Please note that due to the heavy fluctuations in the gold market, sometimes we may not be able to honour the prices listed on the website.
Please note that due to the heavy fluctuations in the gold market, sometimes we may not be able to honour the prices listed on the website.
If you have ever stood at a bullion counter watching the price board tick over and wondered how much of your savings should sit in gold, you are asking the right question. It is one of the most searched questions in investing right now, and for good reason.
According to Mitrade.com, after surging to a record high above US$5,590 per ounce earlier in 2026 (around AUD $8,000 to AUD $8,200 depending on exchange rates in January 2026), gold has undergone a dramatic correction, briefly falling below the important US$4,000 psychological level for the first time in months.
Gold has traded near record highs through 2026, and more Australians are rethinking their mix of shares, property and precious metals.
According to the World Gold Council, gold has historically delivered positive returns across tightening, hold and easing environments, with no clear evidence that rising rates impair gold performance, when priced in AUD. Moreover, gold delivered a higher average 12-month forward return than Australian equities in every RBA regime.
We hear this question most days across our counter in Melbourne, and there is no single number that suits everyone. Your age, your goals and your risk appetite all shape the answer, and even the experts do not always agree.
Drawing on what we see from customers every week, and what the experts recommend, this guide walks through how much gold you should have in your investment portfolio in practice, and how Australians, whether just starting out or weighing up a visit to a Melbourne bullion dealer, can apply it to their own situation.
Ask five investment professionals this question, and you will get five different answers. That is normal. Gold allocation depends on your goals, your age, and how much risk you can stomach.
In our own conversations with buyers and sellers, here is where most respected voices in finance currently sit:
That spread exists because what percentage of the portfolio should be gold really depends on what you are protecting against. Investors worried about inflation and currency risk tend to sit higher. Those chasing growth tend to sit lower.
None of these figures is backed by any benchmark guideline(s). They are starting points built on decades of market data, worth treating as a range to work within rather than a single target to hit exactly.
Australian investors face a local twist on this question. Most of us are already loaded up on superannuation and residential property. Two assets that tend to move together more than we’d like.
Gold, priced in Aussie dollars, often marches to its own beat. When the ASX drops or the dollar weakens, gold has typically held firm or climbed. We have watched this play out through more than one downturn, and it is diversification earning its keep, though nothing’s guaranteed.
So, how much gold should Australians own?
A practical starting point sits between 5% and 15% of investable assets, whether that’s physical bullion or an ASX-listed gold fund. Closer to retirement, or already heavy in property and shares? Lean toward the top of that range.
Revisit that figure once a year, alongside your super statement, instead of setting it and forgetting it. Prices move, life circumstances change, and your allocation should shift with them.
Gold earns its place in a portfolio for reasons that have held up for decades:
During major market shocks, from the 2008 financial crisis to the 2020 pandemic, gold has often risen while shares fell sharply. That pattern is not guaranteed to repeat, but it explains why so many portfolios include some. We see this reflected in who walks through our door during volatile weeks. Investors have leaned on gold for these exact reasons since long before modern stock markets existed.
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There is no universal formula, but four factors matter most when working out how much gold I should own. These are the same questions we walk customers through before they buy.
Working through these four factors honestly, rather than copying a headline percentage from a fund manager, is what separates a considered allocation from a guess.
Physical bullion, coins and jewellery give you a tangible, insurable asset with no counterparty risk. Gold shares and exchange-traded funds offer easier buying and selling, and in some cases, dividends. Many experienced investors hold a mix of both, treating physical gold as the core holding and paper gold as the tactical layer. In our experience, most people who deal in physical gold value being able to hold and inspect what they own, rather than trading it as a line on a screen.
For Australian investors who value control and certainty, physical gold offers something an ETF cannot: a tangible asset held outside the financial system, free of ongoing management fees and immune to the counterparty risk that comes with fund structures. While ETFs offer convenience, physical bullion remains the choice for those who want their wealth in a form they can hold, verify, and sell for cash on their own terms.
| Factor | Physical Gold (bullion, coins, bars) | Gold ETFs (ASX-listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Direct, tangible ownership of the metal you can hold and store yourself. | Units in a fund; you never take possession of the metal. |
| Upfront cost | A dealer margin over the world spot price. We at Gold Buyers Sharma keep this margin lower than most and quote live pricing on our homepage and pricing page, with the best all-in price (including markup) confirmed by written quote in the store. | A brokerage fee per trade, plus the bid-ask spread on the exchange. |
| Ongoing cost | Secure storage and insurance only. No annual fund fee eroding your holding year after year. | An annual management fee (commonly around 0.15%–0.40%) charged every year you hold. |
| Liquidity | Sell in person for instant cash. A reputable local dealer weighs, tests, and settles on the spot. | High during ASX trading hours, with funds settling on a T+2 basis. |
| Counterparty risk | None once the metal is in your hands. | Exposure to the fund issuer and its custodian. |
| Wealth in a crisis | Functions independently of the financial system and electronic markets. | Depends on exchanges, brokers, and the fund remaining solvent and tradeable. |
| Privacy | Direct dealer transactions are discreet. | Held on record through your brokerage account. |
| Divisibility | Sell whole coins or bars as needed. | Sell any number of units. |
| Transparency | Weighed and tested in front of you, with a written quote provided. | Priced transparently against spot on the open market. |
| Tax (CGT) | Applies on disposal. A 50% discount currently applies to assets held 12 months or longer, though from 1 July 2027 this is set to be replaced by a cost-base indexation method under proposed reforms. Confirm current treatment with a registered tax adviser. | Applies on disposal. A 50% discount currently applies to assets held 12 months or longer, though from 1 July 2027 this is set to be replaced by a cost-base indexation method under proposed reforms. Confirm current treatment with a registered tax adviser. |
Note: Investment-grade gold in investment form, generally at least 99.5% fineness (99.9% for coins), is treated as precious metal and is GST-free in Australia, whereas jewellery and collectible coins are not. Capital gains tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and is subject to reforms proposed from 1 July 2027, so readers should confirm their position with a registered tax adviser.
Percentages are a useful starting point, but they can mislead you in a real crisis. Work out what you would actually need in gold ounces to cover three to six months of expenses, or to meet a specific goal, then let that figure guide your buying plan rather than a percentage alone. This approach tends to feel more concrete, especially for investors who have never bought bullion before.
Gold has held wealth through wars, inflation, and currency collapses for thousands of years. Whether your number lands at 5% or 20%, the metal itself has more than earned its seat at the table. From what we have seen over years of buying and selling, getting the allocation right for your situation lets gold quietly do its job for decades without ever asking for attention.
Gold Buyers Sharma provides certified gold products, transparent pricing, and trusted guidance for investors and travellers across Melbourne, Australia.