Augusta Precious Metals is a gold and silver IRA dealer built for larger accounts: its minimum purchase is $50,000, its published fees are flat, and it says it covers up to 10 years of custodian and storage fees. It has strong ratings and very few complaints. The one thing you can't see on its fee schedule is the markup on the metal itself, so that's the question to press.
Augusta Precious Metals at a Glance
| Item | What Augusta states (FAQ updated Sept 23, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Products | Gold and silver IRAs, plus cash (non-IRA) purchases |
| Minimum initial purchase | $50,000, IRA or cash |
| Setup fee | $50, one time |
| Annual fees | $125 custodian + $110 storage and insurance = $235 |
| First-year total | $285 |
| Fee coverage | "Up to 10 years of custodian and depository fees paid by Augusta" |
| Fee structure | Flat; doesn't rise with account value |
| Custodian | Equity Trust |
| Depository locations | Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Dallas, Wilmington (DE), and others |
| Cancellation | 7-day money-back period (longer where state law requires) |
| Price protection | 7-day program on low-mintage products: one downward revision |
| Buyback | Policy, not a guarantee; no liquidation fee on Augusta repurchases |
| Ratings (Oct 2026) | BBB A+, accredited since 2015; BCA AAA, member since 2013 |
For context on how these numbers compare across the industry, see our gold IRA checklist.
How Augusta Precious Metals Works
- Request the free info kit or call. The kit is a set of digital guides; Augusta's landing page says there's no physical mailer.
- Open a self-directed IRA with Equity Trust. Augusta's processing team helps with the paperwork. Augusta says its side of opening an account typically takes one to two weeks, depending on your current provider.
- Fund it by transfer or rollover. See our gold IRA rollover guide for doing this without taxes or withholding.
- Lock prices on a recorded confirmation call. Augusta says the prices quoted by its order desk are the prices you pay.
- Metal ships to the depository and is held fully allocated, separate from the depository's own assets, according to Augusta.
Augusta Fees and the Minimum
Augusta's fee schedule is among the most clearly published in the industry, and it's flat, so it gets cheaper in percentage terms as the account grows.
Based on Augusta's published $235 ongoing annual fee, before any fee coverage. Augusta says every account receives up to 10 years of these fees paid by Augusta; confirm the terms for your account.
The $50,000 minimum rules Augusta out for smaller savers. If you're moving less, see our Augusta alternatives. Full details are in Augusta Precious Metals fees.
The cost a fee schedule doesn't show: the markup on the coins and bars you buy. Augusta says no commission is added to its quoted prices, but every dealer's price includes a premium over melt value. Before you approve an order, ask Augusta for the spot price and the price per ounce for each product, in writing. Its own FAQ notes that low-mintage products carry a higher acquisition price than high-mintage bullion.
Custody, Storage and Safety
Augusta works with Equity Trust as custodian. Metal is stored at an approved depository, with locations Augusta lists across the U.S. Augusta's FAQ says holdings are fully allocated and kept off the depository's balance sheet. It also warns that "home storage gold IRAs" can put an account's tax status at risk, which matches the Tax Court's ruling in McNulty. See gold IRA home storage.
Buybacks, Price Protection and Cancellation
- Buybacks: Augusta says it has never declined a buyback and charges no liquidation fee when it repurchases. It also states that no dealer can legally guarantee future repurchases and that its policy can change without notice.
- Price protection: on low-mintage products, Augusta offers one revision to a lower price within seven days.
- Cancellation: Augusta advertises a 7-day money-back period, longer where state law requires.
Its FAQ is candid that high-mintage bullion trades closer to spot but can be bought back at or below melt value when markets are under pressure, while low-mintage products cost more to buy and resell based on product-specific demand. That's a fair description of the trade-off, and it's why we suggest asking for bullion options and their markups side by side. See bullion vs. proof coins.
Ratings, Reviews and Complaints
| Source | What it showed (October 6, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Better Business Bureau | A+ rating; accredited since February 17, 2015; 1 complaint in the last 3 years |
| Business Consumer Alliance | AAA rating; member since November 18, 2013; 0 complaints |
The single BBB complaint, filed in January 2026, alleged that premiums on a retirement purchase were far higher than the customer understood. Augusta disputed the customer's analysis, and BBB listed the complaint as answered but unresolved. One complaint in three years is a very low count for a large dealer, but the subject matter, pricing on premium products, is exactly the issue to clarify before you buy. Details are in Augusta complaints, ratings and lawsuits.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Clear, flat published fee schedule
- Up to 10 years of custodian and storage fees covered, per Augusta
- Established custodian (Equity Trust) and multiple depository locations
- Strong BBB and BCA ratings; very few complaints
- Education-first process and a written 7-day cancellation period
- Candid FAQ on buybacks and low-mintage pricing
Cons
- $50,000 minimum excludes smaller savers
- Product markups aren't published; you must ask
- Gold and silver only; no platinum or palladium IRAs stated
- Buybacks are a policy, not a guarantee (true of every dealer)
- The one recent BBB complaint concerns premium pricing
Who Augusta Precious Metals Is Best For
- Savers moving $50,000 or more into gold or silver.
- People who value a published, flat fee schedule and long fee coverage.
- Buyers who want an education-led process before committing.
- Anyone willing to ask for, and compare, the markup on each product.
It's not a fit if you're investing less than $50,000, want platinum or palladium, or would rather buy a low-cost gold fund in an existing IRA. Compare head to head: Augusta vs. Goldco, Augusta vs. Birch Gold, Augusta vs. American Hartford Gold and Augusta vs. Noble Gold.
Questions to Ask Augusta Before You Buy
- Which products do you recommend for me, and what's the price per ounce versus spot right now?
- Can you quote a high-mintage bullion option alongside it?
- Exactly which fees are covered for my account, and for how many years?
- What would your buyback bid be today on the products you're recommending?
- Can I choose segregated storage or a specific depository, and does it change the fees?
Our full list is in how to choose a gold IRA company.
Our Verdict
For savers with $50,000 or more, Augusta Precious Metals is a credible choice with one of the clearest fee schedules in the business, long fee coverage and an unusually clean complaint record. Its weak spot is the same as the industry's: the markup on what you buy isn't published. Go in with our checklist, ask for the price per ounce against spot on every product, and compare it with at least one other quote. Do that, and Augusta is well worth a conversation.
Disclosure: we earn a commission if you request Augusta's info kit or open an account through our links. Facts above come from Augusta's FAQ (updated September 23, 2026), its affiliate landing page, and BBB and BCA profiles checked October 6, 2026. We have not opened an account with Augusta.