The five costs of a gold IRA
| Cost | Typical range | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Account setup | $0–$275 | Once |
| Custodian administration | ~$75–$125 | Yearly |
| Storage and insurance | ~$100–$150; more for segregated | Yearly |
| Dealer markup (premium over spot) | Varies widely by product | Each purchase |
| Transaction, wire, closing fees | Often $25–$150 | As they occur |
Ranges based on published 2026 reviews of major providers. See our company comparison for figures by company.
The cost nobody lists: the markup
When you buy a coin, you pay the spot price plus a premium. Part of that premium is the mint's cost; the rest is the dealer's margin. On standard bullion coins and bars the premium is modest. On proof, "limited edition" or semi-numismatic coins it can be many times higher. Because dealers usually buy back near spot, a high premium is a loss you lock in on day one.
Ask two questions about any product: what's the price over spot, and what would you pay me to buy it back today? The gap between the two answers is your real round-trip cost.
A worked example
Say you roll over $50,000 and pay $250 a year in account fees:
- Year one, with a $100 setup fee: $350, or 0.7% of the account.
- Each year after: $250, or 0.5%.
- Over ten years: about $2,600 in account fees, before any markup.
The same $250 a year on a $10,000 account is 2.5% annually, which is why very small gold IRAs rarely make sense.
Our recommended provider's free kit explains its account fees and storage. Best fit if you have $50,000 or more to diversify.
Request the Free KitFee waivers: read the conditions
"No fees for the first year" or "free storage" offers are common. They can be genuinely useful, but some are tied to buying particular products with higher premiums, which can cost more than the waiver saves. Ask whether a waiver depends on what you buy.
Flat vs scaled fees
Most custodians charge a flat yearly fee, which favors larger accounts. Some charge a percentage of value, which favors smaller ones. Know which you're getting before you compare quotes.
Checklist before you sign
- Setup fee, and whether it's waived
- Annual custodian fee
- Annual storage fee, segregated or commingled
- Premium over spot on each product you're buying
- Same-day buyback price for those products
- Any fees to sell, transfer out or close the account