Augusta Precious Metals Fees and Minimum (2026): What You Really Pay
Augusta Precious Metals fees, in one paragraph: the minimum is $50,000. The account itself costs $50 to set up and $235 a year ($125 to the custodian, Equity Trust, and $110 for storage and insurance), and Augusta says it pays those yearly fees for up to 10 years on every account. Augusta charges no management fee of its own. The cost that matters most is not on any fee list: the spread on the metal. Here is each cost, with the math.
Every Augusta Precious Metals fee, line by line
These are the account fees Augusta lists in its own FAQ. They are flat, so they do not grow as your balance grows.
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Who pays under Augusta's offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account setup | $50, once | Custodian | You |
| Custodian fee | $125 a year | Equity Trust Company | Augusta, for up to 10 years |
| Storage and insurance | $110 a year | The depository | Augusta, for up to 10 years |
| Augusta management fee | None | n/a | n/a |
| Shipping and insurance to storage | Covered on qualifying purchases | USPS, fully insured | Augusta |
| Spread on the metal | Not published as a percentage | Built into the price | You, on every purchase |
Without any offer, that is $285 in the first year and $235 a year after. Augusta's FAQ says: “Every account also receives up to 10 years of custodian and depository fees paid by Augusta.” Note the words “up to”. Ask how many years your account gets and have it written into your paperwork.
Source: Augusta Precious Metals, FAQ (fees, custodian, shipping, buyback). Checked October 6, 2026.
10 years of account fees: Augusta vs Birch Gold vs Goldco
Here is what each company's published account fees add up to over 10 years on a $50,000 account, if fees stay where they are today. This leaves out the spread, which comes next.
| Company | 10-year account fees | How we got it |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta, if your account gets the full 10 years | $50 | $50 setup; Augusta pays $235 a year |
| Augusta, with no fee offer at all | $2,400 | $50 + $235 x 10 |
| Birch Gold Group, transfer over $50,000 | $2,195 | $80 one-time + $235 x 9 (first year paid by Birch) |
| Goldco, non-segregated storage | $2,300 | $50 + ($125 admin + $100 storage) x 10 |
What it means: on account fees alone, the gap between Augusta and the others can be more than $2,000 over 10 years, if your account gets the full 10 years. That is the real value of the offer, and the reason to confirm the number of years in writing.
What it does not mean: it does not make Augusta the cheapest overall. Account fees are the small part of the bill. The spread on a $50,000 purchase can be larger than all 10 years of fees, as the next table shows.
Sources: Augusta FAQ; Birch Gold, Precious Metals IRA; Goldco, gold IRA cost. Calculations are ours. Full details in our Birch Gold review and Goldco review.
The spread: the biggest Augusta cost, at any company
The spread is the gap between what you pay for a coin and what it would sell for the same day. Augusta explains it plainly on its own site: “A 5% spread on a $100,000 investment means gold needs to rise just $5,000 in value before you break even.” Augusta says it adds no extra commission to the prices it lists, but it does not publish a spread percentage, so the only way to know yours is to ask.
To show why this matters more than the fee list, we put different spreads next to Augusta's $235 in yearly fees:
| Spread | Cost on $50,000 | Cost on $100,000 | Same as this many years of $235 fees (on $50,000) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3% | $1,500 | $3,000 | 6.4 years |
| 5% | $2,500 | $5,000 | 10.6 years |
| 8% | $4,000 | $8,000 | 17.0 years |
| 10% | $5,000 | $10,000 | 21.3 years |
The takeaway: a 5% spread on $50,000 is $2,500, more than 10 years of account fees. One percentage point of spread on $50,000 is $500, about two years of fees. When you compare companies, compare the price per coin against spot, not just the fee list.
Proof and premium coins: these usually carry bigger spreads than plain bullion coins and bars. If you are offered one, ask why it fits your goal better than bullion, and what it would sell for today.
Sources: Augusta, Gold IRA: real costs (updated September 11, 2026); Augusta FAQ. Our gold IRA fees guide covers spreads across the industry.
The $50,000 Augusta minimum, explained
Augusta requires a first purchase of at least $50,000, and the rule is the same for a gold IRA and for a cash purchase of metals delivered to you. There is no maximum. It is one of the highest minimums among the large gold IRA companies, and it is the main reason Augusta is not the right company for everyone.
| Company | Minimum | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta Precious Metals | $50,000 | Augusta review |
| Goldco | $25,000 | Goldco review |
| American Hartford Gold | $10,000 IRA | Augusta vs AHG |
| Birch Gold Group | $5,000 | Birch Gold review |
Moving money from a 401(k), TSP or 403(b) counts toward the minimum. See how each rollover works: 401(k) and IRA, TSP, 403(b) and 457(b).
Buyback, price lock and refunds: the terms that affect your cost
| Term | What Augusta says |
|---|---|
| Price lock | Your price is locked once the order is confirmed by phone and payment is received. |
| Money-back guarantee | 100%, 7 days, when the account is opened. |
| Low-mintage price check | A one-time option to revise the order to a lower price within 7 days. |
| Selling back | No separate liquidation fee. Never declined a buyback, but cannot legally guarantee one; policy can change. About three weeks to complete. |
| Highest buyback price window | 24 hours to cancel if another dealer offers more. |
| Time to open and fund | Usually one to two weeks. |
Source: Augusta Precious Metals, FAQ. Checked October 6, 2026.
Five questions to ask Augusta about fees
- How many years of fees will my account get?The offer is “up to 10 years”. Ask for the exact number for your purchase, in writing.
- What is the price of each coin, and the spot price right now?That gives you the spread in dollars. Ask for both in writing on the same quote.
- Are these bullion or proof and premium coins?If premium, ask what the same coin would sell for today.
- Is the storage segregated or commingled?Augusta says metals are held fully allocated. Ask which depository, by name.
- What would you pay me if I sold back next year?There is no liquidation fee, but the buyback price is what decides your return.
Augusta's free one-on-one web conference is the place to ask these before you buy anything. It is also a good test: a company that answers them clearly is one you can work with.
Are Augusta's fees good value?
If you are moving $50,000 or more, Augusta's account fees are hard to beat, as long as your account gets the full 10 years of fees paid. The decision then comes down to the spread, and Augusta is open that a spread exists and how it works. If you have less than $50,000, Augusta is not an option, and that is fine: compare the best gold IRA companies on minimums instead.
Below $50,000, or want platinum or palladium? Our Augusta Precious Metals alternatives guide covers the companies that fit those cases.
Augusta Precious Metals fees: frequently asked questions
How much does Augusta Precious Metals charge per year?
Augusta lists a $50 one-time setup fee, a $125 yearly custodian fee and a $110 yearly storage and insurance fee, so $285 in the first year and $235 a year after that. Augusta says every account gets up to 10 years of the custodian and storage fees paid by Augusta. Augusta does not charge its own management fee on the IRA.
What is the Augusta Precious Metals minimum investment?
Augusta requires a minimum first purchase of $50,000, for both IRA and cash (non-IRA) purchases. There is no maximum.
Does Augusta really pay 10 years of fees?
Augusta's FAQ says every account receives up to 10 years of custodian and depository fees paid by Augusta. The words up to matter: ask how many years your account will get and get it in writing before you fund. The $50 setup fee is not part of that offer.
Does Augusta charge a markup on gold?
Like every dealer, Augusta earns money on the price of the metal it sells you. Augusta says it adds no extra commission to the prices it lists and that it walks through all costs, including the spread, before any purchase. Ask for the price of each coin and the spot price at that moment, in writing.
Are there fees to sell gold back to Augusta?
Augusta says there is no separate liquidation fee when it agrees to buy back your metals, and that it has never declined a buyback. It also says it cannot legally guarantee future buybacks and that the policy can change.
Is Augusta worth it if I have less than $50,000?
You cannot open an account with Augusta below $50,000. Companies with lower minimums include Birch Gold Group, American Hartford Gold and Goldco. See our reviews and the fee comparison on this page.
See Augusta's numbers for your account
Fees are only half the picture. Ask for the price per coin, the spot price and the number of fee-free years in writing, then decide. For balances of $50,000 or more, the free kit is the easiest way to start.
Get the Free Gold IRA Info KitFor balances of $50,000 or more.
Or read our full Augusta Precious Metals review and complaints record