total fine oz) + dealer buyback spread. The buyback spread matters because when you sell to a dealer, they pay you below spot — typically $1–$3/oz for bars and rounds, higher for junk. If you need spot to be $36 to recover costs, but your dealer buys at spot minus $2, you actually need the market to reach $38 first.
Common Mistakes Silver Stackers Make
- Forgetting shipping: A $15 flat shipping fee on a 10 oz purchase adds $1.50/oz to your cost basis.
- Using credit cards: A 3.5% surcharge on a $350 order adds $12.25 — another $1.23/oz.
- Mixing bullion and junk: If you track only ounces without weighting, your average cost per oz is wrong.
- Ignoring buyback spreads: Spot going up doesn't mean you've won if your dealer's buyback price is still below your cost basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cost basis in silver stacking?
Cost basis is the true all-in price you paid per troy ounce of silver, including the dealer premium, shipping, and any payment surcharges. It is the floor price your stack must reach at sale to recover your full investment. Your break-even spot price equals your cost basis plus any dealer buyback discount.
How many troy ounces are in $1 face value of 90% junk silver?
One dollar of face value in pre-1965 US 90% silver coins contains approximately 0.715 troy ounces of pure silver, after accounting for circulation wear. Uncirculated coins theoretically hold 0.7234 ozt per $1 FV, but 0.715 is the dealer-standard figure. So a $100 face value bag contains about 71.5 troy ounces. Source: FindBullionPrices.com and multiple dealer references.
What is the break-even spot price for silver?
Your break-even spot price is the market price at which the resale value of your stack exactly equals what you paid. If a dealer buys back at spot minus $2/oz and your all-in cost is $35/oz, you need spot to reach at least $37 before selling. This calculator shows both figures — cost basis (sell at spot) and break-even with the buyback spread you enter.
Should I include shipping and credit card fees in my cost basis?
Yes — always. Your true cost basis must include every dollar spent: dealer price (spot + premium), shipping, insurance, and payment surcharges. Many dealers charge 3–4% extra for credit cards but offer a discount for check or bank wire. Ignoring these costs understates your real break-even price and can lead to selling at a loss without realizing it.
How much silver does an American Silver Eagle contain?
An American Silver Eagle (ASE) contains exactly 1 troy ounce of .999 fine silver. Select "Bullion (bars/rounds/ASE)" and enter 1 per coin. Note: the coin's gross weight is slightly above 1 troy oz due to trace copper, but the fine silver content is precisely 1.000 troy oz.
How does dollar-cost averaging work for silver?
Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) means buying a fixed dollar amount at regular intervals regardless of spot. Over time you buy more ounces when spot is low and fewer when it's high, smoothing your average cost. Your weighted average cost basis = total dollars spent ÷ total troy ounces received. This calculator computes that weighted average automatically as you add purchases.
What's the difference between 90% junk and 40% Kennedy halves?
Pre-1965 US dimes, quarters, and half dollars are 90% silver — $1 face value holds about 0.715 troy oz. Kennedy half dollars struck 1965–1970 are only 40% silver — $1 face value holds about 0.1479 troy oz, roughly one-fifth the silver content of 90% coins. The 1964 Kennedy half is 90% silver; 1971+ Kennedy halves have no silver.