Palladium might not be as famous as gold or silver, but it’s one of the most valuable precious metals out there — and it’s used in all kinds of everyday stuff. From car parts to electronics to jewelry, palladium is a key ingredient in things that help our world run smoothly. It’s part of the platinum group of metals and has a bright, silvery look that resists tarnish, which also makes it great for jewelry and dental work.
Most of the palladium out there ends up in catalytic converters, where it helps clean up car emissions, but you’ll also find it in phones, laptops, medical gear, and high-end watches. And because it’s in such high demand, even small amounts can be worth a lot. So if you’ve heard about people stealing catalytic converters, that’s why.
If you have palladium jewelry, dental scrap, or even industrial leftovers, it could be worth turning into cash — here’s how to sell palladium and what it might be worth.
But first, let’s start with the basics.
Symbol: Pd
Atomic Number: 46
Group: Platinum Group Metals (PGMs)
As all of the elements in the platinum group metals (PGMs), Palladium is shiny, silvery-white, corrosion-resistant, and highly valuable. Palladium is also very light compared to platinum, making it especially useful in applications where both durability and low weight are important.
Discovered in 1803 by British chemist William Hyde Wollaston, palladium was named after the asteroid Pallas. It’s one of the best metals for absorbing hydrogen. With rising demand and limited supply, palladium has become one of the world’s most sought-after precious metals.
Appearance: Palladium is a shiny, silvery-white metal that resists corrosion.
Texture: It can appear as a smooth, metallic bar or as a rough, crystalline nugget, depending on its form.
Physical Properties: Palladium is soft and ductile when annealed and is greatly increased in strength and hardness when cold-worked.
Palladium shows up in more everyday items than most people realize. While it’s a precious metal like gold or silver, its real value lies in its usefulness. Because of that usefulness, you can find it in many (fairly) common items. Couple with its value, collecting and selling palladium can be quite profitable. Below are a few items that contain palladium:
Catalytic converters (primary use of palladium): Palladium helps convert harmful gases (like CO and NOx) into less harmful emissions. It’s located on the interior chamber of the catalytic converter (you’d need to take the cover off and then extract the precious metal).
Source: eTrailer
Catalytic converter theft has been a significant issue in recent years due to the valuable precious metals they contain, including palladium. In 2022, the United States experienced a peak in catalytic converter thefts, with over 64,000 incidents reported nationwide. However, it has reduced significantly in the past few years.
The reduction in thefts can be attributed to several factors, including increased law enforcement efforts, new legislation imposing stricter regulations on scrap metal dealers, and a decrease in the market value of the precious metals found in catalytic converters. These combined measures have made it more difficult for thieves to profit from stolen converters, leading to a significant decline in such crimes.
Even so, you’ll see it in popular TV shows or movies. For example, Jesse is shown trying to sell a catalytic converter to a junkyard in Season 1 of Breaking Bad.
| Type | Palladium Content | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|
| Small Car (gas engine) | ~0.1–0.2 oz | ~$100–$200 |
| Large SUV/Truck | ~0.2–0.3 oz | ~$200–$300 |
| Hybrid vehicles (Toyota Prius, etc.) | Up to 0.4 oz | ~$300–$400 |
Mobile phones
Laptops and computers
Televisions
Capacitors and connectors
Hard disk drives
Palladium is used in tiny amounts in circuit boards and as plating for connectors due to its conductivity and resistance to corrosion.
| Source | Pd Content | Quantity Needed | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| MLCCs (ceramic capacitors) | Trace | ~5,000+ pcs | ~$50–$100 |
| Circuit Boards | Trace | 1 lb mixed boards | ~$1–$5 |
| Hard Drives (connectors) | Trace | ~10+ drives | <$5 Pd total |
Palladium is only a minor part of the value in scrap electronics — but it’s not alone. Gold and copper are often found in much larger quantities, especially in older circuit boards, connectors, and processors. That’s why bulk e-waste recycling can really pay off.
That said, we don’t want you to ship us a pile of old computer parts in the hopes that we can find something useful. You’ll need to go through it yourself first.
If you’ve got a bin of old phones, laptops, motherboards, or other electronics lying around, don’t toss them — they could contain recoverable amounts of precious metals like gold, palladium, silver, and platinum, along with valuable copper. Whether you’re clearing out old tech or dealing with outdated equipment, we’ll buy its contents! Send it our way and let us help you turn that forgotten junk into real cash.
Wedding bands
Engagement rings
Earrings
White gold (often alloyed with palladium instead of nickel)
Rings or bracelets (especially hypoallergenic or high-end items)
| Type | Palladium Content | Weight Estimate | Estimated Scrap Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pd950 Ring | 95% | 10g (0.32 oz) | ~$300 |
| Pd500 Ring (lower purity) | 50% | 10g (0.32 oz) | ~$150 |
| White gold w/ Pd alloy | 5–10% | 10g | ~$25–$50 |
| Bracelet (Pd950) | 25g (0.8 oz) | 95% | ~$750 |
| Luxury Watch (case & band) | Minimal | — | Varies: often < $100 in Pd |
Palladium jewelry offers a sleek, modern aesthetic combined with durability and hypoallergenic properties, making it a popular choice for various pieces. Its natural white luster doesn’t tarnish over time, eliminating the need for rhodium plating. Common palladium jewelry items include wedding bands, engagement rings, bracelets, and earrings.
Tip: Check for Pd950 or Pd999 stamps for pure pieces. Weigh in grams and convert to troy ounces (1 oz ≈ 31.1g).
Porcelain-Fused-to-Palladium Crowns: These restorations combine the aesthetic appeal of porcelain with the strength of a palladium metal substructure, providing a natural look with robust support.
Palladium Dental Bridges: Bridges utilizing palladium alloys offer strong and reliable solutions for replacing missing teeth.
Note that older work is more likely to be Pd-based than newer porcelain or ceramic-only options.
| Type | Palladium Content | Avg Weight | Estimated Scrap Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Crown | 30–80% | 1–2g | ~$10–$50 each |
| Bridge (3+ units) | 30–80% | 5–10g | ~$50–$250 |
| Full mouth restorations | High Pd alloys | 20–30g | ~$300–$800 |
If you have old dental restorations or scrap containing palladium, their value can certainly add up. And of course, we buy them!
Surgical instruments
Pacemakers and other implantable devices (rare but possible due to biocompatibility)
Luxury watch cases and components (used by brands like Rolex and Omega)
Hydrogen purification membranes
Fuel cells
Chemical processing equipment
| Item | Pd Content | Est. Value |
|---|---|---|
| Pd-coated mesh/fabric | High | Market/melt |
| Pd sponge or powder | Pure | $1,000+/oz |
| Fuel cell membranes | Trace–moderate | Depends on type |
Jewelry: Stamped with “Pd”, “Palladium”, or a number like 950 or 999
Example: Pd950 means 95% palladium
Dental scrap: May have no marking — often needs testing
Electronics: Usually not marked, but found in MLCCs (multi-layer ceramic capacitors), circuit boards, and connectors
Acid test kits (can help distinguish palladium from platinum or white gold)
XRF analyzer (used by pros; gives instant metal composition)
At Cash for Gold Mailer, we use an XRF analyzer to determine whether your items are palladium, and what the purity of the items are.
An XRF analyzer (short for X-ray fluorescence analyzer) is one of the fastest and most accurate ways to test for palladium in metals. It’s a handheld or benchtop device that uses low-level X-rays to determine the exact metal composition of an object — without damaging it.
That allows us to quickly and accurately test your metals — including for palladium.
Check market price
As of May 2025, Palladium trades around $1,000/oz. That price fluctuates though, so it’s always a good idea to look up current market prices.
Weigh your item
First, you’ll need to separate the palladium from the other metals as much as you can. From there, you can isolate the metal to calculate the purity, and you’ll first want to know how much the items weighs.
Example: 10g ring marked Pd950 (95%) = 9.5g palladium ≈ 0.306 oz
If Pd = $1,000/oz → Value = $1,000 * .95 * 0.306 = $290.70
If you’ve got palladium items—you can turn them into cash quickly and easily with Cash for Gold Mailer. We make it simple: just request a free, insured mailer, send in your items, and our team will evaluate them based on current market prices. There’s no pressure to sell, and if you accept the offer, we’ll send your payment fast. If not, we’ll return your items at no cost. It’s a hassle-free way to find out what your palladium is really worth.
Ready to get started? Request a free mailer now!
POSTED IN: Catalytic Converters, Dental Gold, Dental Palladium, Palladium Prices, Sell Electronics, Sell Medical Devices, Sell Palladium, Sell Watches
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