Gold vs Silver Nisab: Which Should You Use for Zakat?
Most people default to the gold-based Nisab without realizing there's a silver-based alternative — and the two can produce very different answers to "do I owe Zakat this year?"
Check the silver Nisab threshold
Enter your wealth and today's silver price to see if Zakat is due.
The two thresholds
The gold Nisab is based on 85 grams of gold; the silver Nisab is based on 612.36 grams of silver. Because silver is worth far less per gram than gold, the silver-based threshold in dollar terms is typically much lower than the gold-based one.
Why the lower threshold matters
Using the silver standard means more people qualify to pay Zakat, since less wealth is needed to clear the threshold. Some scholars favor the silver standard specifically because it maximizes the number of people helped by Zakat distribution, aligning with the spirit of wealth redistribution.
Which one should you use?
Both are considered valid by different scholars. If you're unsure which to use, ask a scholar you trust — but know that choosing silver will generally mean you're more likely to owe Zakat (and potentially a different amount) than choosing gold.
Frequently asked questions
Is one standard more "correct" than the other?
Don't miss it: Check the silver Nisab threshold
Use our free tool and get your answer with real numbers.