Diamond Carat Price Calculator
See how diamond price per carat changes with size and find the best carat weight for your budget.
Price Per Carat by Size
See how the price per carat changes as carat weight increases.
Size Comparison Calculator
Compare total cost and price per carat between two diamond sizes.
Budget Optimizer
Enter your budget and see the largest diamond you can afford at different quality levels.
Formula
Price Per Carat = Base Quality Rate × Carat Weight ^ 0.65 (exponential scaling factor)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a 2 carat diamond cost?
Why does price per carat increase with size?
What is the best carat size for value?
Understanding Diamond Carat Pricing
Diamond pricing follows an exponential curve relative to carat weight. A 2-carat diamond does not cost twice as much as a 1-carat diamond of the same quality -- it typically costs 3-4 times more. This is because larger rough diamonds are exponentially rarer in nature. The mining yield for gem-quality stones decreases dramatically as size increases.
The diamond market has well-known price jumps at certain "magic numbers" -- 0.50ct, 0.75ct, 1.00ct, 1.50ct, 2.00ct, 3.00ct, and 5.00ct. At these popular thresholds, demand spikes and prices jump disproportionately. A 0.99ct diamond may cost 10-15% less than a 1.00ct diamond of identical quality, despite being visually indistinguishable.
For budget-conscious buyers, the sweet spot is often in the 0.90-0.99ct range or 1.40-1.49ct range. These "shy" sizes offer the visual impact of the next round number at a meaningful discount. Pairing a shy carat weight with an excellent cut maximizes perceived size and brilliance while optimizing value.