Gold leaf types differ in four ways: what they’re made of (genuine gold, other metals, or imitation), the karat (how much gold they contain), the format (loose, transfer, flakes or rolls), and the size of the sheet. Choosing the right combination decides how your project looks, how long it lasts, and whether it’s safe on food.
Quick guide:
- Outdoors: genuine gold, 23 karat or higher
- Indoors on a budget: imitation gold leaf, sealed
- Food and drinks: edible gold leaf only
- First project: transfer leaf
New to gold leaf? Start with what is gold leaf.
Genuine gold leaf, by karat
Genuine gold leaf contains real gold, mixed with small amounts of silver and copper. The karat tells you how much gold it contains, and it affects both the colour and how well the leaf stands up to weather.
| Karat | Gold content | Colour | Best for | Needs sealing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24kt | 99.9% | Deep, pure yellow | Fine art, icons, restoration, exterior work | No |
| 23.75kt | 99% | Rich yellow | Exterior gilding, domes, signage | No |
| 23.5kt | 98% | Rich yellow | Exterior and interior gilding | No |
| 23kt | 95.8% | Rich yellow | Exterior and interior gilding | No |
| 22kt | 91.7% | Warm yellow | Frames, furniture, interiors | Not usually |
| 21kt | 87.5% | Slightly paler yellow | Interiors | Recommended |
| 18kt | 75% | Pale “lemon” gold | Interiors | Yes |
| 12kt | 50% | Very pale, almost silvery (“white gold”) | Interiors | Yes |
Rule of thumb: use 23 karat or higher outdoors. Lower karats contain enough silver and copper to darken over time, so keep them indoors and seal them.
→ Shop: Genuine Gold Leaf
Other types of metal leaf
| Type | Made of | Tarnishes? | Edible? | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genuine silver leaf | Pure silver | Yes, seal it | No | Frames, furniture, art, glass |
| Copper leaf | Pure copper | Yes, seal it | No | Warm, rose-toned accents, interiors |
| Imitation gold leaf (Dutch metal) | Copper and zinc | Yes, seal it | No | Large surfaces, crafts, practice |
| Imitation silver leaf | Aluminium | Very slowly | No | Budget silver finish |
| Variegated leaf | Treated imitation leaf with red, green or blue patterns | Seal it | No | Decorative, statement pieces |
| Edible gold leaf | 23.75kt gold, food grade | No | Yes | Cakes, chocolates, drinks |
| Edible silver leaf | Food-grade silver | Over time | Yes | Desserts, sweets, drinks |
Imitation leaf contains no gold, so it has no karat. It costs far less and is thicker, which makes it easier to handle, but it tarnishes if left unsealed and must never be used on food.
Only use leaf sold as edible on food. Decorative gold leaf, even high karat, isn’t produced to food standards.
Loose, transfer, flakes and rolls
- Loose leaf sits freely between tissue sheets and is lifted with a gilder’s tip. It suits carved, textured and detailed surfaces, and it’s the only choice for traditional water gilding.
- Transfer (patent) leaf is pressed lightly onto tissue paper, so you can hold the tissue and press the leaf onto the surface. It’s easier for beginners, better in draughts and outdoors, and suits flat or gently curved surfaces. It doesn’t work well on deeply carved or textured pieces.
- Gold flakes are leaf broken into small pieces, used mainly on food and drinks, and in resin and nail art.
- Leaf rolls are long strips on a backing tape, used for lines, borders and signage.
→ Loose Leaf vs Transfer Leaf: the full comparison
Gold leaf sizes and weights
The standard European size for genuine gold leaf is 80mm (3 1/8″) square, which is the size of our genuine gold leaf. You’ll also see 3 3/8″ (about 86mm), which is common with some American suppliers. Other metals come in larger sheets because they’re cheaper and thicker:
| Leaf | Sheet size | Covers per 25-leaf booklet* |
|---|---|---|
| Genuine gold | 80mm (3 1/8″) | about 0.16 m² (1.7 sq ft) |
| Small edible gold | 38mm (1 1/2″) | about 0.036 m² (0.39 sq ft) |
| Genuine silver | 95mm (3 3/4″) | about 0.23 m² (2.4 sq ft) |
| Genuine silver | 110mm (4 1/3″) | about 0.30 m² (3.3 sq ft) |
| Imitation, copper, variegated | 14cm (5 1/2″) | about 0.49 m² (5.3 sq ft) |
| Imitation gold | 16 × 16cm | about 0.64 m² (6.9 sq ft) |
*Before overlap and waste. Allow 10–20% extra.
Weight is measured in grams per 1,000 leaves. Standard gold leaf weighs roughly 14–16 grams per 1,000 leaves. Heavier “double” leaf is thicker and more durable, and it’s often chosen for exterior work.
Gold leaf vs gold foil: what’s the difference?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but they can mean different things:
- Gold leaf is real gold beaten to around 0.1 microns thick. It’s applied by hand onto an adhesive (called size) and bonds to almost any surface: wood, plaster, glass, metal, paper, food.
- Gold foil can mean three things. Sometimes it’s just another name for gold leaf, especially for edible gold (“edible gold foil”). Sometimes it means real gold that’s thicker than leaf and easier to handle. Most often in printing and crafts, it means hot-stamping foil: a metallic film on a plastic carrier, pressed on with heat, which normally contains no gold at all.
How to tell which one you’re buying: look for a karat rating. Real gold leaf always states its karat (for example 23.75kt). If there’s no karat, it isn’t real gold, whatever it’s called.
Which type of gold leaf should you choose?
| Project | Recommended leaf |
|---|---|
| Exterior signage, domes, outdoor statues | 23.5–24kt genuine, transfer |
| Picture frames, furniture (indoor) | 22–23.75kt genuine, or imitation with sealer |
| Water gilding and restoration | 23–24kt genuine, loose |
| First project or practice | Imitation leaf, transfer |
| Large walls or ceilings on a budget | Imitation leaf, 14cm or 16cm, sealed |
| Cakes, chocolates, cocktails | Edible 23.75kt leaf or flakes |
| Resin, candles, crafts | Imitation leaf or flakes |
Common mistakes when choosing gold leaf
- Using imitation leaf outdoors. It tarnishes in weather, even when sealed. For anything outside, use 23 karat or higher.
- Buying loose leaf as a first-timer. Loose leaf is beautiful but hard to control. Transfer leaf is far easier to start with.
- Using decorative leaf on food. Only leaf made and sold as edible is suitable, whatever its karat.
- Forgetting to seal. Imitation, silver, copper and lower-karat leaf all need a sealer to keep their colour. → Gold Leaf Sealer
- Ordering too little. Allow 10–20% extra for overlaps and patching. Running out halfway through can leave a visible difference between batches.
How to tell real gold leaf from imitation
- The label: genuine leaf states its karat. Imitation leaf has none.
- The price: a booklet of genuine gold leaf costs several times more than imitation.
- The feel: imitation leaf is thicker and stiffer, and you can pick it up with dry fingers. Genuine loose gold leaf is so thin it sticks to your skin and tears.
- Over time: unsealed imitation leaf darkens and can turn greenish. High-karat gold leaf keeps its colour indefinitely.
FAQs
No. Gold leaf is the material, and gilding is the technique of applying it to a surface.
24 karat, which is 99.9% gold. 23.5–23.75kt is the most common choice for exterior work, since it’s almost as durable and slightly stronger to handle.
Transfer leaf, because it’s attached to tissue and much easier to control. Imitation transfer leaf is a cheap way to practise.
Imitation leaf that has been treated to create coloured patterns, usually red, green or blue, on a gold base. It needs sealing like other imitation leaf.
Yes. Genuine silver leaf darkens over time unless it’s sealed.
Edible gold leaf is high-karat gold made to food standards. Ours is 23.75 karat.
Sometimes. The terms are often used interchangeably, but “gold foil” in printing and crafts usually means a heat-applied metallic film with no real gold. If it doesn’t state a karat, it isn’t real gold.
→ Related: What Is Gold Leaf? · How to Apply Gold Leaf · Does Gold Leaf Tarnish? · How Long Does Gold Leaf Last?
