Due to increased demand and US tariff policies, the value of silver rose exponentially last year, experiencing a 130% increase in value over the course of 2025. That made it an attractive potential investment, as well as a tempting opportunity to make some fast cash if you have unused silver sitting in a jewelry box.

However, don’t go selling off the entirety of the family silver just yet, or shifting your investment portfolio to focus primarily on this precious metal. The experts aren’t fully confident in the future of silver.

Here’s what you need to know about the current status of the silver market, what the experts are saying, and how to know when you should sell your silver — as well as how to protect it in the meantime.

The Current Status of the Silver Market

Over the course of 2025, silver prices rose significantly and, according to JP Morgan Global Research, you can safely assume that silver prices will average around $81 per ounce in 2026. This is double what the metal averaged last year, but it’s well below what some hoped.

According to CBS News, there’s been some finger-crossing that silver’s value would continue its meteoric rise, to $200 per ounce. While that’s a possibility according to some  experts, it’s not likely.

Additionally, in order for that to happen, it would likely mean that other disruption is occurring elsewhere — and those disruptions could outweigh any good that one might see from increased silver valuations. For example, that kind of price would potentially be linked to excessive inflation, decreased currency values, and general economic woes.

What’s Driving the Current High Silver Prices?

There are few things that are driving the current high silver prices, including industrial demand and uncertainty regarding tariffs.

For example, according to JP Morgan Global Research, silver’s pricing was impacted in mid-January of 2025, when it was determined that President Trump would not impose new tariffs on silver.

Silver is used in a variety of industrial processes, such as in the manufacture of solar panels, which has increased demand as of late. However, it’s worth noting that experts have witnessed industries moving away from silver to some degree, in order to save money. If manufacturers are not moving to a silver substitute, they may be simply reducing the amount of silver used in their processes altogether.

Should You Invest in Silver at the Moment?

Silver is a good gamble, but still a gamble. Experts who spoke with CBS News said that investing in the volatile precious metal comes with a certain risk, but can still be a small part of a much more diverse investment portfolio. Gold is, in comparison, a more stable investment — though building up gold investments can be much more expensive than investing in silver.

However, keep in mind that if you’re investing in a physical silver product, vs. silver exchange-traded funds (ETFs), you will need to likewise invest in some sort of security and insurance. That security might look like a safe or a vault, while specialized insurance would protect against theft.

Should You Sell Your Silver?

If you’ve already invested in silver, you may be tempted to sell the silver that you have on hand and there are pros and cons to doing so. If you sell your silver now, you can take advantage of record high valuations, but you may also miss out on even greater valuations at a later date.

Here are a few of the things to think about, and what factors to weigh, as you decide whether to sell or wait.

1. You Might Not Get the Current Market Price for Your Silver

Even if the average price of silver in 2026, per JP Morgan, is $81 per ounce, it’s not guaranteed that you’ll get that price when you attempt to sell your silver, as the form your silver is in will impact the price you get. Bars vs. coins vs. jewelry vs. flatware all can fetch different prices.

Additionally, dealers often pay less than market value, in order to cover their costs and make a profit when they resell your item.

2. Holding On to Your Pieces Comes with a Cost

As already somewhat touched upon, investing and holding on to physical silver investments does come with its own cost, as you have to worry about security and insurance.

While these costs are either up-front (like buying a home safe) or minimal (as is the case with specialty insurance coverage), they do still exist. If that’s a cost you don’t want to worry about at the moment, you might opt to sell your silver just so it’s one less thing to have on your mind.

3. Physical Pieces Take Up Space

Some silver — for example, if you inherited a large collection of silver flatware — just takes up a lot of space. If you don’t feel any emotional connection to the item, why not remove it from your home? If you’ve hauled heavy boxes of heirloom silver from home to home over the last few decades, and you’ve never used it, Grandma probably will forgive you for selling it.

4. Heirlooms Come with Emotional Value

Along that line of thinking, though, silver heirlooms do come with a certain emotional value that really can’t be bought. If you worry you’ll regret an heirloom sale, or that someone in your family will be disappointed with the sale, it’s worth taking a breath and reconsidering. You may decide that someone else in the family may be better off holding on to the silver for now.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Silver When You Sell

Even with higher-than-average prices for silver, you still want to get the most money out of your sale as possible, so make sure to find a reputable buyer and know what you have on your hands, so you get the fairest price possible.

Before you begin gathering offers from buyers, get an idea of how much your silver is worth (an appraisal can help with this), based on factors such as purity, weight, form, and condition. Look for hallmarks and maker marks, if the piece or pieces have them. Any purchasing paperwork can be helpful, too.

Then, get multiple offers, both from local buyers and online buyers. Before signing on the dotted line, be sure to read the buyer’s terms and conditions, if applicable, so you can avoid any surprise fees.

Meanwhile, Protect Your Silver With BriteCo

With silver prices as high as they are, selling and investing is tempting. But keep in mind that silver is often volatile and while selling or investing may be a good choice for some, careful consideration is required.

While the silver is in your possession, make sure it’s protected through comprehensive specialty insurance coverage for jewelry and similar high-value items.

Licensed in all 50 states, BriteCo prides itself on providing a best-in-class insurance product that combines speed, convenience, and affordability for consumers throughout the US. Competitive pricing delivers significant savings of 20% to 40% over other insurance providers, and, unlike other insurance providers, BriteCo policies cost .5% to 1.5% of an item’s appraised value vs. competitors at 1% to 3%.

Get your quick and easy silver insurance quote online now.

FAQs

How Much Is Silver Worth?

While the worth of silver per ounce fluctuates, it’s estimated that prices will hover around $81 per ounce throughout most of 2026.

Could Silver Be Worth $200 per Ounce?

While it is possible that silver’s worth may grow to $200 per ounce, experts agree that it’s unlikely to happen in 2026 and, if it were to occur, it would be a sign of greater economic distress.

Why is Silver in High Demand Now?

Silver is in high demand at the moment due to industrial uses and past concerns regarding potential tariffs.

Should You Sell or Keep Silver?

Certainly sell your silver if you have no emotional attachment to it and you want to take advantage of the current high value. Otherwise consider holding onto it, longer term.

Is Silver a Good Investment?

Silver is relatively volatile but can be a smart (albeit small) part of a broader investment in precious metals.

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