How Much Does a Gold Brick Weigh?
Gold has captivated human imagination for centuries, with its shimmering allure and intrinsic value. When we think of gold, we often picture coins, jewelry, or bars. One of the most iconic forms of gold bullion is the gold brick, which is renowned for its size and weight.
A standard gold brick typically weighs approximately 400 troy ounces or 12.4kg (27.3 pounds). The exact weight can vary slightly depending on the purity and dimensions of the specific brick.
In this exploration, we unveil the weighty world of these precious metal blocks and discover what makes them such a symbol of wealth and prosperity.
What is a Gold Brick?
A gold brick, also known as a gold bullion bar or ingot, is a quantity of refined gold shaped into a rectangular brick or bar for investment and storage purposes. Gold bricks are produced by precious metal refiners and typically contain .995+ pure gold.
The most common sizes for gold bricks are:
Small Bricks
- 1 troy ounce – dimensions of about 1.5 x 0.5 x 0.3 inches
- 5 troy ounces – dimensions of about 2.2 x 1.0 x 0.4 inches
- 10 troy ounces – dimensions of about 2.8 x 1.4 x 0.5 inches
Large Bricks
- 1 kilogram (32.15 troy ounces) – dimensions of about 5.3 x 2.5 x 1.0 inches
- 12.4 kilograms (400 troy ounces) – dimensions of about 7 x 3.6 x 1.7 inches
- 400 ounces is the most common large gold brick size
Standard Gold Brick Weight
The international standard for a gold brick is 400 troy ounces. At 31.10 grams per troy ounce, a standard 400 oz gold brick weighs 12.44 kg or 27.43 pounds.
Some key specifications on 400 oz gold bricks include:
Dimensions
- Length: About 7 inches
- Width: About 3.6 inches
- Height: About 1.7 inches
Composition
- Minimum 995 parts per thousand pure gold
- Maximum 5 parts per thousand impurities
Markings
- Refiner hallmark
- Purity stamp
- Weight
- Serial number
So, a standard 400 ounce gold brick measures about 7 x 3.6 x 1.7 inches and weighs approximately 27 pounds.
Factors Affecting Gold Brick Weight
While 400 ounces is the norm, several factors can cause the weight of gold bricks to vary:
Purity
- The higher the purity, the more a brick will weigh for the same volume.
- 99.99% pure bricks weigh slightly more than 99.95% pure at the same dimensions.
Dimensions
- Bricks range from 1 inch to over 9 inches long in some cases.
- A 1 inch long brick still contains 400 ounces but is thinner with less weight.
- Bricks over 7 inches long can weigh over 30 pounds.
Kilograms vs Troy Ounces
- Bricks cast in metric weights like 1 kilogram rather than troy ounces will have different weights.
- A 1 kg brick is 32.15 troy ounces, lighter than a 400 oz brick.
Older Bricks
- Historic 400 oz bricks weighed over 30 pounds due to impurities.
- Modern refining allows exact 400 oz bricks very close to 27.4 pounds.
So while the standard is 400 ounces and 27.3 pounds, weights can range from under 25 pounds for smaller bricks to over 35 pounds for larger ones. The purity and dimensions are the primary factors.
Why 400 Ounce Gold Bricks?
The 400 ounce size has become the standard because it offers the best balance of several advantages:
- Large enough to store substantial value in a small space
- Small enough to be conveniently handled and moved
- Weight is manageable for physical movement
- Dimensions evenly divisible into metric bars
- Suitable size to form interlocking stacks
- Easy to verify weight and purity at a glance
The 400 ounce gold brick has the ideal blend of compact value, portability, and security to make it the world-wide standard bar size investors choose.
Gold Brick Weight Conversion Tables
For easy reference, here are some tables showing gold brick weights in both troy ounces and kilograms at varying purities and dimensions:
100% Pure Gold
| Dimensions | Troy Ounces | Kilograms |
| 7″ x 3.6″ x 1.7″ | 400 | 12.73 |
| 6″ x 3″ x 1″ | 350 | 11.08 |
| 5″ x 2.5″ x 0.8″ | 300 | 9.50 |
99.99% Pure Gold
| Dimensions | Troy Ounces | Kilograms |
| 7″ x 3.6″ x 1.7″ | 400 | 12.44 |
| 6″ x 3″ x 1″ | 350 | 11.05 |
| 5″ x 2.5″ x 0.8″ | 300 | 9.47 |
99.95% Pure Gold
| Dimensions | Troy Ounces | Kilograms |
| 7″ x 3.6″ x 1.7″ | 400 | 12.39 |
| 6″ x 3″ x 1″ | 350 | 11.01 |
| 5″ x 2.5″ x 0.8″ | 300 | 9.42 |
So in summary, a true 400 ounce .999 fine gold brick will weigh very close to 27.4 pounds or 12.4 kg.
What is the Value of a 400 Ounce Gold Brick?
With gold prices fluctuating daily, the value of a 400 ounce gold brick changes frequently. As an example, with gold trading at $1700 per ounce, a standard 400 ounce brick is worth:
- Gold Price: $1700 per oz
- Troy Ounces: 400
- Total Value: $680,000
At $2000 per ounce gold price, the same brick is worth $800,000. So the value easily reaches into the hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars depending on the market price.
Are Gold Bricks Used as Currency?
Gold bricks are not really used as direct currency for transactions. They function more as a way to store value and hedge against currencies and inflation.
The large size and high value mean gold bricks are not practical for everyday purchases.
Instead, gold bricks are traded between central banks, institutional investors, private investors, and collectors.
The standardized size and weight make them easy to stack, transport, and verify. Large purchases or transfers of wealth can be executed using gold bricks.
How are Gold Bricks Made?
Gold bricks go through a complex refining and minting process before being stamped:
1. Sourcing Raw Gold
- Mined from gold ores
- Extracted from recycled jewelry
- Recovered from industrial uses
2. Assaying and Refining
- Raw gold melted and assayed for purity
- Impurities removed to achieve .995+ pure gold
3. Pouring Bricks
- Liquid gold poured into brick-shaped molds
- Cooled and solidified into raw bars
4. Finishing
- Bars cleaned and polished to shiny finish
- Edges and corners squared
5. Hallmark Stamping
- Refiner stamp, weight, purity, serial number stamped on finished bars
6. Quality Inspection
- Bricks checked for proper weight and purity
- Packaged for secure transport to buyers
Reputable mints like PAMP Suisse have the facilities and expertise to convert raw gold into standards-compliant 400 oz bricks.
FAQ on Gold Bricks
Get answers to key questions about gold bricks, including their measurements, users, authentication, counterfeiting risks, standard sizes, and their role in the world of investment and collection.
How Are Gold Bricks Measured?
Gold bricks are measured in troy ounces or metric kilograms rather than standard avoirdupois ounces and pounds. This is because troy ounces are the accepted standard unit of measurement for precious metals in the bullion industry.
Who Uses Gold Bricks?
Gold bricks are primarily used by institutional investors, hedge funds, central banks, and private investors as a way to store value and hedge against currency inflation. They are also popular with collectors.
How Are Gold Bricks Authenticated?
Refiner hallmarks, serial numbers, and purity stamps allow gold bricks to be authenticated. Their dimensions and weight can also be verified. Testing can determine actual purity. Proper documentation traces bricks to their origin.
Can Gold Bricks Be Counterfeited?
It is possible but difficult to counterfeit gold bricks. Fake tungsten bars with gold plating have been found occasionally. Ultrasonic testing and drilling can uncover filled or plated fakes. Refiner stamps and serial numbers should be verified.
Are Gold Brick Sizes Standardized?
While some variation exists, the global standard is now the 400 troy ounce brick. Other common sizes are 1 kilo (32.15 ounces), 1 ounce, 10 ounces, and up to 5 kilos (160 ounces). Smaller bars allow more investors to participate.
Summary
The most common gold brick weighs 400 troy ounces or 27.4 pounds. But with variation in purity and dimensions, weights can range from under 25 pounds to over 35 pounds. Gold bricks offer a compact, portable way to invest in and transfer substantial value.