If you’re comparing gold bars for sale in the UK, here’s the fast way to decide with confidence.
Buying physical bars is straightforward when you focus on three things: the refiner, the bar’s identifiers, and your exit route. We refine in London and mark every bar with fineness and a unique serial. Minted bars ship in sealed assay cards; cast bars carry a stamped serial and the Baird hallmark. Our team verifies metal using XRF on receipt and ICP‑OES in the lab, and we use fire assay when we need a destructive test.
Below is your practical guide to choosing sizes that fit your budget, with clear tax basics and storage options that protect your holding without stress. You will also see how our account setup and delivery options make it easy to move from research to ownership, with support if you need it. Use it to shortlist gold bars for sale that match your plan.
What Size Gold Bar Should You Buy for Your Budget and Exit Plan?
Under £1,000: 1 g–10 g or ¼–1 oz. Easiest entry with higher per‑gram cost and flexibility for staged selling.
£1,000–£5,000: 1 oz and 100 g. Strong liquidity with better per‑gram pricing.
£5,000+: 250 g–1 kg. Lowest per‑gram cost; decide storage and exit before you buy.
Premiums per gram fall as bars get larger. For liquidity, several identical 1 oz or 100 g bars are easier to place than one 1 kg piece. Compare gold bars for sale in these bands to balance price and flexibility.
Minted vs Cast Gold Bars: Which Is Better for You?
Minted bars: sealed assay card with serial and fineness; best for 1 g–1 oz where presentation and recognisability help at resale. If a seal looks heat‑stressed or opened, buyers may test before purchase.
Cast bars: poured and stamped with serial, fineness and hallmark; best value per gram at 100 g–1 kg.
Operator tip: Keep the assay card intact; opening the pack can change bids at resale.
How Do You Avoid Counterfeit Gold Bars?
Buy recognised brands from LBMA members/refiners.
Match the serial on the bar or its assay card to your invoice.
Inspect the assay card seam and do not force it open.
Photograph the bar, card and invoice on arrival for your records.
Do You Pay VAT or Capital Gains Tax on Gold Bars in the UK?
Is VAT charged on investment gold bars in the UK?
No. HMRC exempts qualifying investment gold from VAT. HMRC defines investment gold bars as 995 fineness or higher and of a weight accepted by bullion markets. Eligible gold bars for sale meet this definition.
Do gold bars qualify for Capital Gains Tax exemption?
Gold bars do not have the UK legal‑tender status that gives many UK gold coins their CGT advantage. You may owe CGT on gains above your allowance when you sell gold bars. If tax treatment matters to your plan, combine bars for weight with coins for CGT efficiency.
*This guide is for general information. It is not financial or tax advice. Speak to a professional adviser about your situation.
Should You Store Gold Bars at Home or in a Vault?
We hold your bars allocated and segregated in your name and we insure them while stored. Selling from vault keeps custody intact, so placement is usually faster than send-ins from home.
Prefer to build exposure first? Unallocated metal sits as a custody claim until you convert to allocated bars or sell back.
Trust Matters: Refinery, LBMA Membership, and Market Integrity
Baird & Co. is an LBMA Full Member, and we publish membership and compliance documents on our site. We refine and assay in‑house, with quality assurance that includes recognised testing methods. For investors, that means the brand, serialisation, and documentation behind each bar come from a team that handles the full chain.
LBMA’s Gold Bar Integrity (GBI) programme uses digital bar identifiers and a shared ledger to improve traceability and authentication across refiners, vaults and market participants. As the ecosystem scales, investors should benefit from improved traceability and assurance. Buying gold bars for sale from an LBMA member gives you recognised standards from refinery to vault.
How Do You Buy Gold Bars from Baird Mint (Step by Step)?
Create an account and verify ID.
Choose gold bars for sale by size and finish.
Select delivery or vaulting. We dispatch on cleared funds to your verified address. Bank transfer suits larger orders.
When Your Bar Arrives: Quick Checks
When your gold bars for sale arrive, run these checks.
Unbox smart: open the shipping box on a table, keep every insert and the outer label until you have checked the serials.
Match serials: the unique serial on the bar or its assay card must match your invoice.
Inspect the seal: the blister seam should be clean with no signs of heat stress or openings.
Visuals: check fineness and hallmark are sharp. Light marks on cast bars are normal. Flag unusual clouding or trapped debris inside a sealed card.
Do not open the assay card. If you suspect damage, contact us first. Opening the pack can change how buyers treat the bar at resale.
File your documents: keep the invoice, bar list and emails together. You will need them for audit and at disposal.
Closing Section: Ready to Buy Gold Bars With Confidence?
Open your account, view gold bars for sale across sizes from 1 g to 1 kg, and choose delivery to your address or insured vault storage. If you want one‑to‑one guidance, our team is on the phone and at the Hatton Garden showroom to help you compare sizes, storage, and next steps. Prefer face-to-face? Book an appointment at Hatton Garden via +44 (0)20 7474 1000 or sales@bairdmint.com and we’ll talk through sizes, storage and sell-back in person.
Next step: Create your account, shortlist your preferred sizes, and complete checkout with delivery or vaulting. Your Baird Mint team is ready to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which gold bar size is best for beginners?
Most first‑time buyers start with mid‑size bars. These sizes balance flexibility at resale and per‑gram cost. If you expect to sell in stages, hold several identical units rather than one large bar. Browse sizes to compare options.
Are gold bars VAT‑free in the UK?
Yes. HMRC exempts qualifying investment gold from VAT.
Do gold bars qualify for CGT exemption like some coins?
No. CGT exemption applies to many UK legal‑tender coins such as Sovereigns and Britannia's. You may owe CGT on gains above your allowance when you sell gold bars.
How fast can I sell back?
From vault, it is typically faster because custody is intact and already verified. From home, allow time for check in and verification before pricing is confirmed.
Is it safe to buy gold bars online?
Yes. Buy from established, LBMA-affiliated brands, look for serialised bars in intact packaging, use secure delivery to your verified address, and ensure KYC is completed before release. These checks apply when you buy gold bars for sale online.
