Zakat Calculator

What is Zakat?

Zakat(زكاة, literally "purification" or "growth") is the third of the five pillars of Islam. It is an annual wealth obligation — 2.5% of net qualifying wealth — paid by every adult Muslim whose wealth exceeds the Nisab threshold and who has held that wealth for one full lunar year (the Hawl). The proceeds must be distributed to one of 8 specific recipient categories defined in the Quran.

The Quran establishes zakat dozens of times, almost always paired with prayer:

"And establish prayer and give zakat..."
(Quran 2:43, 2:83, 2:110, 4:77, 22:78, 24:56...)

The pairing tells us something theological: prayer purifies the soul; zakat purifies wealth. Both are obligatory acts of worship. Neglecting zakat is treated in the Quran as a grave sin — Surah Al-Tawbah (9:34–35) describes the painful punishment for those who hoard wealth without giving its due.

The Nisab — when zakat becomes due

Nisab is the minimum wealth threshold above which zakat becomes obligatory. Below Nisab, you owe no zakat — though voluntary charity (sadaqah) is always rewarded. Scripture gives two Nisab values:

• Gold Nisab: 85 grams of pure gold
• Silver Nisab: 595 grams of pure silver

In the Prophet's ﷺ era, both Nisab values represented roughly equivalent economic worth. Today the silver Nisab is much lower in dollar terms because the gold-to-silver ratio has shifted dramatically — gold is now worth ~75× silver per gram, vs roughly equal in the 7th century.

Which Nisab to use? The contemporary scholarly consensus — including the National Zakat Foundation (UK), AMJA, Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, and most modern fatwa councils — is to use the silver Nisab. Reasoning: it's the lower threshold, so more people qualify to pay → more goes to recipients → better fulfills the purpose of zakat. Our calculator uses silver Nisab.

The Hawl — the lunar-year requirement

Hawl(حول, "cycle") is the requirement that wealth must remain in your possession for one full lunar year (~354 days) before zakat is due. Two important nuances:

1. The Hawl applies to the total wealth pot, not individual assets. If your wealth has been above Nisab for a year, you pay zakat on its current value — even if specific dollars or stocks within that wealth have rotated in and out.
2. Once you start being zakat-due, pick a fixed date. Most Muslims pick 1 Ramadan(the first day of the Islamic holy month) as their annual zakat date because (a) it's easy to remember and (b) the reward for charity in Ramadan is multiplied. Some pick 1 Muharram (Islamic new year). Whatever you pick, stick to it.

Use our Hijri date converter to confirm today's Islamic date and pick your annual zakat anchor.

What's zakatable and what isn't

Zakatable assets

• Cash — checking, savings, money-market, paper currency
• Gold and silver — including jewelry per the dominant view (Hanafi school; the Shafi'i school exempts personal-use jewelry under a reasonable amount)
• Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds — at current market value
• Cryptocurrency — at current market value (AMJA-approved)
• Business inventory — at wholesale value (not retail markup)
• Receivables — money owed to you, that you reasonably expect to recover
• Rental income — accumulated income, not the property itself
• Retirement accounts — modern majority view: vested current value is zakatable annually

NOT zakatable

• Primary residence — your home you live in
• Personal vehicles — cars you drive, not held for resale
• Business equipment — machinery, computers, vehicles used in operations (not inventory)
• Personal use items — clothing, furniture, household goods
• Property held for personal use — vacation home you use yourself

The 8 eligible recipient categories (Quran 9:60)

The Quran lists exactly 8 categories in Surah Al-Tawbah verse 60. Zakat can ONLY be given to these — not to general causes, not to non-eligible relatives, not to non-Muslims (except category 4).

Who you CANNOT give zakat to: Your own parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, or spouse — because you are already financially obligated to support them. The Prophet ﷺ said the most rewarded sadaqah is to a relative (eligible category), then to neighbors, then to others.

When to give — the Ramadan boost

Zakat can be paid any time of the year on your fixed anchor date. But many Muslims choose to pay during Ramadanfor two reasons: (1) the reward of charity is multiplied many times in Ramadan; (2) it's easier to remember by anchoring to a religious calendar event.

Important: paying during Ramadan does NOT change the calculation method — you still calculate based on your wealth on your zakat anchor date (which may be in Ramadan anyway if you anchored on 1 Ramadan). What it does change is the spiritual reward.

See our Ramadan 2026 calendar for the dates of next Ramadan.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Using gold Nisab when silver is lower. Most people in modern economies cross the silver Nisab but not the gold Nisab. Using gold Nisab under-collects.
2. Forgetting investments. Stocks, retirement accounts, and crypto are all zakatable. Many calculators omit them.
3. Confusing Hawl with calendar year. Hawl is a LUNAR year (~354 days), 11 days shorter than the solar year. Use Hijri dates if possible.
4. Subtracting long-term debts. Only IMMEDIATE short-term debts (credit cards, due bills) are subtracted. A 30-year mortgage is not.
5. Giving to ineligible recipients.Giving to a mosque building project may or may not qualify under category 7 (Fi Sabilillah) — scholars disagree. Giving to non-Muslims (other than category 4) doesn't qualify.
6. Hoarding zakat "until I find a worthy cause". Once calculated, zakat should be paid promptly. Delaying it without good reason is sinful.

Frequently asked questions

What is Zakat?

Zakat is the third pillar of Islam — an annual wealth tax of 2.5% paid by every adult Muslim whose net wealth exceeds the Nisab threshold and who has held that wealth for a full lunar year (Hawl). The proceeds must be given to one of 8 categories of recipients specified in the Quran (9:60). Unlike voluntary charity (sadaqah), zakat is an obligation — like prayer or fasting.

What is the Nisab for Zakat in 2026?

Nisab is the minimum wealth threshold above which zakat becomes obligatory. There are two scriptural Nisab values: 85 grams of gold OR 595 grams of silver (in cash equivalent at current spot prices). The silver Nisab is much lower in modern markets (~$625 USD as of May 2026) compared to the gold Nisab (~$6,800). Most contemporary scholars recommend using the silver Nisab because it captures more wealth and benefits more recipients — this is the position followed by the National Zakat Foundation, AMJA, and major fatwa councils.

What is the Hawl in Zakat?

Hawl is the requirement that wealth must remain in your possession for one full lunar year (~354 days) before zakat becomes due. The Hawl applies to your net wealth as a whole — if your total wealth has been above Nisab for a year, you pay zakat on its current value, even if individual assets within it have changed. The practical recommendation: pick one fixed date per lunar year (many Muslims use 1 Ramadan) and calculate zakat on that date annually.

What assets are zakatable?

Zakatable assets: cash and bank balances, gold and silver (incl. jewelry per most madhabs), tradeable investments (stocks, ETFs), business inventory at wholesale value, cryptocurrency at current market value, money owed to you that you expect to recover, and rental income that has accumulated. NOT zakatable: your primary residence, personal vehicles, business equipment (not inventory), retirement accounts you cannot access without penalty (controversial — many scholars now say current vested value IS zakatable), and personal-use items.

Who can receive Zakat?

Quran 9:60 specifies exactly 8 categories: (1) Fuqara — the poor; (2) Masakin — the destitute; (3) Amilin — those employed to administer zakat collection; (4) Mu'allafati Qulubuhum — those whose hearts are to be reconciled (new Muslims, allies of Muslims); (5) Riqab — for freeing slaves (historically) or modern slavery rescue; (6) Gharimin — those in debt who cannot repay; (7) Fi sabilillah — in the way of Allah (defending Muslims, supporting Islamic causes); (8) Ibn al-Sabil — stranded travelers. Zakat CANNOT be given to your own parents, children, spouse, or to non-Muslims (except category 4).

Is Zakat due on stocks and investments?

Yes. The contemporary scholarly position (AMJA, AAOIFI standards, Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi): for stocks held for trading, zakat is 2.5% of the current market value. For stocks held as long-term investment, zakat is 2.5% of the zakatable assets PER SHARE — but in practice, calculating per-share is impractical, so most scholars permit using current market value. For mutual funds and ETFs, use market value. Retirement accounts (401k, IRA) — the dominant modern view is zakat is due on the vested current value annually, even if not yet accessible.

Is Zakat due on cryptocurrency?

Yes. The AMJA (Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America) and most contemporary fatwa councils have ruled that cryptocurrency is treated as a tradeable asset like stocks — zakat is 2.5% of current market value at the time of your zakat calculation date. If you've held the crypto for a full lunar year and the total wealth is above Nisab, it's zakatable. Convert to USD at the spot rate on your zakat date.

Can I give Zakat to family members?

No to parents, children, grandchildren, grandparents, or spouse — these are people you are already obligated to support, so zakat to them would be circular. YES to siblings, aunts/uncles, cousins, nieces/nephews, in-laws — provided they qualify under one of the 8 recipient categories (poor, in debt, etc.). Giving zakat to eligible extended family is considered double-rewarded: it fulfills zakat AND strengthens family ties (silat ar-rahim).