scrap prices

Scrap Metal and Copper Prices Per Pound in the USA
Our site provides you with the latest scrap metal and scrap copper prices per pound for a range of different types of valuable materials, including various forms of; copper, steel, aluminium, iron, brass, lead and for other forms of recyclable scrap such as junk cars, car batteries, aluminium cans and copper wire too. Due to the constantly fluctuating prices of scrap metal we update ours on an hourly basis for all of the states and cities in the USA, including; Los Angeles, New York, Houston, San Antonio, Phoenix, Chicago, Indianapolis, Dallas, Ohio, Michigan, Utah, Indiana, Texas, Iowa, Maine, Florida, Oregon and many more. We strive to ensure our scrap metal prices per pound (lb) are the best prices you will find in any scrap metal yard in your state.

Our scrap metal recycling prices can be found in the table below, unfortunately the prices are so volatile that it is impossible to give a single figure for the entire United States. However, we have done our best to provide you with a set of prices that you are likely to receive at a reputable scrap yard dealer.

We also curated a price list for Aluminium Cans in the US.

Current Scrap Metal Prices
Show
10
entriesSearch:
Metal
Price per Pound
Bare Bright Copper >99%
$2.68 — $2.96
Copper 1 96–98%
$2.57 — $2.85
Copper 2 94–96%
$2.31 — $2.56
Copper 3 88–90%
$2.19 — $2.42
Copper Radiators
$1.21 — $1.34
Copper Yokes
$0.39 — $0.43
Copper Transformers
$0.21 — $0.23
Insulated Cable 1 (250–750MCM)
$2.29 — $2.53
Insulated Cable 2
$1.52 — $1.68
Insulated Wire 1 (Romex)
$1.26 — $1.4
Showing 1 to 10 of 43 entriesPreviousNext
Types of Scrap Metal
If you are new to the world of scrap metal recycling then you are probably wondering about what the different types of scrap metal actually are. Firstly it is important to learn about all of the different grades of metal before you go any further, much of this is detailed in a post I made above. After you have finished reading this you should then spend some time learning about which metals are ferrous and non-ferrous. This distinction is crucial in order for you to learn about what prices to expect for each and every piece of metal you find.

Ferrous metals are generally the cheaper of the two types of metal, although this distinction is not always the case — it usually provides a good starting point for any evaluation. Many people are constantly asking us, what are the differences between a ferrous metal and a non-ferrous metal? Well, a ferrous metal is one that contains, in any trace form, iron or more particularly iron with a valency of two. Ferrous metals are therefore alloys, examples of these include mild steel, stainless steel, carbon steel, cast iron and also wrought iron too. All of these types of ferrous materials will be worth something to a scrap yard, so make sure you keep all of these metals in a separate pile to your non-ferrous pieces of scrap.

You will be able to locate ferrous metals all throughout your home, they are very common and are regularly situated in household appliances such as dishwashers, tumble dryers and even televisions too. Whenever you find a piece of ferrous scrap metal, make sure that you properly evaluate how much it is worth before taking it to a scrap yard.

On the contrary, non-ferrous metals are all of the other types of metals, these are typically worth substantially more to scrap metal dealers than ferrous metals. Examples of non-ferrous metals (those that do not contain iron) include copper, aluminum, brass, tin, zinc, lead, gold, silver and many more too. There are various other characteristics that can be used to determine whether a metal is ferrous or non-ferrous, however that is for another time.

While it is usually difficult to stumble upon an abundance of the more valuable non-ferrous scrap metals, whenever you do find some inside a computer or electronic device, keep it separate from the ferrous pieces you have.

Scrap Copper Prices
Show
10
entriesSearch:
Metal
Price per Pound
Bare Bright Copper >99%
$2.68 — $2.96
Copper 1 96–98%
$2.57 — $2.85
Copper 2 94–96%
$2.31 — $2.56
Copper 3 88–90%
$2.19 — $2.42
Copper Radiators
$1.21 — $1.34
Copper Yokes
$0.39 — $0.43
Copper Transformers
$0.21 — $0.23
Showing 1 to 7 of 7 entriesPreviousNext
Show
10
entriesSearch:
Metal
Price per Pound
Insulated Cable 1 (250–750MCM)
$2.29 — $2.53
Insulated Cable 2
$1.52 — $1.68
Insulated Wire 1 (Romex)
$1.26 — $1.4
Household Insulated Wire 2
$0.48 — $0.53
Computer Wire
$0.39 — $0.43
Christmas Lights
$0.19 — $0.21
Showing 1 to 6 of 6 entriesPreviousNext
Generally the best way to ensure that you get the best scrap copper price per pound is to clean your metal before taking it in to a scrap yard or dealer. If you do this, it essentially saves the dealer a job and therefore they will usually pay marginally more in return. This is particularly important when you are considering methods to attain favorable scrap copper prices because they are higher than all other materials, as a result you will see far more for your metal. Before you choose to clean your scrap copper, you should first ensure that it is pure and not mixed or simply plated. If it is mixed copper then you risk scratching the metal, if it is pure then there is no risk whatsoever.

There are a variety of other factors that need to be reviewed before you are truly able to determine what scrap copper prices per pound you are going to receive. As always you should try your best to strip away any other metals from the copper. It is common for people to bring in their recently sourced copper to the scrap yard with various other pieces of plastic or metal attached to it, the issue with this is that many dealers will simply reject it. This is relatively common with wires, scrap copper wire prices are very dependent on this concept, in addition to the thickness of the coil and of course the length too. One of the most valuable types of copper is actually pure, or solid, copper tubing. While this type of metal is quite rare, if you manage to find some for yourself, make sure that you take it to your local scrap metal yard as soon as possible.

As I have mentioned previously, copper can be found absolutely everywhere and you are likely completely unaware of this. In actual fact, it is one of the most popular types of metal used within electronic equipment found in and around your home. Some examples of places that you can find copper wiring is within the insides of an old computer monitor or television. Within these pieces of hardware, there are often many components made partly or even entirely of copper. Likewise, if you have any old laptops or desktop computers lying about, you should open these up and remove all of the valuable metals. Additionally, many household items are also either made of copper or contain it — take for example a microwave or coffee machine, the wiring within these appliances is also usually copper wire. The best place to find scrap copper wire in the home is actually within fridge freezers or clothes’ washing machines. If you have managed to source some of the metal, you can expect scrap copper prices per pound to be between $2 and $5.

Scrap Aluminium Prices
Show
10
entriesSearch:
Metal
Price per Pound
Aluminium Wire Clean
$0.56 — $0.62
Aluminium Rims
$0.52 — $0.58
Aluminium Siding
$0.36 — $0.4
Cast Aluminium
$0.33 — $0.36
Sheet Aluminium
$0.35 — $0.39
Aluminium Turnings
$0.21 — $0.24
Dirty Aluminium (Irony)
$0.1 — $0.11
Aluminium Transformers
$0.05 — $0.05
Showing 1 to 8 of 8 entriesPreviousNext
Aluminum prices also vary an awful lot wherever you are in America. In fact, scrap aluminum is the most volatile type of scrap available and so it is exceptionally difficult for anybody to accurately figure out the exact price they will receive for any one component. Scrap aluminum prices per pound are usually between $1 and $5 per pound, however there is a wide range of factors that affect this. All in all, scrap aluminum is usually in high demand and while it does not always get valued at a high price, it is always easy to get rid of. Some of the main factors that weigh in the pricing of aluminum is the type that you have. There are several different types of aluminum and the various grades of it too, one example of a good source of it is scrap aluminum can prices.

Some of the most commonly found types of scrap aluminum include cables, cabling, casings, wheels, radiators, plates, sheets and also some alloy based materials too. With scrap aluminum prices per pound varying so much, I would recommend searching your home for all the different pieces you can find and then separating it into the different grades before trying to price it all up. Once you have an idea of how much metal you have, you should only then take it to your local scrap yard for proper valuation.

Scrap Brass Prices
Show
10
entriesSearch:
Metal
Price per Pound
Red Brass
$1.83 — $2.03
Yellow Brass
$1.51 — $1.67
Brass Radiators
$1.36 — $1.51
Dirty Brass Faucets
$0.54 — $0.6
Showing 1 to 4 of 4 entriesPreviousNext
Scrap brass prices per pound, much alike nickel, tin, silver and gold are very volatile. They also remain fairly low throughout the year and are not really worth seeking out unless you know that you have a substantial quantity of it in its pure form. The average person is also unable to distinguish brass from other types of scrap metal and so when you take it to your local dealer you may not even know that you have it. It is also a very frequent occurrence for scrap yards to try to pass off aluminum or stainless steel as brass so that they can pay a lot less for these more valuable types of metals.

Scrap Steel Prices
Show
10
entriesSearch:
Metal
Price per Pound
316 Stainless Steel
$0.49 — $0.55
304 Stainless Steel
$0.42 — $0.46
Showing 1 to 2 of 2 entriesPreviousNext
Scrap steel prices per pound are also fairly difficult to determine without an experts advice. They do not vary quite as much as copper or aluminum, however steel is rarely seen as being pure and it is often contaminated with other types of metal too. As a result of this it is extremely hard to find out the true worth of any particular piece. Fortunately, scrap steel is quite easy to find, especially if you are in the building industry. Steel and stainless steel is regularly used in building foundations and within the structures of houses too. Scrap steel is also fairly heavy so you may need some assistance moving large quantities of it around. Do not expect to get a large sum of cash for your metal if you can carry it to the scrap yard by hand, you will likely need a large skip to be transported from your home carrying the steel if you are to expect a significant sum of money.

Scrap stainless steel prices per pound are also fluctuating on a daily basis, they also vary massively from state to state, but the table above can be used to provide some sort of scale for what you may find your metal valuated at. As with any types of metal, it is always good to get a vague idea of what your materials are worth before taking it to a scrap yard so you get a good price. Scrap stainless steel is often much more valuable to dealers if it is not damaged in any way, however even if it is damaged it will be more valuable than typical steel.

In actual fact, stainless steel is one of the most highly sought after types of scrap metal in recent times. It is expensive to make and so scrap metal yards are keen for people to recycling their pieces so that it can be reused over and over again. This is certainly not the case with all ferrous materials.

Scrap Iron Prices
Show
10
entriesSearch:
Metal
Price per Pound
Cast Iron
$0.1 — $0.11
Light Iron
$0.04 — $0.04
Showing 1 to 2 of 2 entriesPreviousNext
Iron is extremely difficult to find in its pure form in recent times, it is often always contaminated in one way or another. As a result of this it is another sought after type of metal. Scrap iron prices per pound are fairly stable throughout the United States of America, although they do occasionally change dramatically based upon nationwide demand. The stability can largely be attributed to the large amount of natural iron resources found in the northern, more mountainous states of the country. It is consistently mined in the USA and so the prices remain fairly flat. Due to this we can easily determine the price of scrap iron if it is pure, if not then you will unfortunately need to find an expert or take it to a scrap yard for a more thorough valuation.

Scrap cast iron prices per pound are another good source of income for many people, cast iron is difficult to come across in many homes, but it is regularly found in building sites across the states. If you happen to come across a large quantity of scrap cast iron then you are very fortunate, it sells for a good price and is in extremely high demand too.

Scrap Lead Prices
Show
10
entriesSearch:
Metal
Price per Pound
Lead
$0.56 — $0.62
Lead Wheel Weights
$0.08 — $0.09
Showing 1 to 2 of 2 entriesPreviousNext
Scrap lead is another metal that is very difficult to find in its pure form, unless we are talking about extremely small quantities that are found in pencils — for example. Not only that, but lead is also very difficult to handle, it is a toxic metal and so searching for large quantities of it is probably not the best idea. Despite this, if you do happen to have a significantly sized portion of lead, scrap lead prices are usually very good and it is readily sold at scrap yards anywhere in the world. Once again, we do not recommend people to actively go in search for this particular metal, even in your own home, it is better for experts to deal with this type of dangerous material.

Scrap Bronze Prices
Scrap bronze is a fairly rare commodity, that when you come across it, you should immediately start thinking about taking it to your local scrap dealer. It can be very valuable if found in large enough quantities, and in good condition.

Other Materials
Scrap Catalytic Converter Prices
Show
10
entriesSearch:
Metal
Price per Item
XL Foreign Cat
$363.79 — $402.08
Large Foreign Cat
$197.52 — $218.32
Medium Foreign Cat
$158.52 — $175.2
Small Foreign Cat
$115.55 — $127.72
Foreign Pre-Cat
$58.22 — $64.35
High Grade Domestic Cat
$152.07 — $168.08
Regular Domestic Cat
$78.43 — $86.69
Small Domestic Cat
$62.37 — $68.93
Pre-Domestic Cat
$38.89 — $42.99
Large GM Cat
$212.38 — $234.74
Showing 1 to 10 of 11 entriesPreviousNext
Scrap Battery Prices
Show
10
entriesSearch:
Metal
Price per Pound
PB Battery
$0.21 — $0.23
Showing 1 to 1 of 1 entriesPreviousNext
Most scrap yards will accept a wide range of other materials, such as batteries, radiators, car components, other household goods and much more. There is always something close by that can be sold for a decent amount of money in any home.

Scrap Metal Prices by State
Metal Recycling Prices
If you are keen to begin to reap the benefits of recycling scrap metal then continue reading. The number one reason for why many people choose to find out scrap metal recycling prices is because you can make an awful lot of money for it. While this seems obvious to many people, there are also a large number of other reasons for why you may want to choose to recycle. The other major reason for why so many people are turning to scrap yards to get rid of their metal, whether it be copper, aluminum, stainless steel, brass, lead or a number of other more niche metals too — is because it really does help to keep Earth a clean place.

Whenever people actively recycle their unused pieces of metal, companies across the United States and indeed the world will not need to mine for quite as much metal as they did previously. The demand for this metal will decline somewhat and therefore it is not in their interest to continue the mining process. When we boil everything down to its barebones it is evident to all that we can use and reuse pieces of metal potentially thousands of times. Scrap metal is just metal after all. In addition to this, the mining process is also very resource heavy in itself, massive pieces of machinery are required in order to extract the various types of metal from the Earth and so by recycling scrap metal we are reducing the harmful gasses that are released into Earth’s atmosphere.

This is particularly important for many states in America where there are high levels of pollution, much of which is driven by metal extraction of some kind or another. If you are interested in reading more, there is an abundance of articles out there on the internet that stipulate the benefits of recycling scrap metals in far more detail than I am willing to go into here.

How To Sell Scrap Metal
It is exceptionally easy for people to find pieces of scrap metal in or around their house. However the stumbling block that many find is that they are not sure how to sell scrap metal. Well, that’s what I’m here for, to explain to everybody that it is a very easy process and that there is a complete abundance of scrap metal yards and dealers in almost every city in the United States. Not only this, but scrap yards are also keen for you to do this too, they are always searching for new ways to get scrap metal that can be re-purposed and so they will happily reimburse you for whatever you bring them.

The most important consideration that must be made before taking any metal to a scrap dealer is to price up each and every piece that you have. Scrap metal prices will vary from dealer to dealer and each yard will have a variety of different trading standards that they adhere to as well. It is crucial that you research each individual scrap yard before taking anything to them to ensure that you meet these requirements or you may be leaving empty handed.

Examples of these requirements include what forms of scrap they will accept on site, whether or not they solely require pieces of clean scrap, with no additional materials attached. Or possibly they may be searching for wires, wheels, radiators, cables, metal sheets, metal extrusions, metal castings or many more forms. Due to these requirements, it is occasionally difficult for people to accurately determine what scrap metal prices to expect. However, in these instances I would recommend coming up with a figure in your head and taking your metal to the scrap dealer, you may be able to negotiate quite considerably once you have arrived.

Related posts:

I have always been fascinated by the need to be meticulous in all I do and doing it as a team. It has buoyed my advancement as I applied it to work and life. In my career as a HR manager, I used my…

About a decade earlier, Abumrad, an aspiring composer who had forged a circuitous path into the radio industry, had been given a three-hour time slot on Sunday nights to host a show for New York…

When Strangers Sparkles Love. With just one question about an introduction, they sparkle their love.By sparkling love, the strangers turn onto acquaintances