Zakat Calculator
Calculate Zakat on your savings, gold, silver, and business assets at the standard rate of 2.5%. The calculator uses the Nisab threshold to determine whether Zakat is due, and shows the total Zakat payable on your Zakatable assets.
What Is Zakat?
Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam — an obligatory annual payment of 2.5% on a Muslim's qualifying wealth. It is a form of purification and a way to redistribute wealth to those in need. Zakat is only due on wealth that has been held for one lunar year (Hawl) and that exceeds the Nisab threshold.
Zakat is not the same as Sadaqah (voluntary charity) or tax. It is a religious obligation calculated on specific asset classes: cash, gold, silver, business inventory, agricultural produce, livestock, and certain investments. This calculator covers the most common assets — cash, gold, silver, and business inventory.
Zakat Formula
Zakat = Total Zakatable Assets × 2.5%
Zakatable Assets = Cash + Gold Value + Silver Value + Business Inventory
Gold Value = Gold Grams × Price per Gram
Silver Value = Silver Grams × Price per Gram
- Nisab — the minimum wealth threshold. Zakat is only due if total assets exceed this.
- Gold Nisab — 87.48 grams of gold (approximately 7.5 tola)
- Silver Nisab — 612.36 grams of silver (approximately 52.5 tola)
- Rate — 2.5% (one-fortieth) of total Zakatable assets
Worked Example
Assets: $5,000 cash, 100 grams of gold at $75/gram, 0 silver, no business inventory:
Gold value = 100 × $75 = $7,500
Total Zakatable assets = $5,000 + $7,500 + $0 + $0 = $12,500
Gold Nisab = 87.48 × $75 = $6,561
Since $12,500 > $6,561, Zakat is due.
Zakat = $12,500 × 2.5% = $312.50
What Assets Are Zakatable?
Included in this calculator:
- Cash (in hand, bank accounts, savings)
- Gold (jewellery, coins, bars — above personal use limits)
- Silver (jewellery, coins, bars — above personal use limits)
- Business inventory (goods held for sale)
Not included (requires separate calculation):
- Investments in shares, mutual funds, retirement accounts (varies by opinion — consult a scholar)
- Agricultural produce (Ushr, different rate)
- Livestock (different calculation)
- Business receivables and payables (should be netted — this calculator treats business inventory as gross)
- Property held for personal use (not Zakatable)
- Property held for investment (should be valued at current market price — enter under "Business Inventory")
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nisab and how does it affect Zakat?
Nisab is the minimum threshold of wealth below which Zakat is not due. Two Nisab standards exist: 87.48 grams of gold or 612.36 grams of silver. Scholars differ on which to use — many recommend the silver Nisab because it is lower and results in more Zakat being paid. This calculator shows both so you can choose.
Is Zakat due on gold jewellery?
There is scholarly difference of opinion. The majority view (Hanafi, Hanbali, and one position of Shafi'i) is that Zakat is due on all gold and silver, including jewellery, regardless of whether it is worn. Some scholars exempt jewellery in regular use. Consult a scholar for your specific madhhab. This calculator assumes all gold and silver is Zakatable.
When is Zakat due?
Zakat becomes due when a Muslim has held wealth above the Nisab for one complete lunar year (Hawl). Most Muslims pay Zakat annually during Ramadan, but the due date depends on when the wealth first reached the Nisab. Use the same date each year for consistency. If wealth drops below Nisab and rises again, a new Hawl begins.
Should I use the gold or silver Nisab?
Scholars differ. Some say use the Nisab of the asset you hold most of — gold Nisab for gold-based wealth, silver Nisab for silver-based wealth. Others say use the silver Nisab because it is lower and more inclusive. A common practical approach: use the silver Nisab because it results in more Zakat being paid, which is the safer religious position. This calculator shows both so you can compare.
Are business receivables Zakatable?
Yes — money owed to a business from customers (receivables) is generally Zakatable if it is expected to be collected. The standard approach is to include receivable amounts as part of Zakatable assets (as if they were cash). Add them to the "Business Inventory" or "Cash" field depending on your record-keeping. Similarly, payables (money the business owes) are usually deducted before calculating Zakat.
Does this calculator replace a scholar's advice?
No. This calculator follows the majority position on most issues but cannot account for every scholarly difference of opinion. For complex situations — mixed halal/haram income, business partnerships, real estate investments, retirement accounts — consult a qualified Islamic scholar or a Zakat-specific calculator from a recognised Islamic authority. This tool is for basic educational and estimation purposes.