Current #2 Prepared Steel Scrap Prices in New York
Current national average pricing for #2 Prepared Steel sits at $0.11 per pound. Find the top-paying local scrap yards in New York and compare today's iron rates before hitting the scale.
Average #2 Prepared Steel Price
- Low (up to $0.08): Floor price, typically for small loads.
- Mid ($0.08): A fair deal for standard quantities.
- High ($0.09+): Top-dollar rate. Offered for large commercial loads or by the most competitive buyers.
Pricing verified from 8 live board rates today.
Top Scrap Yards Buying #2 Prepared Steel in New York
Check out the list below to find local buyers in New York taking #2 Prepared Steel. Ferrous market rates fluctuate frequently with the CME, so always call these yards ahead of time to confirm their sizing requirements and current pricing before you load up your trailer.
Niagara Metals
Skyway Auto Parts Inc
Metalico South Park
Niagara Metals
Niagara Metals
Niagara Metals
Your competitors are already here. Is your yard missing from the list?
Hundreds of people search here every day for the best scrap metal prices. Start capturing ready-to-sell leads today.
🚀 List your scrap yard ⟶Compare #2 Prepared Steel Prices vs. Other Ferrous Grades
The #1 rule at scrap yards: if you mix grades, they’ll weigh everything at the lowest rate. See the price gap below — if you have higher-value metal, always sort and weigh each grade separately to avoid leaving money on the table.
Historical Price Trends for #2 Prepared Steel
This chart shows where the market is headed. If the line is climbing, prices are rising — you might get a better deal in a few days. If it’s dropping, don’t wait: sell today before yards lower their buy prices further.
#2 Prepared Steel: Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (CME)
Avg scrap yard price
World market price (CME)
#2 Prepared Steel: Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History
| Period | World price (per lb) | Scrap yard price (per lb) | Spread vs. exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 (current) | $0.174571 | $0.10 | -$0.08 (45.3%) |
| February 2026 | $0.169679 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (42.7%) |
| January 2026 | $0.169184 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (41.3%) |
| December 2025 | $0.165335 | $0.09 | -$0.08 (45.4%) |
| November 2025 | $0.162647 | $0.10 | -$0.06 (38.5%) |
| October 2025 | $0.158761 | $0.10 | -$0.06 (38.6%) |
| September 2025 | $0.15567 | $0.09 | -$0.07 (42.2%) |
| August 2025 | $0.158816 | $0.12 | -$0.04 (23.6%) |
| July 2025 | $0.159239 | $0.09 | -$0.07 (41.3%) |
| June 2025 | $0.155033 | $0.09 | -$0.07 (41.9%) |
| May 2025 | $0.157923 | $0.09 | -$0.07 (43%) |
| April 2025 | $0.161157 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (40.4%) |
| March 2025 | $0.169235 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (39.4%) |
| February 2025 | $0.166 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (39.8%) |
| January 2025 | $0.158671 | $0.09 | -$0.07 (42.9%) |
| December 2024 | $0.159039 | $0.09 | -$0.07 (42.8%) |
| November 2024 | $0.165953 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (39.9%) |
| October 2024 | $0.173261 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (40.4%) |
| September 2024 | $0.16823 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (40.4%) |
| August 2024 | $0.166132 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (41%) |
| July 2024 | $0.174761 | $0.11 | -$0.07 (39.3%) |
| June 2024 | $0.173733 | $0.10 | -$0.08 (44.2%) |
| May 2024 | $0.174594 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (40.9%) |
| April 2024 | $0.174133 | $0.11 | -$0.07 (39.7%) |
| March 2024 | $0.174719 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (40.4%) |
| February 2024 | $0.183579 | $0.11 | -$0.08 (42.7%) |
| January 2024 | $0.185484 | $0.11 | -$0.08 (40.7%) |
| December 2023 | $0.189755 | $0.11 | -$0.08 (42%) |
| November 2023 | $0.18284 | $0.11 | -$0.08 (41.5%) |
| October 2023 | $0.168132 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (40.1%) |
| September 2023 | $0.171903 | $0.10 | -$0.08 (44.2%) |
| August 2023 | $0.169355 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (41%) |
| July 2023 | $0.167445 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (40.3%) |
| June 2023 | $0.171827 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (41%) |
| May 2023 | $0.168968 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (39.5%) |
| April 2023 | $0.187047 | $0.11 | -$0.07 (39.8%) |
| March 2023 | $0.203358 | $0.12 | -$0.08 (38.8%) |
| February 2023 | $0.200689 | $0.12 | -$0.08 (39.1%) |
| January 2023 | $0.188281 | $0.11 | -$0.08 (42.8%) |
| December 2022 | $0.175474 | $0.11 | -$0.07 (39.9%) |
| November 2022 | $0.15927 | $0.09 | -$0.06 (40.8%) |
| October 2022 | $0.161587 | $0.10 | -$0.06 (39.5%) |
| September 2022 | $0.162657 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (41.2%) |
| August 2022 | $0.17361 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (39.8%) |
| July 2022 | $0.169839 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (42.8%) |
| June 2022 | $0.173823 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (40.4%) |
| May 2022 | $0.217184 | $0.13 | -$0.09 (40%) |
| April 2022 | $0.271843 | $0.16 | -$0.11 (39.9%) |
| March 2022 | $0.293526 | $0.17 | -$0.12 (40.4%) |
| February 2022 | $0.229654 | $0.14 | -$0.09 (39.7%) |
| January 2022 | $0.212861 | $0.12 | -$0.09 (42.7%) |
| December 2021 | $0.203377 | $0.12 | -$0.08 (40.4%) |
| November 2021 | $0.211507 | $0.13 | -$0.08 (39.6%) |
| October 2021 | $0.220087 | $0.13 | -$0.09 (39.9%) |
| September 2021 | $0.20218 | $0.12 | -$0.08 (40.6%) |
| August 2021 | $0.212068 | $0.13 | -$0.09 (40.7%) |
| July 2021 | $0.226971 | $0.13 | -$0.10 (41.9%) |
| June 2021 | $0.23039 | $0.14 | -$0.09 (39.5%) |
| May 2021 | $0.234461 | $0.14 | -$0.09 (39.9%) |
| April 2021 | $0.213893 | $0.13 | -$0.08 (39.2%) |
| March 2021 | $0.210168 | $0.13 | -$0.08 (40.1%) |
| February 2021 | $0.201529 | $0.12 | -$0.08 (40.5%) |
| January 2021 | $0.18881 | $0.11 | -$0.08 (39.9%) |
| December 2020 | $0.197974 | $0.12 | -$0.08 (40.2%) |
| November 2020 | $0.15506 | $0.09 | -$0.06 (40%) |
| October 2020 | $0.132848 | $0.08 | -$0.06 (41.7%) |
| September 2020 | $0.135103 | $0.08 | -$0.06 (42.8%) |
| August 2020 | $0.129755 | $0.07 | -$0.05 (42.3%) |
| July 2020 | $0.121603 | $0.07 | -$0.05 (40.3%) |
| June 2020 | $0.1198 | $0.07 | -$0.05 (41.6%) |
| May 2020 | $0.120335 | $0.07 | -$0.05 (41.8%) |
| April 2020 | $0.119887 | $0.07 | -$0.05 (41.6%) |
| March 2020 | $0.120871 | $0.07 | -$0.05 (39.2%) |
| February 2020 | $0.124241 | $0.08 | -$0.05 (38.7%) |
| January 2020 | $0.126948 | $0.08 | -$0.05 (37.7%) |
| December 2019 | $0.129165 | $0.08 | -$0.05 (39.1%) |
| November 2019 | $0.118509 | $0.07 | -$0.05 (41.7%) |
#2 Prepared Steel Scrap Price History — Daily Data
A day-by-day market snapshot in exact numbers. Every day we aggregate buy prices from local scrap yards, recording the average, low, and high. Use this table to track real price movement over recent days.
| Date | Avg price (per lb) | Change | Range (Low/High) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/17/2026 | $0.09 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.09 - $0.09 |
| 1/1/2026 | $0.08 / lb | — no change | $0.08 - $0.08 |
| 12/19/2025 | $0.08 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.08 - $0.08 |
| 9/9/2025 | $0.09 / lb | -$0.10 | $0.09 - $0.09 |
| 8/24/2025 | $0.19 / lb | +$0.11 | $0.19 - $0.19 |
| 7/14/2025 | $0.08 / lb | — no change | $0.08 - $0.08 |
| 5/16/2025 | $0.08 / lb | -$0.03 | $0.08 - $0.08 |
| 3/21/2025 | $0.11 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.11 - $0.11 |
| 2/13/2025 | $0.10 / lb | — no change | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 2/6/2025 | $0.10 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 1/15/2025 | $0.08 / lb | — no change | $0.08 - $0.08 |
| 12/14/2024 | $0.08 / lb | — no change | $0.08 - $0.08 |
| 12/13/2024 | $0.08 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.08 - $0.08 |
| 8/6/2024 | $0.09 / lb | — no change | $0.09 - $0.09 |
| 6/18/2024 | $0.09 / lb | — no change | $0.09 - $0.09 |
| 6/13/2024 | $0.09 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.09 - $0.09 |
| 2/29/2024 | $0.10 / lb | — no change | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 2/27/2024 | $0.10 / lb | — no change | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 2/23/2024 | $0.10 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 12/4/2023 | $0.09 / lb | — no change | $0.09 - $0.09 |
| 9/27/2023 | $0.09 / lb | — no change | $0.09 - $0.09 |
| 9/23/2023 | $0.09 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.09 - $0.09 |
| 6/5/2023 | $0.10 / lb | — no change | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 6/2/2023 | $0.10 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 5/6/2023 | $0.11 / lb | -$0.02 | $0.11 - $0.11 |
| 3/30/2023 | $0.13 / lb | +$0.03 | $0.13 - $0.13 |
| 1/30/2023 | $0.10 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 10/2/2022 | $0.08 / lb | — no change | $0.08 - $0.08 |
| 7/28/2022 | $0.08 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.08 - $0.08 |
| 6/29/2022 | $0.09 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.09 - $0.09 |
| 1/25/2022 | $0.10 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 8/2/2021 | $0.11 / lb | — no change | $0.11 - $0.11 |
| 1/18/2021 | $0.11 / lb | +$0.04 | $0.11 - $0.11 |
| 10/20/2020 | $0.07 / lb | — no change | $0.07 - $0.07 |
| 9/25/2020 | $0.07 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.07 - $0.07 |
| 8/8/2020 | $0.06 / lb | — no change | $0.06 - $0.06 |
The Daily Grind: Cashing In On #2 Prepared Steel
If you're hauling old car frames, thin-wall pipe, or lighter agricultural equipment, you are likely dealing with #2 Prepared Steel. This grade is the backbone of the everyday scrapper's ferrous load—thinner than premium #1 iron, but much better quality than standard shred. Currently, our data shows national average payouts sitting around $0.11 per pound. Depending on domestic demand and export markets, yards are offering anywhere from $0.10 up to $0.13 for well-prepared loads. Because ferrous pricing is heavily tied to the CME, you can expect buyers in New York to price their #2 Prepared roughly 53.4% below the spot market to account for their freight and handling costs.
Don't Get Docked: Sizing and Sorting Your Iron
Scale masters have no patience for messy loads. The quickest way to ruin a good ticket is by throwing your cut steel in the same pile as dirty sheet iron or galvanized fencing. If you mix your clean #2 Prepared Steel with lower-grade material like Wire Fence, the yard will downgrade your entire flatbed, costing you roughly $0.07 per pound in an instant. Keep your structural scrap strictly separated from your light iron.
Yard Pro Tip: The difference between '#2 Prepared' and 'Unprepared' steel is all in your tape measure. Most yards require #2 Prepared Steel to be cut down to specific dimensions—typically under 3 feet long and 18 inches wide (often called 3x1.5). If you roll across the scale with a 10-foot stick of perfectly good pipe, they will automatically downgrade you to the cheaper 'Unprepared' rate because they have to pay a guy to torch or shear it down to foundry size. Make the cuts yourself before you leave your shop and pocket that margin.
Know Your Heavy Ferrous Grades
Sorting your steel by thickness and material type is crucial. Here is how #2 Prepared stacks up against the heavier stuff.
| Grade | What It Is | National Range |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Prepared Steel | Steel under 1/4-inch thick, cut to yard dimensions (usually 3ft or under). | $0.10 - $0.13/lb |
| #1 Prepared Steel (HMS) | Heavy Melting Steel: 1/4-inch thick or more, cut to size. | $0.07 to $0.15/lb |
| Automotive Cast Iron (Rotors/Drums) | Clean cast iron brake rotors and drums, no pads attached. | $0.11 to $0.16/lb |
| Cast Iron (Heavy) | Engine blocks, industrial castings, thick cast pipes. | $0.09 to $0.20/lb |
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes steel '#2' instead of '#1'?
It's all about the thickness. #1 Prepared Steel must be at least 1/4-inch thick. If the steel is thinner than a standard pencil (under 1/4-inch) but thicker than flimsy sheet metal, it falls into the #2 Prepared category. It still needs to be free of non-metallics and excessive rust.
How much should I expect to get paid for #2 Prepared Steel today?
Nationwide, yards are paying an average of $0.11 per pound. However, local prices New York will vary based on proximity to steel mills, port access, and the current CME commodities market. Generally, rates hover around 53.4% below the spot price.
Can I leave attachments on my #2 Prepared scrap?
No. 'Prepared' means it is ready for the furnace. You must remove any rubber, plastic, wood, or excessive dirt. If a yard inspector spots heavy non-metallic contamination, they will either take a hefty weight deduction off your ticket or downgrade the whole load to a lower shred price.
#2 Prepared Steel scrap prices in New York on the map
The map shows cities in New York with #2 Prepared Steel scrap prices. Click a marker or pick a city in the list below to see #2 Prepared Steel prices in that location.