Gold IRA Fee Comparison Chart 2026: Every Company Side by Side
Compare setup fees, annual custodian costs, storage fees, bullion markup ranges, minimums, and fee-transparency notes across the Gold IRA companies reviewed on this site.
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Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page may be sponsor links. The site owners may be paid if customers request information from companies mentioned here. Fees can change, and quotes vary by account size, custodian, storage choice, metal type, and promotion. Customers should verify current written terms directly. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Annual custodian and storage costs cannot be reduced to one range: current named schedules include both flat and value-tiered structures. GoldStar Trust’s published commingled example is $215 a year at any balance, while Equity Trust’s totals rise with the account value. Setup fees and dealer bullion markups vary more widely still, so the headline fee rarely reflects the true total cost of ownership.
Source: the fees benchmark, compiled from named current custodian and depository fee schedules. Provider-specific, not an industry average; verify current written terms directly.
Interactive Gold IRA Fee Comparison Chart
This chart uses best-available public and article-sourced fee ranges. It is not a live provider quote. Use it to prepare better questions before requesting written terms.
| Company | Minimum | Setup | Annual admin + storage | Storage | Markup / spread notes | Fee transparency | Annual drag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta Precious Metals Research notes | $50,000 | $275 first-year total | $225/year recurring | $100/year pooled | ≈5% standard bullion | Published fee sheet | — | Flat-dollar schedule. Promotional fee offsets may vary by account size and offer terms. |
| Goldco Research notes | $25,000 | ≈$50 | ≈$125/year custodian | ≈$100/year | Not published | Partial; quote-dependent markups | — | Customers should request written spread, custodian, storage, and buyback details before funding. |
| Birch Gold Group Research notes | $5,000 | ≈$50 | ≈$125/year | ≈$110/year | Not published | Partial; not fully itemized | — | Broad product catalog; customers should compare standard bullion vs premium products carefully. Birch publishes conflicting storage figures on its own site: the main IRA page and FAQ show $110 (a $235 recurring total), while the gold-ira and silver-ira sub-pages show $100. Checked 7 September 2026. |
| Noble Gold Research notes | $20,000 | $50 one-time (+$30 wire) | $125/year maintenance | $160/year | Not published | Publishes a full fee schedule, but two conflicting versions | — | Noble Gold IRA minimum is $20,000. Direct non-IRA purchases may use different minimums. Noble publishes two different schedules on its own site: the product page shows $50 setup and $160 storage ($285 recurring), while the Support page shows $80 setup and $150 segregated storage ($275 recurring). The Support page also cautions that an advertised $160 annual fee "typically refers to commingled storage", which it says it does not recommend, so the storage type behind the $160 product-page line is not stated by Noble. Checked 10 September 2026; obtain the current schedule in writing. |
| American Hartford Gold Research notes | $10,000 | ≈$50–$230 | $75–$125/year tiered | ≈$100/year | Own agreement: 1.00%–19.99% acquisition-cost spread | Partial; contractual ranges only | — | Promotions and fee waivers can change total cost; request current terms in writing. |
| Preserve Gold Research notes | Not published by the company | ≈$50, sometimes waived | $100–$175/year | ≈$100/year pooled | 4–9% on bullion | Partial; details by quote | — | Verify the current minimum, fee schedule, promotion terms, and spread before funding. |
| Lear Capital Research notes | $10,000 | Bundled first-year cost | $235–$285/year after first year | $110 non-segregated / $160 segregated | Own terms: 2%–35% acquisition-cost spread | Publishes a standalone fee schedule | — | Review total bundled cost, complaint record, and spread assumptions carefully. |
How to Read the Chart
- Setup fees are one-time account opening or first-year costs where public ranges are available.
- Annual admin + storage estimates combine recurring custodian and storage costs where the source material supports a combined view.
- Markup/spread notes matter because dealer spread can exceed years of annual fees under either a flat or a value-tiered schedule.
- Annual drag estimates fixed recurring fees as a percentage of the selected account size. It does not include markup, liquidation spread, taxes, RMDs, or market movement.
Methodology and Source Notes
The chart consolidates fee notes from this site’s provider reviews, the American Hartford Gold fees article, the Augusta Precious Metals fees article, public company materials, BBB/company-profile checks, and common public fee summaries. Where fees are quote-dependent, the chart uses ranges and directs customers to request written confirmation.
Customers should ask each provider for a written fee schedule, metals pricing against spot, storage type, buyback terms, promotion terms, and custodian/depository details before funds move. Customers should also speak to a financial or tax advisor before making rollover, tax, RMD, or distribution decisions.
Use this chart with the quote checklist
The fee chart shows comparison categories. The quote checklist shows what to verify in writing before committing funds.
Open the Gold IRA Quote Checklist →Embed or Cite This Chart
Source: 401ktogoldira.org Gold IRA Fee Comparison Chart 2026.
https://401ktogoldira.org/gold-ira-fee-comparison-chart/Article reviewed and edited by Daniel — independent precious-metals retirement researcher.
Further Reading
Gold IRA Company Comparison DatabaseCompare provider minimums, BBB records, storage notes, and buyback-policy prompts.
Gold IRA Quote ChecklistUse a 15-point checklist before comparing written provider quotes.
American Hartford Gold FeesReview one provider’s setup, storage, markup, and promotion details.