Reported minimums by company
| Company | Reported minimum |
|---|---|
| Birch Gold Group | $5,000 |
| American Hartford Gold | $10,000 |
| Lear Capital | $10,000 |
| Noble Gold | $20,000 |
| Goldco | $25,000 |
| Augusta Precious Metals | $50,000 |
As reported in published 2026 reviews. Minimums change; confirm with each company.
The minimum that makes sense
Most gold IRA fees are flat. If you pay roughly $250 a year in custodian and storage fees, here's what that costs as a share of your account:
| Account size | $250/yr as a share |
|---|---|
| $5,000 | 5.0% |
| $10,000 | 2.5% |
| $25,000 | 1.0% |
| $50,000 | 0.5% |
| $100,000 | 0.25% |
Gold produces no income to offset those fees, so the smaller the account, the more the price has to rise just to break even. That's why many investors treat around $25,000 to $50,000 as a practical floor.
Have $50,000 or more to diversify?
Our recommended provider's free kit explains its account setup and fees for rollovers of that size.
Request the Free KitOptions for smaller amounts
- A gold ETF in your existing IRA: no storage or custodian fees, though you don't own specific coins.
- Buying coins outside an IRA: no account fees, but no tax advantages and you handle storage.
- Waiting: build up savings and open a gold IRA once the fees are a small share.