Gold-to-silver ratio
How many ounces of silver one ounce of gold buys, vs the 20-year historical mean. A timing-and-allocation signal precious-metals investors have used for centuries.
⚖️ Gold-to-silver ratio
How many ounces of silver one ounce of gold buys. A long-standing tactical timing signal.
Computed from monthly Yahoo Finance closes (GC=F / SI=F). Data ~205 months.
How to use the ratio
The gold-to-silver ratio compresses two prices into a single number. It's most useful as a relative-value signal — when the ratio is far above its long-term mean, silver is comparatively cheap; when it's far below, gold is comparatively cheap.
- Below 50:1 — silver expensive relative to gold. Historically rare.
- 50:1 – 70:1 — neutral band. Most of the 20th century lived here.
- 70:1 – 85:1 — silver getting cheap. Many investors lean toward silver here.
- Above 85:1 — extreme territory. 2020 hit 124:1 during liquidity panic.
Mean reversion is the lesson, not market timing. Extreme readings tend to revert over multi-year windows — but the "wait" can be years, and you'll need the patience to hold through volatility.