Gold prices have swung between historic highs and lower levels since late 2025, as geopolitical tensions and trade concerns have prompted some investors toward the safe-haven asset. As of April 9, the spot price was $4,810 per ounce, down from a record $5,400 in late January.
For those interested in adding gold to their portfolio, one strategy is to buy shares of gold ETFs and mining companies. Purchasing physical gold is another strategy, but you’ll need to consider additional logistics, such as finding secure storage.
CNBC Select has rounded up the best ways to acquire physical gold, from in-person at big-box stores to online gold dealers. (See our methodology for more on how we picked the top places to buy physical gold.)
Best places to buy physical gold
Best for in-person retail: Costco
Who’s this for? While the wholesale store does require you to be a Costco member, you may be able to buy gold bars in some stores, depending on availability in your location. Bars can also be bought online.
Standout benefits: Costco’s gold bar prices tend to be low, at just 1% to 2% above the spot price. That’s a lower markup than some other dealers, which can be as high as 10%.
Read more: How to buy gold from Costco
Best for online retail: Walmart
Who’s this for? Though the brand doesn’t sell them in-store, Walmart offers several options for buying gold bars online, including by the gram or ounce. Many of the options also have free shipping.
Standout benefits: Unlike Costco, Walmart doesn’t require a membership to buy gold from its site, making this option more accessible.
Read more: How to buy gold from Walmart
Best for variety: JM Bullion
Standout benefits: JM Bullion also buys precious metals from customers.
JM Bullion Precious Metals
Information about JM Bullion Precious Metals has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
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Features
JM Bullion has been selling precious metals online since 2011, and sells gold, platinum and silver bullion and coins. In addition to selling precious metal products, the brand also buys gold from consumers and offers a gold IRA. For assistance, the brand’s Texas-based customer service team is available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST Monday through Friday.
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Shipping
Domestic orders of $499 or greater receive free shipping. Shipping on orders under $499 cost $9.95.
Pros
- Offers a gold IRA option
- Buys scrap precious metal ($1,000 minimum)
Cons
- Costs vary by payment type
- Higher free shipping limit than competitors
Best for free shipping: APMEX
Who’s this for? APMEX offers free shipping for all orders over $199 — typically an easy threshold to meet when purchasing precious metals.
Standout benefits: APMEX has been in business online since 2000, and is known for its excellent customer service with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
APMEX Precious Metals
Information about APMEX Precious Metals has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
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Features
APMEX is a longstanding gold dealer, selling precious metals online since 2000. It offers gold, silver and platinum in both bullion and coins. The brand offers plenty of educational resources on its website to help you make informed purchases. And, when its time to sell, APMEX also buys gold, silver and platinum from consumers.
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Shipping
Domestic orders of $199 or greater receive free shipping.
Pros
- Also buys gold and other precious metals from consumers
- Support can be reached by phone or via online chat
- Also offers Gold IRAs
Cons
- Prices vary by payment method
- Cancelled orders may be charged the greater of $50 or 5% of the order total
Best gold IRA: American Hartford Gold
Standout benefits: In addition to gold IRAs, American Hartford Gold also offers gold that can be shipped to you.
American Hartford Gold
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Initial Purchase Requirements
Minimum purchase requirement of $10,000
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Account Minimums
Minimum account balance of $10,000
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Fees
Annual IRA fee of $75 for accounts valued at $100,000 or less, $125 for accounts valued at $100,001 or more
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Storage fee varies with the depository but typically is a flat $100 annual storage fee in most cases
Pros
- A+ Better Business Bureau and AAA Business Consumer Alliance rating
- Orders are shipped free of charge
- Offers a free Gold & Silver Information Guide
- No initial fee for account setup
Cons
- Lack of educational resources on their site
- The website feels slightly dated and straightforward
Buying gold FAQs
Do you have to pay tax on gold?
If you buy physical gold and sell it for a profit later, you could owe capital gains taxes on the sale. Since the IRS considers gold bars collectible items, taxes are calculated on the sale using your marginal tax rate, up to 28%.
Is it a good idea to buy physical gold?
Buying physical gold can be one way to add another asset type to your portfolio. However, you’ll need to make a plan for securely storing it, as well as converting it into cash in the future.
How is a gold IRA taxed?
Like a traditional IRA, a gold IRA is taxed as ordinary income when you take a distribution from the account. Roth gold IRAs are also an option, and since these accounts use after-tax dollars to contribute, you won’t pay taxes on qualified distributions later.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every gold review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of gold products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best gold investing companies.
Our methodology
CNBC Select analyzed more than a dozen providers of physical gold products and gold IRAs, comparing them based on the following:
- Pricing and fees: All retailers on our list offer transparent pricing and competitive fee structures.
- Shipping: We considered the price and speed of shipping (if applicable)
- Ease of use and customer support: The gold companies on this list all had strong ratings from the Better Business Bureau, as well as numerous customer support channels.
- Educational resources: We gave preference to gold retailers that offered educational tools on precious metal investing.
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.