Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
How to Invest in Metals in 2026
Ruby Layram
11th Mar 2026
Precious metals have been used as a store of value for thousands of years, and in 2026 they’re still a popular investment choice.
With ongoing economic uncertainty, inflation concerns, and geopolitical tensions, many investors are looking at metals like gold, silver, platinum, and copper as a way to diversify their portfolios.
The good news? You don’t need to be a billionaire buying gold bars in a vault to get started. There are several ways everyday investors can add metals to their portfolios.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through three of the most popular ways to invest in metals in 2026, step-by-step.
Why Invest in Metals?
Before jumping into the “how”, it’s worth understanding why investors buy metals in the first place.
Metals are often seen as defensive investments, meaning they can help protect your portfolio during uncertain times.
People invest in metals because they can:
• Hedge against inflation
• Diversify an investment portfolio
• Hold value during economic crises
• Benefit from rising industrial demand (especially for silver and copper)
Gold in particular is known as a “safe haven” asset, meaning investors often buy it during market volatility.
Also read: How to invest in Gold in 2026
Method 1: Buying Physical Metals (Coins and Bars)
One of the most traditional ways to invest in metals is simply buying the metal itself.
This means purchasing physical gold or silver in the form of coins or bars.
Common examples include:
• Gold coins
• Silver coins
• Gold bars
• Silver bars
• Bullion products
Popular gold coins include the Britannia Gold Coin, the Krugerrand, and the American Gold Eagle.
Step-by-step guide
1. Choose a reputable dealer
You should only buy metals from trusted bullion dealers. In the UK, this could include companies like:
- BullionByPost
- The Royal Mint
2. Decide what to buy
Coins are usually easier to sell later, while bars often have slightly lower premiums.
3. Store your metals safely
Physical metals need secure storage. Options include:
- Home safes
- Bank safety deposit boxes
- Professional vault storage
Some investors choose vault storage services offered by bullion providers.
Pros
- You physically own the asset
- No reliance on financial institutions
- Historically reliable store of value
Cons
- Storage and insurance costs
- Less liquid than ETFs or stocks
- Buying and selling spreads can be high
Method 2: Investing in Metals ETFs
If the idea of storing gold bars under your bed doesn’t appeal, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are another easy way to invest in metals.
A metals ETF tracks the price of a specific metal or group of metals.
For example, the SPDR Gold Shares is one of the world’s largest gold ETFs and aims to track the price of gold.
Instead of buying physical gold, you simply buy shares in the ETF through a stock trading platform.
Step-by-step guide
1. Open a brokerage account
First, you’ll need an investment account with a trading platform such as:
- AJ Bell
- Hargreaves Lansdown
- eToro
2. Search for a metals ETF
Examples include:
- Gold ETFs
- Silver ETFs
- Precious metals ETFs
- Mining ETFs
3. Buy shares
Once you find an ETF you like, you can buy it just like a stock.
Pros
- Easy to buy and sell
- No storage issues
- Lower transaction costs
Cons
- You don’t own the physical metal
- Small management fees
- ETF prices can sometimes deviate slightly from metal prices
Method 3: Investing in Mining Stocks
Another popular way to invest in metals is by buying shares in mining companies.
These companies explore, extract, and sell metals like gold, silver, copper, and lithium.
When metal prices rise, mining companies often benefit, meaning their share prices can increase.
Some of the world’s largest mining companies include:
- Barrick Gold
- Newmont
- Rio Tinto
Step-by-step guide
1. Open an investment account
You can buy mining stocks using the same platforms mentioned earlier.
2. Research mining companies
Important factors include:
- Production levels
- Mining costs
- Commodity exposure
- Political risk in mining locations
3. Buy shares
Once you’ve chosen a company, you can buy shares through your brokerage account.
Pros
- Potentially higher returns than metals themselves
- Dividend opportunities
- Exposure to rising commodity prices
Cons
- Company-specific risks
- Operational and political risks
- Stock market volatility
Which Metal Should You Invest In?
Different metals serve different purposes.
Here’s a quick overview:
- Gold: The most popular precious metal for investors and a traditional safe haven.
- Silver: Often cheaper than gold and widely used in electronics and solar technology.
- Copper: Seen as a “future metal” due to its importance in renewable energy and electric vehicles.
- Platinum & Palladium: Used heavily in automotive manufacturing and catalytic converters.
Diversifying across several metals can help reduce risk.
Final Thoughts
Investing in metals in 2026 is easier than ever, thanks to the wide range of options available to everyday investors.
Whether you choose physical metals, ETFs, or mining stocks, each approach has its own advantages and risks.
Physical metals give you direct ownership, ETFs offer convenience, and mining stocks can provide higher growth potential.
The best strategy for many investors is a combination of these approaches, helping create a balanced and diversified portfolio.
As always, take your time, do your research, and remember that all investments carry risk.
Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here, including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies, are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence. When investing your capital is at risk.
Leave a Reply