Key takeaways
- 1 troy ounce = 31.1035 g; the Royal Canadian Mint’s 1 oz Gold Maple Leaf weighs 31.11 g of 99.99% gold
- Price you pay = spot price + premium; price you get back = the seller’s buyback (bid) price
- The spread between the two is the amount gold must rise before you break even
- Bars usually carry lower premiums than coins of the same weight
What makes up the price of a 1 oz gold bar?
Three prices matter. The definitions here follow the Royal Canadian Mint’s glossary.
- Spot price: the market price for immediate settlement. It moves all day. Gold is quoted worldwide in US dollars per troy ounce, so the Canadian price also moves with the exchange rate.
- Premium: the extra cost over the bullion value. It pays for making the bar, shipping, and the seller’s margin.
- Buyback (bid) price: what a dealer will pay to buy the bar from you. The seller’s price is the ask. The difference is the spread.
The Mint explains that the price you are quoted can differ from the spot or benchmark price because of the bid-ask spread and the product premium.
Worked example: what you pay and what you get back
These numbers are made up for illustration only. They are not today’s prices or any seller’s real premium.
| Item | Example |
|---|---|
| Spot price, 1 oz (for example) | $5,000 |
| Seller’s premium (for example, 4%) | $200 |
| You pay | $5,200 |
| Buyback price the same day (for example, 1% under spot) | $4,950 |
| Spread (your cost if gold does not move) | $250, about 4.8% of what you paid |
In this example, gold must rise from $5,000 to about $5,253 (a little over 5%) before the buyback price reaches the $5,200 you paid. A seller with a lower premium, or a higher buyback price, shrinks that gap.
To see what the gold in a bar is worth at today’s rate, use the gold price per ounce page.
Why do 1 oz gold bar prices differ between sellers?
- Bar or coin. The Mint says coins tend to have higher premiums than bars. A 1 oz Gold Maple Leaf coin usually costs more than a 1 oz bar.
- Size. Smaller pieces cost more per gram. Ten 1/10 oz coins cost more than one 1 oz bar.
- Brand and packaging. Bars in sealed assay cards from well-known refiners can cost more, and some buyers pay more for them later too.
- Seller type. The Mint says banks often have higher premiums than other sources, especially on small coins.
- Payment method. Ask whether the price changes for cash, debit, wire or card.
- Timing. Prices are live. CIBC, for example, holds a quoted price for 2 minutes.
Is a 1 oz bar better than smaller or bigger bars?
The 1 oz bar sits in the middle. It is the most common size, which makes it easy to price against spot and to sell later. Compare it with the other sizes you will see in Canada:
- 1 g to 10 g bars and fractional coins. Easier on the budget and popular as gifts. The premium per gram is usually higher, so more of your money goes to the seller and less to gold.
- 1 oz bars and coins. A balance between cost per gram and price per piece. CIBC and RBC both sell 1 oz gold bars, and many dealers stock several brands.
- 10 oz and 1 kg bars. Lower premiums per gram, as the Royal Canadian Mint notes for larger bars. But one bar costs many times more, and you cannot sell part of it.
If you may need to sell a little at a time, several 1 oz pieces are more flexible than one large bar, even though the premium is a bit higher.
How do you compare 1 oz gold bar quotes?
- Note the spot price per ounce in CAD at the time you ask.
- Get each seller’s total price for the same kind of bar (1 oz, 99.99%).
- Work out the premium: price minus spot, then divide by spot for a percentage.
- Ask each seller’s buyback price for the same bar today, and what it needs (receipt, sealed card, bought there).
- Add delivery, insurance and any storage cost.
- Choose the lowest total of premium + spread + extra costs, not just the lowest price tag.
Buybacks can be strict at banks. RBC buys back only products it sold to its clients, with proof of purchase. CIBC considers buybacks only with the original receipt, in pristine condition. See where to buy gold bars.
Is there HST on a 1 oz gold bar in Canada?
Under the CRA’s GST/HST Memorandum 17-1 (July 2026), a gold bar, ingot, coin or wafer refined to at least 99.5% purity is a “precious metal” if it meets the form rules (for bars, generally being accepted for trading on Canadian financial markets). A sale of a qualifying precious metal is generally an exempt financial service. A 1 oz bar of 99.99% gold from a recognized refiner usually fits the definition, but check your receipt.
If you later sell the bar for more than you paid, you may have a capital gain to report. See how gold is taxed in Canada; a tax professional can confirm your case.
Gold prices can go down as well as up. Past prices don’t predict future prices.
Next steps: value any bar or coin with the gold value calculator and track the gold price per ounce in Canada.
Common questions
How much is a 1 oz gold bar in Canada?
How many grams are in a 1 oz gold bar?
Why is a gold bar more expensive than the spot price?
Is a 1 oz gold coin or bar better value?
Sources
- Royal Canadian Mint: Glossary of bullion terms
- Royal Canadian Mint: How is the price of gold determined?
- Royal Canadian Mint: Buying bullion
- Royal Canadian Mint: 2026 Gold Maple Leaf 1 oz (bullion)
- Royal Canadian Mint: Can I buy physical bullion from a Canadian bank? (Oct 24, 2024)
- CRA: GST/HST Memorandum 17-1, Definition of financial instrument (precious metals, July 2026)
- CIBC: Precious metals purchasing
- RBC Capital Markets: Metals (retail bullion at RBC branches)