Nisab 2026 UK: How to Calculate the Zakat Threshold for Gold and Silver

The nisab is the minimum threshold of wealth that must be reached before Zakat becomes obligatory. If your zakatable wealth falls below the nisab, you are not required to pay Zakat that year — though voluntary charity (Sadaqah) is always encouraged.

Understanding how to calculate the nisab correctly in 2026 is the first step in any accurate Zakat calculation.

What is the nisab based on?

The nisab is derived from the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who specified two thresholds:

Gold nisab: 20 mithqal (dinars) of gold = approximately 85 grams of pure gold

Silver nisab: 200 dirhams of silver = approximately 595 grams of pure silver

These are the weights specified in the majority scholarly opinion. The Hanafi school uses slightly different measures in some texts (87.48g for gold), but 85g is the figure adopted by most contemporary Islamic financial institutions, including the Islamic Development Bank and the majority of UK Islamic councils.

Two nisabs — which should you use?

This is one of the most common questions UK Muslims ask, and there is genuine scholarly difference of opinion.

The gold nisab (85g) produces a higher threshold. In 2026, with gold at approximately £75/g, the gold nisab is roughly:

85g × £75 = £6,375

The silver nisab (595g) produces a lower threshold. In 2026, with silver at approximately £0.85/g, the silver nisab is roughly:

595g × £0.85 = £506

The difference is enormous. Using the gold nisab, someone with £5,000 in savings pays no Zakat. Using the silver nisab, they are obligated to pay.

Scholar guidance on which to use

For gold and silver themselves: Use the respective nisab — gold against the gold nisab, silver against the silver nisab.

For cash, savings, and investments: Scholars differ significantly:

• Many contemporary scholars (including those at the European Council for Fatwa and Research) recommend the gold nisab as a more stable standard. They argue the silver nisab has become so low in purchasing power relative to its 7th-century significance that applying it to modern savings is anachronistic.

• Other scholars (notably many Hanafi scholars) recommend the silver nisab on the basis that it is the more cautious approach — it results in more Muslims paying Zakat, which is considered preferable to risk leaving Zakat unpaid.

• The UK-based National Zakat Foundation advises using the silver nisab for greater Zakat coverage.

There is no single answer accepted by all scholars. The safest approach for the individual Muslim who wishes to maximise their Zakat obligation (and minimise risk of leaving Zakat unpaid) is to use the silver nisab. If you prefer the more conservative scholarly opinion on threshold, use the gold nisab.

Consult your local imam or Islamic scholar if you remain unsure.

How to look up current gold and silver prices in 2026

Nisab is calculated using current market prices at the time of your Zakat calculation — not historical averages. Live prices are available from:

• The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA): lbma.org.uk
• Financial data providers such as Kitco or BullionVault
• AmanahSuite's Zakat Calculator, which fetches live gold and silver prices automatically

Gold prices fluctuate daily. If you are calculating near a Ramadan peak (when gold prices are sometimes elevated due to demand), be aware that the nisab will be higher than at other times of year.

Worked example: calculating your nisab

On your Zakat calculation date in 2026:

Gold spot price: £76.50 per gram Silver spot price: £0.87 per gram

Gold nisab = 85g × £76.50 = £6,502.50 Silver nisab = 595g × £0.87 = £517.65

Your total zakatable wealth (savings + gold + investments - immediate debts): £8,200

Is Zakat due?

• Against gold nisab: £8,200 > £6,502.50 → Yes, Zakat is due
• Against silver nisab: £8,200 > £517.65 → Yes, Zakat is due

In this case, both methods give the same answer.

Zakat due = £8,200 × 2.5% = £205

What if you are right at the threshold?

If your zakatable wealth is exactly at the nisab threshold, Zakat is due — the nisab is the minimum at which Zakat becomes obligatory, not a floor below which you are exempt.

If your wealth fluctuates around the nisab throughout the year, the hawl (lunar year) restarts each time your wealth dips below nisab and rises above it again. Zakat is due at the end of a hawl during which your wealth remained consistently above nisab.

Checking nisab for gold and silver you own

If you own gold or silver (jewellery, coins, bars), the nisab check works differently:

• Compare your total pure gold against the gold nisab of 85g (not the monetary value)
• If you own 90g of pure gold, you are above the gold nisab regardless of price
• Only then calculate the Zakat value: 90g × price × 2.5%

Many Muslims incorrectly calculate the nisab in money and compare it to the money value of their gold — this gives the same result mathematically, but understanding the underlying 85g standard is important for edge cases.

The nisab and other asset types

| Asset type | Nisab standard to use | |---|---| | Cash savings | Silver nisab (conservative) or gold nisab (scholarly debate) | | Gold jewellery | Gold nisab (85g pure gold) | | Silver | Silver nisab (595g pure silver) | | Business inventory | Silver nisab | | Investments | Gold or silver nisab (scholarly debate) | | Agricultural produce | Separate nisab of 5 wasaq (approximately 653kg) | | Livestock | Each type has its own nisab (40 sheep, 30 cattle, 5 camels) |

Calculate your Zakat with live nisab — free

AmanahSuite's Zakat Calculator fetches live gold and silver prices automatically, lets you choose your nisab method (gold or silver), and checks your total zakatable wealth against the correct threshold. Both Simple and Comprehensive calculation modes available.

Calculate at amanahsuite.com/zakat — no account required.