It's the first question almost every caller asks, and the one most firms avoid answering directly on their website. There's a reason, and it's not sinister. Minimums are a real number, but the "right" minimum depends on factors most marketing pages don't want to explain.
What is the typical gold IRA minimum?
Across the industry, published or quoted minimums for a self-directed precious-metals IRA generally sit somewhere between about $10,000 and $50,000, with a smaller group of firms setting minimums at $25,000 or higher. The variance isn't arbitrary, it reflects the mix of custodian the firm works with, the products they focus on, and, honestly, the margin their model needs.
At Dormy, the minimum comes up in your first conversation, because the honest answer depends on the size and source of the funds you're considering moving. We'd rather tell one caller their situation isn't a fit for an IRA than open one that doesn't serve them.
Why do gold IRA minimums exist at all?
A self-directed precious-metals IRA involves three parties in addition to you: a custodian who administers the account, a depository that holds the physical metal, and a dealer who executes the purchases. Two of those three charge fixed annual fees regardless of how much metal is in the account.
A typical custodian charges roughly $100–$300 per year in administration fees, and a depository typically charges $100–$300 per year for segregated storage (less for commingled). These are real dollar amounts, not percentages. On a $50,000 account, they represent well under 1% per year in combined fixed costs. On a $5,000 account, they'd represent somewhere between 4% and 12%, which is a meaningful headwind against any potential appreciation.
How does fixed-fee math affect small accounts?
Imagine $300 in combined annual fees on two hypothetical accounts:
- $100,000 account: $300 / $100,000 = 0.30% per year.
- $25,000 account: $300 / $25,000 = 1.20% per year.
- $5,000 account: $300 / $5,000 = 6.00% per year.
The metal is the same; only the denominator changes. That's why reputable firms are direct about minimums, not to gatekeep, but because sub-scale accounts often don't work well for the client.
What matters more than the minimum?
Three questions matter more than "what's your minimum":
- What are the total first-year and ongoing fees? Custodian setup, storage, dealer premium, and any wire or transfer costs, in writing.
- What products will be recommended? Standard bullion and specialty coins carry very different premiums; the same dollar buys very different amounts of metal.
- What is the buyback policy? Whether the dealer will repurchase your holdings later, and on what terms.
How does Dormy handle account minimums?
We will confirm our current minimum in your first call and walk you through the fixed-fee math on your specific number before you open anything. If the numbers don't work, we'll say so, and we'll usually suggest either waiting until you can consolidate a larger balance, or considering a direct purchase instead, which has no annual custodian fee.
For the prior choice between using personal money and retirement money, see Direct purchase or precious-metals IRA?.
Speak with a Dormy specialist, no commitment.
If you are unsure whether your balance is large enough for an IRA to make sense, we can run the fixed-fee math on your number with you.
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