May 2026
May 2026
Different Sizes of Gold Bars and Their Investment Potential
If you're new to gold investment, it can be confusing to navigate the range of different options that are out there. Besides the choice between gold bars and gold coins, there’s the choice of which size gold bar, with options ranging from small 1-gram gold bars up to 1-kilogram bars.
In this blog, we share what to know about each different size of gold bar, including their investment potential, who they’re suitable for, and popular options within each size range. We also explain why gold bar size matters and the difference between cast, minted, and CombiBars®.
Gold bars vs coins: Which is better?
Gold coins and gold bars both provide physical ownership of gold, but they differ in terms of cost, flexibility, and the role they play in an investment portfolio.
Gold bars
Gold bullion bars are best for investors who want to accumulate the maximum amount of gold for the lowest possible price. This is because their manufacturing process is much simpler than coins, giving them lower premiums. In other words, their value is based purely on gold content and purity rather than any collectible or numismatic value.
Gold coins
Gold coins are often government-backed and carry a legal tender face value that can give them favourable tax treatment (such as being VAT-free and CGT-free for certain coins). While they have higher minting costs – and therefore higher premiums – than gold bars, they offer better liquidity in exchange.
Because they’re produced in standardised, smaller denominations, gold coins are universally recognised by bullion dealers and can quickly be sold in small increments. This makes it easier to sell off a portion of your holdings without having to liquidate an entire bar.
Read More: Gold Bullion Coins & Capital Gains Tax
Should you choose gold bars or coins?
Choose gold bars if:
- Your focus is long-term wealth preservation
- You want to get the most amount of gold for the lowest possible price
- You value cost-efficiency over liquidity.
Choose gold coins if:
- You want to slowly accumulate gold through small purchases
- You want your gold holdings to be CGT-free (for certain coins)
- You value liquidity over cost-efficiency.
See: Pros and Cons of Buying Gold Bars vs Gold Coins
Why gold bar size matters
Gold bars come in different sizes, and the size you bar will dictate the price you pay per gram (premium), liquidity, and storage efficiency:
- Premiums & cost-efficiency: Smaller gold bars have a higher percentage premium over the gold spot price because the costs associated with refining, assaying, and packaging are relatively fixed. In other words, it costs nearly the same amount to manufacture a 1-gram bar as it does a 10-gram bar. Naturally, the 10-gram bar would offer more value per gram as a result.
- Liquidity & flexibility: If you need access to cash, smaller bars are easier to sell in smaller portions. You can still sell off a large 1 kg gold bar, but it may be harder, and you'd have to liquidate the whole bar.
- Storage: Larger bars are more space-efficient when it comes to storage, but they often require professional storage in a secure vault. This can come with additional costs.
Read: Understanding Gold Premiums: Why You Pay More Than Spot Price
1 gram to 10 gram gold bars
Best for: Beginners, gifting, or making regular micro-investments.
The 1g to 10g gold bars are the most accessible entry points into gold investing. With gold’s price surging in recent years (surpassing $5,000 per ounce in 2026!), these smaller denominations allow you to gradually build a position without having to commit too much money upfront.
1g to 2.5g gold bars
The smallest gold bars, between 1g and 2.5g, are perfect for first-time investors and gifting gold to friends, family, and business partners. They do have the highest premiums per gram, but they also offer the ultimate divisibility, making it easy to liquidate when needed.
Popular 1 gram gold bars:
Popular 2 to 2.5 gram gold bars:
5g to 10g gold bars
5g to 10g gold bars are popular amongst beginners as well as more experienced investors. They’re large enough to feel like a substantial investment but still small enough to liquidate if you only need a few hundred pounds for an unexpected expense. They’re also an excellent option for those who want to gradually accumulate gold on a monthly or quarterly basis.
Popular 5 gram gold bars:
Popular 10 gram gold bars:
In short, these bars offer accessibility, flexibility, and easy liquidity, though they may not yield substantial returns on their own.
20 gram to 100 gram gold bars
Best for: Balanced investors and Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) holders.
The 20g to 100g sizes are the standard gold bar range amongst more experienced retail investors. These offer a more favourable price-per-gram while still being highly liquid, compact, and easy to store.
20 to 50g gold bars
The 20g gold bar is an excellent option for investors who want to make a more substantial purchase but aren’t ready to commit to a full ounce.
Popular 20 gram gold bars:
1 oz gold bars (31.1 grams) are the standard option, offering high liquidity – every dealer will know exactly how to price and authenticate these bars since they serve as the benchmark for gold’s price.
Popular 1 oz gold bars:
50g to 100g gold bars
50g to 100g gold bars are favoured by more serious investors looking for moderate growth. The 100g gold bar, especially, is a significant investment that offers much lower premiums than its fractional counterparts while still remaining compact enough to store in a small home safe.
Both of these bars offer the potential for long-term value appreciation without sacrificing flexibility.
Popular 50 gram gold bars:
Popular 100 gram gold bars:
250 gram to 1 kilogram gold bars
Best for: High-net-worth individuals, SIPP portfolios, and institutional wealth preservation.
When you move into the 250g to 1kg gold bar range, you’re getting much more for your money compared to the smaller sizes. That said, you miss out on the convenience of flexibility, liquidity, and accessibility – these gold bars are designed for those who intend to hold their wealth for years, if not decades.
250g gold bars
These bars are suitable for investors wanting to make a substantial lump-sum purchase. They offer excellent value for money and a strong hedge against inflation, but they may not be as flexible as smaller bars when it comes to liquidation. They’re a great option if you want to make a significant investment without committing to a 1 kg gold bar.
Popular 250 gram gold bars:
500g to 1kg gold bars
These are the next step up from 250-gram gold bars, offering a significant store of wealth and even more gold for your investment. The 1kg bar, especially, is the pinnacle of cost-efficiency and carries the lowest premiums you can possibly get in a gold bar.
These options are best for investors wanting to make substantial, long-term purchases. While they offer the best value, they also come with lower liquidity. If you need to access just 10% of your wealth, you’ll need to sell the entire bar at once, which may trigger a large tax event or force you to sell at a price point you’re not completely happy with. So what you gain in cost-efficiency, you lose in flexibility and liquidity.
Popular 1 kilogram gold bars:
Keep Reading: What is the Proper Way to Store Gold?
Cast vs minted vs CombiBars®
There are two main types of gold bars: cast and minted. Valcambi also produces a unique CombiBar®, which is designed to be snapped into smaller units without losing material or value (e.g. a 50g CombiBar® can be split into 50 x 1 gram gold bars for easier resale).
Minted gold bars
Minted gold bars are made from rolled gold sheets that are cut into blanks and stamped with high-pressure dies. The result is a sleek, polished, uniform gold bar with a mirror-like finish, sharp edges, and precise engravings. Most gold bars are minted, and they’ll often come in sealed, tamper-evident packaging along with an assay card that verifies the bar’s weight and purity.
Because of the extra steps in manufacturing, minted bars often carry a higher premium compared to cast bars (usually 3-6% over spot). However, their uniform look and protective casing can make them easier to resell.
Cast gold bars
Cast gold bars are made by pouring molten gold directly into a mould. As the metal cools, it forms a rugged, textured surface with rounded edges, giving the bar a more raw appearance. Unlike minted bars, cast bars are designed to be touched. They’re sturdy and scratch-resistant, so they rarely come in plastic packaging. Premiums also tend to be lower thanks to the simpler production process (usually 1-3% over spot).
CombiBars®
CombiBars® were developed by Valcambi (Switzerland) and ESG (Germany). Each CombiBar consists of multiple small units (usually 1g or 10g) that are joined together by pre-scored break points. If you need to liquidate a small amount, you can break off a single 1-gram or 10-gram piece without having to sell off your larger holding.
Because of the intricate manufacturing process required, their premiums are similar to (or slightly higher than) standard minted bars. However, you get the benefit of buying a lower-premium large gold bar (e.g. a 50g gold bar) with the high-liquidity benefit of smaller 1g gold bars.
Summary: Different sizes of gold bars
The table below summarises the key differences between each size of gold bar and how they fit into different investment strategies:
GOLD BAR SIZE | SUITABLE FOR | WHY CHOOSE IT? |
1 gram | Beginners, gifting | Lowest entry cost, perfect for small-scale saving, ideal for gifting |
10 grams | New investors | Affordable growth with slightly better value than 1g or 5g options |
20 grams | Retail investors | Good mid-range choice, offering a balance between affordability and lower premiums |
One troy ounce (31.1 grams) | Retail investors | Globally recognised standard, highly liquid, easy to trade |
50 grams | Retail investors | More efficient price-per-gram while still being small enough to sell to a local dealer |
100 grams | Serious retail investors | Lower premiums and strong balance of size and liquidity |
1 kilogram | High-net-worth individuals | One of the most efficient ways to store large amounts of value with much lower premiums |
100 ounces | Institutional investors | Often used for serious private wealth or corporate holdings |
400 ounces | Central banks, institutions | Known as Good Delivery bars, used for trading on international markets and central bank reserves |
Buy gold bars
If you’re ready to invest in gold bars, you’re in the right place. StoneXBullion is the UK and Europe’s leading precious metals dealer, stocking a wide range of gold bullion bars and coins from the world’s most trusted sovereign mints and private refineries. We’re a proud member of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) and always transparent about pricing and premiums.
Browse our selection of investment-grade gold bars and enjoy fully insured, discreet delivery right to your door.