Quick answer: Making charges for gold jewellery in India usually run from 3% to 25% of the gold value. On 22K gold at ₹13,085/g (as of 26 Oct 2026), that is about ₹390 to ₹3,270 per gram. Plain machine-made chains sit at the low end; handmade, temple and bridal pieces sit at the top. GST of 3% applies on top.
How much are making charges on gold jewellery in India?
The charge depends mostly on how the piece is made, not on its purity. The table below combines ranges published by BlueStone, BankBazaar, Aditya Birla Capital and Zerodha Varsity. Rupee figures use the Groww India average 22K rate of ₹13,085/g.
Jewellery type | Typical making charge | ₹ per gram on 22K (26 Oct 2026) | On a 10 g piece |
Gold coins and bars | 1–5% (or a small flat fee) | ₹130–₹650 | ₹1,310–₹6,540 |
Plain machine-made chains, bangles, rings | 3–10% | ₹390–₹1,310 | ₹3,930–₹13,090 |
Lightweight daily-wear, casting designs | 8–14% | ₹1,050–₹1,830 | ₹10,470–₹18,320 |
Handmade, designer, filigree | 12–20% | ₹1,570–₹2,620 | ₹15,700–₹26,170 |
Temple, antique, kundan, bridal sets | 18–25%, sometimes more | ₹2,360–₹3,270+ | ₹23,550–₹32,710+ |
18K diamond and stone-set pieces | Often 20%+ on the gold part | Varies with labour on settings | Varies |
City rates differ slightly from the India average. Every figure in the table is before 3% GST.
Two caveats matter. First, these are market ranges, not rules: no law in India caps making charges. Second, some jewellers quote "making" and "wastage" separately and others merge them into one figure called VA (value addition), so always compare the combined number.
What are making charges, exactly?
Making charges are the fee a jeweller adds to the gold value for turning raw metal into a finished piece. They pay for the karigar's labour, design, moulds, machinery, polishing, finishing, showroom overheads and the jeweller's margin.
Key facts:
Basis: charged as a percentage of gold value, a flat ₹ per gram, or a flat fee per piece.
Not refundable: when you sell or exchange jewellery, buyers pay for the gold content only, so making charges are a sunk cost.
Separate from purity: a BIS hallmark with a 6-digit HUID certifies purity, not price. BIS states that its per-article hallmarking charge does not include making or wastage.
Separate from stones: diamonds and gemstones are billed on their own line, not inside the making charge.
For the related idea of gold lost during manufacture, see [What Is Wastage in Gold?].
How are making charges calculated?
Jewellers use one of three methods. Each gives a different result as gold prices move.
Method | How it works | Example on a 10 g 22K chain (₹1,30,850 gold value) | Who uses it |
Percentage of gold value | Gold value × % | 8% = ₹10,468 | Common at large branded chains (Tanishq quotes a %) |
Flat ₹ per gram | Net weight × ₹/g | ₹600/g × 10 g = ₹6,000 | Many local and wholesale jewellers |
Flat per piece | One fixed fee | ₹2,500 on a small ring | Light earrings, rings, pendants |
The percentage method rises automatically when the gold rate rises, even though the labour has not changed. A per-gram charge stays fixed, which is why it often works out cheaper in 2026, with gold above ₹13,000/g.
To compare the two, divide the per-gram charge by the gold rate. A ₹600/g quote on 22K gold equals 600 ÷ 13,085 = 4.6%.
How much is the percentage of making charges for gold jewellery?
There is no single percentage. Use these benchmarks to judge a quote:
Under 8%: competitive for plain chains, bangles and coins.
8–15%: normal for everyday rings, earrings and lightweight necklaces.
15–25%: expected for handcrafted, antique or bridal work.
Above 25% on plain gold: worth questioning or negotiating.
Brand starting points vary. A 2026 advertorial for Tanishq states that its making charges start at 7%, with gold coins as low as 3%. Treat any "starting from" figure as the floor for the simplest designs, not the rate on a heavy necklace. For brand-wise detail, see [Which Jeweller Has Lowest Making Charges?].
How do you calculate the final price with making charges?
Use this formula:
Final price = (Net gold weight × gold rate) + making charges + wastage (if separate) + stone value + hallmarking fee + 3% GST
GST is charged on the whole taxable value. The GST Council's gems and jewellery FAQ says 3% applies to the total transaction value of jewellery, whether or not making charges are shown separately. The 5% rate applies only to job work, where you give your own gold to a goldsmith and pay just for labour.
Worked example 1: 10 g 22K plain chain at 8%
Line | Calculation | Amount |
Gold value | 10 g × ₹13,085 | ₹1,30,850 |
Making charges | 8% of ₹1,30,850 | ₹10,468 |
Taxable value | ₹1,41,318 | |
GST | 3% | ₹4,240 |
Total | ₹1,45,558 |
Worked example 2: Same chain at a flat ₹600/g
Gold ₹1,30,850 + making ₹6,000 = ₹1,36,850. With 3% GST (₹4,106), the bill is ₹1,40,956. That is ₹4,602 less than the 8% quote, for the same chain.
Worked example 3: 25 g 22K temple necklace at 18%
Line | Calculation | Amount |
Gold value | 25 g × ₹13,085 | ₹3,27,125 |
Making charges | 18% | ₹58,883 |
Taxable value | ₹3,86,008 | |
GST | 3% | ₹11,580 |
Total | ₹3,97,588 |
Here the making charge alone, with its GST, costs about ₹60,650. That is roughly 4.6 g of 22K gold that you will not get back on resale.
Worked example 4: 4 g 18K ring with a flat ₹2,500 fee
Gold value is 4 g × ₹10,706 = ₹42,824. Adding ₹2,500 gives ₹45,324, and 3% GST brings the bill to ₹46,684. The flat fee works out to 5.8% of gold value.
For a step-by-step version, read [How to Calculate Gold Price with Making Charges].
Is there a making charges calculator for gold jewellery?
You do not need an app. Fill in this four-line calculator with the jeweller's numbers:
Step | What to enter | Your figure |
A | Net gold weight (g), excluding stones | ___ g |
B | Today's rate for that karat (₹/g) | ₹___ |
C | Gold value = A × B | ₹___ |
D | Making = C × making % (or A × ₹/g) | ₹___ |
E | Add wastage, stones and ₹45 hallmarking if billed | ₹___ |
F | Total = (C + D + E) × 1.03 | ₹___ |
Quick reference for a 10 g 22K piece (gold value ₹1,30,850, as of 26 Oct 2026):
Making % | Making charge | Making + its 3% GST |
3% | ₹3,926 | ₹4,043 |
5% | ₹6,543 | ₹6,739 |
8% | ₹10,468 | ₹10,782 |
10% | ₹13,085 | ₹13,478 |
12% | ₹15,702 | ₹16,173 |
15% | ₹19,628 | ₹20,216 |
18% | ₹23,553 | ₹24,260 |
20% | ₹26,170 | ₹26,955 |
25% | ₹32,713 | ₹33,694 |
To turn a jeweller's rupee figure into a percentage, use [How to Calculate Percentage of Making Charges for Gold].
Why do making charges differ so much between jewellers?
Machine-made vs handmade: machine chains take minutes per gram; a temple necklace can take weeks of hand work.
Design detail: filigree, nakshi, enamel (meenakari) and stone settings add labour hours.
Karat: 18K pieces often carry higher percentages because they are usually stone-set and intricate.
Brand and showroom: national chains carry higher overheads and offer buyback and exchange policies.
Wastage bundling: a "low making charge" can hide a separate wastage line. Compare the combined figure, explained in [What Is Va in Gold Bill?].
Season: jewellers often run making-charge discounts around Akshaya Tritiya, Dhanteras and the wedding season.
How much are making charges for gold jewellery in Dubai?
Dubai making charges are usually quoted in dirhams per gram and are generally lower than in India for plain gold. In a December 2024 Gulf News report, the chairman of the Dubai Jewellery Group put UAE making charges at Dh3 to Dh30 per gram.
Points Indian buyers should know:
VAT: the UAE charges 5% VAT on the selling price of jewellery, including making charges (Gulf News, October 2026).
Tourist refund: visitors can claim back the VAT, minus small fees, at Planet Tax Free counters at the airport, subject to conditions.
Indian customs: Policybazaar UAE reports a duty-free allowance of 20 g (men) or 40 g (women) of gold jewellery. It applies to Indians returning after more than a year abroad. Anything above that must be declared. Check current CBIC baggage rules before you fly.
Hallmark: Dubai jewellery does not carry an Indian BIS hallmark or HUID, so an Indian jeweller may test it before exchange.
Dubai can be cheaper for plain, heavy gold. For intricate Indian-style designs, the saving shrinks once customs and testing are counted.
How can you reduce or negotiate making charges?
Ask for the making % before you choose a design. It is the one line you can negotiate; the gold rate and GST are not.
Ask whether wastage is extra. Get one combined percentage.
Compare per-gram and percentage quotes using the gold rate, as shown above.
Choose machine-made designs for daily wear. Save handcrafted work for pieces you will keep.
Buy during making-charge offers, but check that the gold rate on the bill matches the day's published rate.
Use gold coins or bars for investment, where making charges are lowest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the making charge for 1 gram of gold?
At 3–25% of value, the making charge on 1 g of 22K gold is about ₹390 to ₹3,270 (as of 26 Oct 2026, ₹13,085/g). Plain machine-made pieces are near ₹400–₹1,300 per gram.
Are making charges included in the gold rate?
No. The published gold rate (Groww, IBJA or the jeweller's board rate) is for metal only. Making charges, wastage, stones, hallmarking and 3% GST are added on top.
Is GST on making charges 3% or 5%?
When you buy finished jewellery, 3% GST applies to the full value, including making charges. The 5% rate applies only to job work, when you supply your own gold and pay a goldsmith for labour.
Are making charges refunded when I sell gold?
No. Jewellers buy back on gold weight and purity only, often after deductions. Some brands credit part of the making charge in exchange offers, so read the exchange policy before buying.
What is a fair making charge for a 22K gold chain?
For a plain machine-made chain, 3–10% is reasonable. Handmade designs and antique finishes can justify 12–20%.
Do making charges apply to gold coins?
Usually yes, but they are small. Coins and bars typically carry 1–5% or a flat per-gram fee, far less than jewellery.
Can I negotiate making charges?
Yes. Most jewellers have room on making charges, especially on heavier purchases and during festival offers. The gold rate and GST are fixed.
Are making charges cheaper in Dubai than India?
Often, for plain gold. UAE jewellers quote roughly Dh3–30 per gram, but you pay 5% VAT (refundable to tourists) and may owe Indian customs duty above your allowance.
