In March 2026, the price of gold (GC=F) reached $5,000 per ounce, so it’s no wonder that more and more people are thinking about investing in this precious metal. In fact, a 2025 Gallup poll found that 23% of Americans believe gold is the best long-term investment, up five points from last year.
But what is the best way to invest in gold? There are many options from buying physical gold coins to investing in stocks or mutual funds. Find out below where to invest in gold, the different options available and their fees.
Between December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2025, the price of gold rose from $1,062.25 to $4,339.64 — a 308 percent increase.
Investors can buy physical gold, exchange traded funds (ETFs) or stocks.
Some investments have added fees, such as storage costs.
There are many ways to invest in gold. Which one is best for you depends on your prior investment and financial goals.
| Minimum investment | Liquidity | The fee | Tax | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical sleep | $250+ | less | Dealer premium, storage | Accumulator Tax Rate |
| Gold ETF | $5 | high | Expenditure ratio | Capital Gains Tax |
| Gold Mutual Funds | $1,000+ | moderate | Administrative Fees | Capital Gains Tax |
| Gold stocks | $5 | high | Brokerage fees | Capital Gains Tax |
| Gold Futures and Options | Varies, but often $1,000+ | high | Contract Fees | Complex tax laws |
| Gold IRAs | $5,000+ | less | Custodian and storage fees | A tax-advantaged retirement account |
Learn more: Investing in gold? Here’s how to avoid the tax hit.
Best for: Long-term investors who want a physical asset.
Owning physical gold is one of the most popular forms of precious metal investment. You can buy gold coins or bars and store them as a personal hedge against inflation. No need to worry about brokerage firms.
Learn more: Gold hoarding myths busted.
Best for: Hand-off investors
An ETF is a fund that tracks and mimics the performance of gold. For example, the SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) ETF tracks the price of gold bullion.
With an ETF, you can buy and sell shares just like a stock. As a result, ETFs are more liquid than physical gold, and you can buy fractional shares, or smaller pieces of ETFs.
Best for: Investors who want to diversify with precious metals.
Mutual funds invest in a range of stocks, but may include gold-related companies, such as mining corporations. There are passive funds that track the gold market index and active funds that try to outperform the market.
Higher fees than ETFs, especially for actively managed funds
Investments can be more volatile than the spot price of gold.
Less liquid than ETFs
Best for: Investors are comfortable with high levels of risk.
With stocks, you can invest in companies related to the gold industry, such as mining companies or businesses that use gold in their manufacturing processes. Stocks are more liquid than physical gold, but you’re investing in a particular company, and you may be exposed to a higher level of risk.
More liquid than physical gold
May benefit from rising gold prices and company growth.
High profit potential
More volatile than ETFs or mutual funds
Even if the price of gold rises, it can fall.
High risk of losing money
Gold futures and options
Best for: Experienced Investor
Gold futures and options are not for the faint of heart. They are best suited for very experienced investors who are financially stable and can handle a high level of risk.
Gold futures and options are derivative contracts that allow investors to speculate on the future price of gold without needing to own the gold. Futures contracts lock in the price at which you buy or sell in the future, while gold options give you the ability to sell at a certain price on a certain date (but you don’t have to sell at that price).
Investors use leveraged investing, meaning they invest with borrowed money. This allows you to invest with less upfront capital, but it significantly increases the risk of losses.
Read more: What will happen if all the gold in the world is sold tomorrow?
Best for: Retirement Focused Investors
A gold IRA is a type of self-directed IRA that allows you to invest in physical gold in a tax-advantaged retirement account. You can take advantage of benefits like tax-deductible contributions and tax-free account growth, but these accounts are subject to the same rules as traditional IRAs. For example, you have the same contribution limits to a gold IRA as you do to a traditional IRA, and you’re required to make required minimum distributions (RMDs).
Read more: Gold IRAs vs Physical Gold: Which is the Better Investment?
Gold IRAs require your own work with a custodian, and you have to store your gold with an approved vault, which increases your overall costs.
High custodial and storage fees
Strict IRS rules
Less liquid than stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds
If you want to diversify your portfolio and avoid inflation, gold can serve as a useful tool. It can provide stability as a widely accepted store of value, helping to give you peace of mind if the stock market is volatile.
There are many different ways to invest in gold, from buying gold coins to opening a gold IRA. Which one is best for you depends on your financial goals and investment horizon.
Learn more: How to Invest in Precious Metals
As of March 22, 2026, gold was about $4,500 an ounce, so $1,000 would buy you 0.22 ounces of gold.
According to the National Mining Association, the price of gold in 2006 was $603.46 per ounce. If you invested $10,000 in gold in 2006, you would have purchased 16.57 ounces of gold. As of March 22, 2026, this investment will be worth approximately $74,570.
Read more: How much gold will $1 million buy at different points in history?
Although gold prices are likely to ebb and flow next year, most financial analysts expect gold to remain strong due to economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and increased retail demand.