Gold to Silver Ratio
The gold-to-silver ratio tells you how many ounces of silver it takes to buy one ounce of gold. It's one of the most watched indicators in precious metals investing. The long-run historical average is around 60:1, though it has ranged from under 20:1 to over 120:1.
Gold Spot
$2650.00
Silver Spot
$31.50
Current Ratio
84.1:1
Silver is historically cheap relative to gold. Many investors buy silver when the ratio exceeds 80.
At today's ratio of 84.1:1, you need 84.1 oz of silver to buy 1 oz of gold.
How Investors Use the Ratio
- High ratio (80+) — Silver is cheap relative to gold. Some investors shift holdings toward silver expecting the ratio to revert.
- Low ratio (under 40) — Gold is cheap relative to silver. Rare historically — last seen in 1980.
- Average range (50–70) — Neither metal is particularly over or undervalued relative to the other.
- Note — The ratio alone doesn't predict prices — it's one signal among many. Both metals can fall together.
Historical Gold to Silver Ratio
The gold-to-silver ratio has swung dramatically across history. For most of human history it was set by governments and law rather than markets. Understanding where the ratio has been helps put the current reading in context.
Gold vs Silver — Which Should You Buy?
Gold and silver serve different purposes in a precious metals portfolio. Gold is the primary store of value — central banks hold it, it moves with global economic uncertainty, and it's the metal most investors think of first. Silver is more volatile, more industrial, and far more accessible for smaller budgets.
Reasons to favor gold
- • Lower storage cost per dollar of value
- • More stable price action, less volatility
- • Central bank demand provides floor
- • Easier to transport large value
- • High ratio = silver relatively cheap
Reasons to favor silver
- • More affordable entry point
- • Higher upside in bull markets historically
- • Industrial demand (solar, EVs, electronics)
- • More divisible for barter scenarios
- • Low ratio = gold relatively cheap
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good gold to silver ratio to buy silver?
Many investors consider a ratio above 80:1 to be a signal that silver is cheap relative to gold on a historical basis. Ratios above 90:1 have historically been followed by silver outperforming gold. However, the ratio can stay elevated for extended periods — it is a relative value indicator, not a timing tool.
Has the ratio ever been below 20:1?
The lowest modern ratio occurred in January 1980 when it briefly touched approximately 17:1 during the Hunt Brothers silver manipulation attempt. Silver reached nearly $50/oz. In ancient times ratios as low as 9:1 were recorded in some regions, though global markets didn't exist then to set a single price.
Why does the ratio matter for investors?
The ratio is a tool for allocating between two metals in a precious metals portfolio. When silver is cheap relative to gold (high ratio), shifting weight toward silver means more ounces of silver to potentially sell when the ratio compresses. It's a mean-reversion strategy — not a guarantee of profit, but a historically consistent signal for relative value between the two metals.