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Updated 2026

Buy Silver Online: Best Silver Dealers Compared (2026)

Silver is currently trading at $72.78/oz. Whether you are buying American Silver Eagles, Maple Leafs, silver bars, or junk silver, choosing the right dealer can save you a significant premium. We have compared the top six online silver dealers on pricing, selection, shipping, and buyback.

Silver premiums are higher than gold premiums as a percentage of spot price — expect to pay 10–20% over spot for popular coins like the American Silver Eagle. Comparing dealers before buying is essential to avoid overpaying.

Top Silver Dealers Compared

Dealer	Best For	Premium	Min Order	Shipping	Buyback
APMEX	Best Overall Selection	12–20% over spot	$100	Free over $199	Yes — competitive rates	Visit →
JM Bullion	Best for Beginners	10–18% over spot	None	Free over $199	Yes	Visit →
SD Bullion	Lowest Premiums	8–15% over spot	None	Free over $199	Yes	Visit →
Kitco Shop	Best for Canadian Buyers	12–20% over spot	None	Ships to US and Canada	Yes — global buyback	Visit →
Provident Metals	Best Value	10–17% over spot	None	Free over $199	Yes	Visit →
Gold.co.uk	Best for UK Buyers	12–22% over spot	None	Insured UK delivery	Yes	Visit →

Full Dealer Reviews

Top Pick

APMEX

Best Overall Selection

Premium Over Spot

12–20% over spot

Min Order

$100

Storage

Yes — Citadel vault program

Ships From

Ships from Oklahoma City, OK

PROS

+Widest silver selection online
+Reliable, fast US shipping
+Strong buyback program
+Trusted since 1999

CONS

-Premiums on the higher side for basic silver
-Website can overwhelm beginners

Shop at APMEX →

JM Bullion

Best for Beginners

Premium Over Spot

10–18% over spot

Min Order

None

Storage

No in-house storage

Ships From

Fast US shipping

PROS

+No minimum order
+Clear, beginner-friendly website
+Competitive premiums on popular coins
+Excellent customer support

CONS

-Smaller inventory than APMEX
-No storage program

Shop at JM Bullion →

SD Bullion

Lowest Premiums

Premium Over Spot

8–15% over spot

Min Order

None

Storage

Ships From

Ships from US warehouses

PROS

+Industry-leading low premiums
+Price-match guarantee
+Good for monster boxes and bulk silver bars
+Transparent pricing

CONS

-Smaller overall inventory
-Less polished website experience

Shop at SD Bullion →

Kitco Shop

Best for Canadian Buyers

Premium Over Spot

12–20% over spot

Min Order

None

Storage

Yes — Kitco Storage

Ships From

Montreal-based, CAD pricing available

PROS

+CAD and USD pricing
+Strong global buyback program
+Trusted brand since 1977
+Montreal or Zurich storage

CONS

-Premiums higher than discount dealers
-US buyers may prefer domestic dealers for speed

Shop at Kitco Shop →

Provident Metals

Best Value

Premium Over Spot

10–17% over spot

Min Order

None

Storage

Ships From

Ships from Texas

PROS

+Competitive pricing on silver rounds and bars
+Good bulk pricing
+Wide coin selection
+Easy checkout

CONS

-No storage option
-Customer service response can be slow during high volume

Shop at Provident Metals →

Gold.co.uk

Best for UK Buyers

Premium Over Spot

12–22% over spot

Min Order

None

Storage

Yes — Brink's vault

Ships From

London-based, GBP pricing

PROS

+GBP pricing, VAT applies to silver in UK
+Fast UK delivery
+Brink's secure storage
+Reputable UK brand

CONS

-Ships to UK and Europe only
-VAT on silver makes UK silver more expensive than gold comparatively

Shop at Gold.co.uk →

Types of Silver to Buy

American Silver Eagles

The most popular silver bullion coin in the world. Minted by the US Mint since 1986, each coin contains exactly 1 troy oz of .999 fine silver with a $1 face value. Silver Eagles command the highest premiums of any silver coin (typically 15–25% over spot) due to their popularity and guaranteed government backing. They are the most liquid silver coins you can own.

Canadian Silver Maple Leafs

Minted by the Royal Canadian Mint, the Silver Maple Leaf is .9999 fine silver — slightly purer than the American Eagle's .999. It features radial line security technology to prevent counterfeiting. Premiums are typically 2–4% lower than American Eagles, making them an attractive alternative for buyers who want government-minted coins at a lower cost.

Silver Bars

Silver bars from major refiners like Sunshine Mint, SilverTowne, Scottsdale Silver, and Royal Canadian Mint carry the lowest premiums — often 8–12% over spot for 1 oz bars, dropping to 5–8% for 10 oz bars and 3–5% for 100 oz bars. Bars sacrifice the legal tender status and some retail liquidity of coins but are the most cost-efficient way to buy silver in quantity.

Junk Silver

Pre-1965 US dimes, quarters, and half dollars contain 90% silver. A "bag" of $1,000 face value contains approximately 715 troy oz of silver. Junk silver typically trades near spot with minimal premium, making it one of the best values in silver. It is ideal for barter, gifting in small pieces, or as a low-premium way to accumulate silver. The main drawback is that it requires more verification when reselling.

What to Look for in a Silver Dealer

Reputation

Verify the dealer has been in business for at least 5–10 years with strong BBB, Trustpilot, and Google reviews. Members of ICTA add further credibility.

Premium vs. Spot

Silver premiums vary significantly by product. Compare the same item (e.g., 1 oz Silver Eagle) across multiple dealers. SD Bullion and JM Bullion consistently rank well on pricing.

Buyback Policy

Know the spread before you buy. If a dealer charges 15% over spot to buy and offers only spot to buy back, your effective round-trip cost is high.

Shipping & Insurance

Confirm all silver ships with full insurance coverage in discreet packaging. For orders over $500, require signature confirmation.

Product Authenticity

Government-minted coins from the US Mint, Royal Canadian Mint, or Perth Mint are the safest. For private mint bars, stick to major refiners with assay certificates.

Storage Options

Silver takes up far more physical space than gold. A $10,000 gold purchase fits in your palm; $10,000 in silver weighs about 17 lbs. Consider vault storage for large quantities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are silver premiums higher than gold premiums?+

Silver premiums (as a percentage over spot) are higher than gold because silver is a lower-value metal. The same minting, handling, packaging, and shipping costs apply to a $35 silver coin as they do to a $3,500 gold coin — so those fixed costs represent a much larger percentage of the silver coin's value. A $4–5 minting cost on a $35 coin is 11–14% versus less than 0.15% on a gold coin. High retail demand for silver Eagles and Maple Leafs during supply crunches can push premiums to 30–50%.

What are the best silver coins to buy?+

The American Silver Eagle is the world's best-selling silver bullion coin, minted by the US Mint since 1986. It carries a $1 legal tender face value and is universally recognized. The Canadian Silver Maple Leaf (.9999 fine) is the second most popular. For lower premiums, silver rounds (privately minted, 1 oz .999 fine) or silver bars (1 oz to 100 oz) from major refiners like Sunshine Mint or SilverTowne often trade at lower premiums than government coins.

Should I buy junk silver coins?+

Junk silver refers to pre-1965 US dimes, quarters, and half dollars minted in 90% silver. They have no collectible premium — their value is purely based on silver content. A US dime contains 0.0723 troy oz of silver; a quarter contains 0.1808 troy oz. Junk silver bags are often priced near or below the cost of new silver Eagles, making them an efficient way to buy silver. The downside: they are less liquid for international sales and require more verification when selling.

How much silver should I buy?+

Most financial advisors suggest precious metals (gold and silver combined) represent no more than 5–15% of your investment portfolio. Within that allocation, silver offers more upside potential than gold in commodity bull markets due to its smaller market size, but it is also more volatile. Many investors hold a core of gold for wealth preservation and use silver as a more speculative position. Physically, 100 oz of silver is about 6.8 pounds — a meaningful consideration for home storage.

Is silver a good investment in 2026?+

Silver has dual demand drivers: investment demand (similar to gold as a store of value) and industrial demand (solar panels, electronics, electric vehicles, medical devices). Industrial demand is growing structurally due to the green energy transition. The gold-to-silver ratio — currently around 90:1 historically versus a long-run average of 50:1 — suggests silver is undervalued relative to gold. However, silver is more volatile, has lower liquidity than gold, and industrial slowdowns can suppress prices. It rewards patient, long-term holders.

Ready to Buy Silver?

Current spot price: $72.78/oz. Compare our top-rated dealers and buy with confidence.

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