How to Ship and Send Gold Scrap

Last Updated: April 23, 2026

If you’re looking to sell unwanted gold, you’re in luck – buyers are everywhere! But not all gold buyers are created equal. It’s important to vet your options first, so you can reap the highest possible payout. While in-person buyers (such as cash-for-gold stores, pawn shops, or kiosks at the mall) offer the convenience of on-the-spot payments, they have additional overhead and tend to make low offers for your gold to ensure they make a profit.

Working directly with a precious metal refinery is the best way to get the maximum value for your gold or other precious metals (like silver, platinum or palladium). Always make sure that the refinery you’re working with offers free and insured shipping (hint – Garfield Refining!).

Shipping Gold

One of the perks of shipping gold directly to a refinery is that you can send your gold as-is. There’s no need to clean or polish your material before sending.

Along with your shipment, you’ll need to provide some basic information including your contact info and your payment preference details. You’ll likely need to fill out a form or two, but any paperwork required should be pretty straightforward.

Before committing to a gold buyer, verify that they’ll cover the cost of shipping and that you’ll be provided with a shipping label and tracking number. At Garfield we provide free, fully-insured, trackable shipping. We can also provide you with a shipping container to use for your precious metal scrap. We offer containers in a wide range of sizes, from 6-oz jars to 30-gallon drums.

How to Ship Gold Coins Safely

If you’re shipping gold coins to sell to a refinery, there’s no need to worry about packaging them too carefully as they’ll ultimately be melted down anyway. However, if you’re shipping gold coins to someone as a gift or selling them to a collector, you’ll want to take extra care to protect them during transit.

Make sure to use some form of soft packing material such as tissue paper, paper towels or packing foam to provide cushion. Gold bullion coins have a high purity level (usually 22k-24k), therefore they can be fragile. Because pure gold is very soft, the coins can be easily scratched or dented upon impact. Using adequate packing materials can prevent coins from colliding into each other during transit, therefore preventing any scratches or dents.

When shipping gold in any form, we advise that you do not write “gold” or anything on the outside of your shipment to indicate that it contains precious metals. This helps keep your shipment confidential and makes it less of a target for theft.

Forms & Labels

Remember to include any required forms or paperwork in your gold shipment. Make sure to include your contact info so that you can be reached for any additional information that may be needed. If you’ve been provided with a shipping label, attach it to the package and drop it off at the nearest post office!

Garfield provides free downloadable shipping labels as soon as you fill out your shipping form. If you don’t have a printer to print out the label, you can always ask an employee at the post office to print it for you.

Shipping Gold Internationally

If you’re shipping gold to a buyer outside of the U.S., you may have to fill out a Customs or Declaration form. Most international post offices carry these forms, or you can download them online. For instance, all gold shipped to the U.S. from a foreign country must be accompanied by either a CN22 or CN23 U.S. Customs and Border Declaration form.

Traveling With Gold

With a refinery like Garfield who offers free, insured shipping, it’s easier than ever to sell your gold without traveling. But for one reason or another, you may find yourself getting ready to travel with gold. Maybe you’re moving abroad or gifting a family member some gold jewelry or bullion in person. Whatever the case may be, traveling with gold shouldn’t be a big deal as long as you’re prepared.

When traveling with gold coins or bullion overseas, make sure to contact the nearest office of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency. You’ll want to inform them of your gold quantity and the purpose of the transport. Be sure to ask for a written response that you can print and carry with you when going through Customs.

Depending on the country you’re visiting and the amount of gold you plan on transporting, you may also have to fill out Export Declaration forms. Be sure to do so accurately, as you could be subject to steep fines or possible imprisonment for stating false information.

Even when flying within the U.S., it’s a good idea to contact the TSA and/or Customs ahead of time and make sure that you’re adhering to the current regulations and laws for transporting gold. The last thing you want is for your gold scrap to be confiscated!

As a quick recap, here are the key things to remember when selling your gold scrap:

• Ship your gold in a secure package with a tracking number.
• Contact Customs before attempting to fly with your gold.
• Remember to complete all forms required by law.

All in all, shipping gold and/or traveling with precious metals doesn’t have to be a headache. As long as you take the proper steps to vet your gold buyer, choose a reliable shipping service and comply with the rules when traveling with gold, you’ll be set up for success.

At Garfield Refining, we’ve been facilitating secure shipments of gold and other precious metals for over a century. Over the years, our shipping process has evolved with the times to become as efficient and easy as possible. Keeping precious metal shipments safe and secure is our top priority, but we’re also committed to making the process seamless for our clients. If you’re considering selling precious metal scrap and have any questions about shipping, feel free to reach out anytime – we’d love to hear from you!

Are you looking to sell your unwanted precious metals or buy bullion? Look no further than Garfield Refining! Download a label to start your shipment today, or browse our bullion selection!