Unprepared Steel (Torch & Shear) Scrap Prices in Pennsylvania
Unprepared Steel (Torch & Shear) is currently pulling a national average of $0.08 per pound. Check the local yard prices in Pennsylvania below to see what buyers are offering before you haul your heavy iron.
Average Unprepared Steel (Torch & Shear) Price
- Low (up to $0.08): Floor price, typically for small loads.
- Mid ($0.10): A fair deal for standard quantities.
- High ($0.13+): Top-dollar rate. Offered for large commercial loads or by the most competitive buyers.
Pricing verified from 9 live board rates today.
Top Scrap Yards Buying Unprepared Steel Pennsylvania
Don't let your heavy, oversized steel get downgraded at the scale. Compare the payouts from these local buyers in Pennsylvania, ensure your load is free of major non-ferrous attachments, and always call ahead to confirm their current rates for unprepared iron.
Kantner Iron & Steel Inc
Three Rivers Recycling LLC
Einfalt Recycling & Salvage
Sahd Metal Recycling
Special T Metals LLC
Krill Recycling LLC
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 ⟶Unprepared Steel vs. Prepared Iron 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.
Unprepared Steel (Torch & Shear) Price Trends
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.
Unprepared Steel (Torch & Shear): Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (CME)
Avg scrap yard price
World market price (CME)
Unprepared Steel (Torch & Shear): Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History
| Period | World price (per lb) | Scrap yard price (per lb) | Spread vs. exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 (current) | $0.174571 | $0.04 | -$0.13 (76.7%) |
| February 2026 | $0.169679 | $0.04 | -$0.13 (76.6%) |
| January 2026 | $0.169184 | $0.08 | -$0.09 (51.6%) |
| December 2025 | $0.165335 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (42.4%) |
| November 2025 | $0.162647 | $0.08 | -$0.08 (48.1%) |
| October 2025 | $0.158761 | $0.09 | -$0.07 (45.7%) |
| September 2025 | $0.15567 | $0.07 | -$0.08 (53.1%) |
| August 2025 | $0.158816 | $0.09 | -$0.07 (41.3%) |
| July 2025 | $0.159239 | $0.10 | -$0.06 (39.2%) |
| June 2025 | $0.155033 | $0.08 | -$0.08 (50.5%) |
| May 2025 | $0.157923 | $0.10 | -$0.06 (39.1%) |
| April 2025 | $0.161157 | $0.10 | -$0.06 (39.2%) |
| March 2025 | $0.169235 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (39.8%) |
| February 2025 | $0.166 | $0.10 | -$0.06 (38%) |
| January 2025 | $0.158671 | $0.08 | -$0.07 (46.7%) |
| December 2024 | $0.159039 | $0.10 | -$0.06 (38.9%) |
| November 2024 | $0.165953 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (42.6%) |
| October 2024 | $0.173261 | $0.10 | -$0.08 (43.4%) |
| September 2024 | $0.16823 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (43.1%) |
| August 2024 | $0.166132 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (40.4%) |
| July 2024 | $0.174761 | $0.09 | -$0.08 (47.2%) |
| June 2024 | $0.173733 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (41.7%) |
| May 2024 | $0.174594 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (41.6%) |
| April 2024 | $0.174133 | $0.11 | -$0.07 (39.7%) |
| March 2024 | $0.174719 | $0.11 | -$0.07 (38.9%) |
| 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 (40.8%) |
| November 2023 | $0.18284 | $0.11 | -$0.07 (40%) |
| October 2023 | $0.168132 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (40.1%) |
| September 2023 | $0.171903 | $0.11 | -$0.06 (37.8%) |
| 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 (38.5%) |
| April 2023 | $0.187047 | $0.11 | -$0.08 (40.8%) |
| March 2023 | $0.203358 | $0.12 | -$0.09 (43.2%) |
| February 2023 | $0.200689 | $0.11 | -$0.09 (43.6%) |
| January 2023 | $0.188281 | $0.11 | -$0.08 (42.4%) |
| December 2022 | $0.175474 | $0.10 | -$0.08 (44.3%) |
| November 2022 | $0.15927 | $0.09 | -$0.07 (42.2%) |
| October 2022 | $0.161587 | $0.10 | -$0.06 (38.7%) |
| September 2022 | $0.162657 | $0.08 | -$0.08 (50%) |
| August 2022 | $0.17361 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (41.1%) |
| July 2022 | $0.169839 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (40%) |
| June 2022 | $0.173823 | $0.10 | -$0.07 (39.8%) |
| May 2022 | $0.217184 | $0.12 | -$0.09 (43.7%) |
| 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 | $0.10 | -$0.11 (51.2%) |
| December 2021 | $0.203377 | $0.12 | -$0.09 (42.3%) |
| November 2021 | $0.211507 | $0.12 | -$0.09 (44.8%) |
| October 2021 | $0.220087 | $0.13 | -$0.09 (42.5%) |
| September 2021 | $0.20218 | $0.12 | -$0.08 (40.6%) |
| August 2021 | $0.212068 | $0.13 | -$0.08 (40.1%) |
| July 2021 | $0.226971 | $0.12 | -$0.11 (46.3%) |
| June 2021 | $0.23039 | $0.13 | -$0.10 (44.2%) |
| May 2021 | $0.234461 | $0.14 | -$0.09 (39.9%) |
| April 2021 | $0.213893 | $0.12 | -$0.10 (45.5%) |
| March 2021 | $0.210168 | $0.12 | -$0.09 (43.1%) |
| February 2021 | $0.201529 | $0.12 | -$0.08 (41.5%) |
| January 2021 | $0.18881 | $0.11 | -$0.08 (42.9%) |
| December 2020 | $0.197974 | $0.11 | -$0.08 (42.6%) |
| November 2020 | $0.15506 | $0.08 | -$0.08 (49.1%) |
| October 2020 | $0.132848 | $0.07 | -$0.06 (45.6%) |
| September 2020 | $0.135103 | $0.07 | -$0.07 (48.7%) |
| August 2020 | $0.129755 | $0.07 | -$0.06 (46.3%) |
| 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 | $0.07 | -$0.06 (47.1%) |
| November 2019 | $0.11909 | $0.06 | -$0.06 (51.3%) |
| October 2019 | $0.112771 | $0.06 | -$0.06 (51.1%) |
| September 2019 | $0.1129 | $0.07 | -$0.05 (40.1%) |
| August 2019 | $0.128565 | $0.07 | -$0.06 (48.1%) |
| July 2019 | $0.137623 | $0.07 | -$0.07 (49.4%) |
| June 2019 | $0.135167 | $0.07 | -$0.06 (46.7%) |
| May 2019 | $0.137774 | $0.08 | -$0.06 (41%) |
| April 2019 | $0.14081 | $0.08 | -$0.06 (41.1%) |
| March 2019 | $0.147635 | $0.09 | -$0.06 (39%) |
| February 2019 | $0.148504 | $0.08 | -$0.07 (47.1%) |
| January 2019 | $0.132948 | $0.08 | -$0.05 (39.3%) |
| December 2018 | $0.136335 | $0.08 | -$0.06 (41.3%) |
| November 2018 | $0.14599 | $0.09 | -$0.06 (40.6%) |
| October 2018 | $0.143232 | $0.08 | -$0.06 (44.8%) |
| September 2018 | $0.138937 | $0.08 | -$0.06 (41.9%) |
| August 2018 | $0.139935 | $0.07 | -$0.07 (46.5%) |
| July 2018 | $0.148932 | $0.08 | -$0.07 (45.4%) |
| June 2018 | $0.15733 | $0.08 | -$0.07 (46.4%) |
| May 2018 | $0.157313 | $0.10 | -$0.06 (39.5%) |
| April 2018 | $0.157323 | $0.09 | -$0.06 (40.9%) |
| March 2018 | $0.168035 | $0.09 | -$0.08 (46.2%) |
| February 2018 | $0.16745 | $0.07 | -$0.09 (55.4%) |
| January 2018 | $0.163439 | $0.10 | -$0.06 (39.2%) |
| December 2017 | $0.161835 | $0.09 | -$0.07 (43.4%) |
| November 2017 | $0.148853 | $0.09 | -$0.06 (39.5%) |
| October 2017 | $0.13681 | $0.08 | -$0.05 (39.9%) |
| September 2017 | $0.14338 | $0.09 | -$0.06 (39.8%) |
| August 2017 | $0.143687 | $0.09 | -$0.06 (39.2%) |
| July 2017 | $0.13389 | $0.08 | -$0.05 (40%) |
| June 2017 | $0.126117 | $0.07 | -$0.06 (44.8%) |
| May 2017 | $0.126668 | $0.08 | -$0.05 (39.4%) |
| April 2017 | $0.12463 | $0.07 | -$0.05 (40.4%) |
| March 2017 | $0.131929 | $0.08 | -$0.05 (39.9%) |
| February 2017 | $0.123561 | $0.08 | -$0.05 (39%) |
| January 2017 | $0.12651 | $0.08 | -$0.05 (39.8%) |
| December 2016 | $0.132723 | $0.07 | -$0.06 (47.5%) |
| November 2016 | $0.129783 | $0.06 | -$0.07 (50.2%) |
| October 2016 | $0.104213 | $0.05 | -$0.05 (50.8%) |
| September 2016 | $0.097987 | $0.06 | -$0.04 (42.8%) |
| August 2016 | $0.099148 | $0.06 | -$0.04 (40.8%) |
| July 2016 | $0.100113 | $0.06 | -$0.04 (40.1%) |
| June 2016 | $0.102657 | $0.06 | -$0.04 (41.6%) |
| May 2016 | $0.118674 | $0.07 | -$0.05 (42.6%) |
| April 2016 | $0.11646 | $0.06 | -$0.06 (50.2%) |
| March 2016 | $0.091855 | $0.05 | -$0.04 (45.6%) |
| February 2016 | $0.078928 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (36.7%) |
| January 2016 | $0.08539 | $0.05 | -$0.04 (41.4%) |
| December 2015 | $0.084058 | $0.04 | -$0.04 (49.7%) |
| November 2015 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (40.1%) |
| October 2015 | $0.0835 | $0.04 | -$0.04 (46.3%) |
| September 2015 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (39.3%) |
| August 2015 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (34.7%) |
| July 2015 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (40.1%) |
| June 2015 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (40.1%) |
| May 2015 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (37%) |
| April 2015 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (40.1%) |
| March 2015 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (37%) |
| February 2015 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (40.1%) |
| January 2015 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (40.1%) |
| December 2014 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (40.1%) |
| November 2014 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (40.1%) |
| October 2014 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (40.1%) |
| September 2014 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (40.1%) |
| August 2014 | $0.0835 | $0.06 | -$0.02 (24.7%) |
| July 2014 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (40.1%) |
| June 2014 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (40.1%) |
| May 2014 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (40.1%) |
| April 2014 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (40.1%) |
| March 2014 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (40.1%) |
| February 2014 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (40.1%) |
| January 2014 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (40.1%) |
| December 2013 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (40.1%) |
| November 2013 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (40.1%) |
| October 2013 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (40.1%) |
| September 2013 | $0.0835 | $0.05 | -$0.03 (40.1%) |
| August 2013 | $0.0835 | $0.06 | -$0.02 (25.1%) |
Unprepared Steel (Torch & Shear) 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/20/2026 | $0.05 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.05 - $0.05 |
| 3/17/2026 | $0.03 / lb | -$0.02 | $0.03 - $0.03 |
| 3/14/2026 | $0.05 / lb | — no change | $0.05 - $0.05 |
| 3/11/2026 | $0.05 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.05 - $0.05 |
| 3/10/2026 | $0.03 / lb | -$0.02 | $0.03 - $0.03 |
| 3/6/2026 | $0.05 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.04 - $0.05 |
| 3/5/2026 | $0.03 / lb | -$0.02 | $0.03 - $0.03 |
| 2/28/2026 | $0.05 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.05 - $0.05 |
| 2/27/2026 | $0.04 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.03 - $0.05 |
| 2/25/2026 | $0.03 / lb | -$0.02 | $0.03 - $0.03 |
| 2/23/2026 | $0.05 / lb | — no change | $0.05 - $0.05 |
| 2/20/2026 | $0.05 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.05 - $0.05 |
| 2/17/2026 | $0.10 / lb | +$0.08 | $0.09 - $0.13 |
| 2/15/2026 | $0.02 / lb | -$0.02 | $0.02 - $0.02 |
| 2/6/2026 | $0.04 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.04 - $0.04 |
| 2/4/2026 | $0.02 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.02 - $0.02 |
| 1/12/2026 | $0.07 / lb | -$0.02 | $0.07 - $0.07 |
| 12/19/2025 | $0.09 / lb | — no change | $0.09 - $0.09 |
| 12/13/2025 | $0.09 / lb | — no change | $0.09 - $0.09 |
| 12/12/2025 | $0.09 / lb | +$0.06 | $0.09 - $0.09 |
| 11/8/2025 | $0.03 / lb | -$0.03 | $0.03 - $0.03 |
| 11/3/2025 | $0.06 / lb | -$0.02 | $0.05 - $0.07 |
| 10/8/2025 | $0.08 / lb | +$0.04 | $0.08 - $0.08 |
| 10/1/2025 | $0.04 / lb | -$0.07 | $0.04 - $0.04 |
| 9/16/2025 | $0.11 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.11 - $0.11 |
| 9/12/2025 | $0.06 / lb | -$0.03 | $0.06 - $0.06 |
| 8/30/2025 | $0.09 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.09 - $0.09 |
| 8/26/2025 | $0.08 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.08 - $0.08 |
| 6/17/2025 | $0.09 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.08 - $0.09 |
| 6/11/2025 | $0.04 / lb | -$0.06 | $0.03 - $0.05 |
| 5/20/2025 | $0.10 / lb | — no change | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 4/29/2025 | $0.10 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 3/24/2025 | $0.08 / lb | -$0.03 | $0.07 - $0.08 |
| 3/23/2025 | $0.11 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.10 - $0.12 |
| 3/19/2025 | $0.12 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.11 - $0.12 |
| 3/17/2025 | $0.10 / lb | — no change | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 2/13/2025 | $0.10 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 2/10/2025 | $0.11 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.10 - $0.11 |
| 1/25/2025 | $0.10 / lb | +$0.07 | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 1/22/2025 | $0.03 / lb | -$0.07 | $0.03 - $0.03 |
| 1/17/2025 | $0.10 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.09 - $0.10 |
| 1/13/2025 | $0.09 / lb | — no change | $0.09 - $0.09 |
| 12/8/2024 | $0.09 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.09 - $0.09 |
| 12/5/2024 | $0.10 / lb | +$0.04 | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 11/4/2024 | $0.06 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.06 - $0.06 |
| 9/19/2024 | $0.04 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.04 - $0.04 |
| 9/18/2024 | $0.09 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.09 - $0.09 |
| 8/12/2024 | $0.10 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 8/3/2024 | $0.09 / lb | +$0.03 | $0.09 - $0.09 |
| 7/13/2024 | $0.06 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.06 - $0.06 |
| 5/29/2024 | $0.11 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.11 - $0.11 |
| 5/27/2024 | $0.10 / lb | — no change | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 4/17/2024 | $0.10 / lb | -$0.02 | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 3/4/2024 | $0.12 / lb | +$0.03 | $0.12 - $0.12 |
| 2/27/2024 | $0.09 / lb | -$0.02 | $0.09 - $0.09 |
| 12/5/2023 | $0.11 / lb | +$0.04 | $0.11 - $0.11 |
| 10/2/2023 | $0.07 / lb | -$0.06 | $0.06 - $0.08 |
| 10/1/2023 | $0.13 / lb | +$0.03 | $0.13 - $0.13 |
| 9/23/2023 | $0.10 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 5/31/2023 | $0.11 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.11 - $0.11 |
| 4/1/2023 | $0.06 / lb | -$0.04 | $0.06 - $0.06 |
| 3/27/2023 | $0.10 / lb | -$0.04 | $0.09 - $0.12 |
| 3/21/2023 | $0.14 / lb | +$0.07 | $0.14 - $0.14 |
| 2/7/2023 | $0.07 / lb | -$0.02 | $0.07 - $0.07 |
| 2/4/2023 | $0.09 / lb | — no change | $0.08 - $0.11 |
| 12/8/2022 | $0.09 / lb | +$0.06 | $0.09 - $0.09 |
| 12/3/2022 | $0.03 / lb | -$0.06 | $0.03 - $0.03 |
| 12/1/2022 | $0.09 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.09 - $0.09 |
| 9/30/2022 | $0.10 / lb | +$0.07 | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 9/27/2022 | $0.03 / lb | -$0.06 | $0.02 - $0.04 |
| 8/14/2022 | $0.09 / lb | -$0.02 | $0.09 - $0.09 |
| 8/9/2022 | $0.11 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.10 - $0.11 |
| 5/19/2022 | $0.06 / lb | -$0.06 | $0.06 - $0.06 |
| 5/16/2022 | $0.12 / lb | +$0.07 | $0.12 - $0.12 |
| 1/27/2022 | $0.05 / lb | -$0.03 | $0.05 - $0.05 |
| 1/22/2022 | $0.08 / lb | -$0.06 | $0.07 - $0.08 |
| 12/6/2021 | $0.14 / lb | +$0.08 | $0.14 - $0.14 |
| 12/3/2021 | $0.06 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.06 - $0.06 |
| 10/16/2021 | $0.11 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.11 - $0.11 |
| 7/31/2021 | $0.09 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.08 - $0.09 |
| 7/27/2021 | $0.10 / lb | — no change | $0.08 - $0.12 |
| 6/20/2021 | $0.10 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.09 - $0.11 |
| 4/19/2021 | $0.08 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.08 - $0.08 |
| 3/4/2021 | $0.07 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.07 - $0.07 |
| 3/1/2021 | $0.12 / lb | +$0.03 | $0.12 - $0.12 |
| 1/28/2021 | $0.09 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.08 - $0.10 |
| 12/5/2020 | $0.07 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.07 - $0.07 |
| 12/2/2020 | $0.08 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.08 - $0.08 |
| 11/25/2020 | $0.06 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.05 - $0.07 |
| 10/19/2020 | $0.05 / lb | — no change | $0.05 - $0.05 |
| 9/30/2020 | $0.05 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.05 - $0.05 |
| 9/28/2020 | $0.06 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.06 - $0.06 |
| 9/27/2020 | $0.05 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.05 - $0.05 |
| 8/15/2020 | $0.04 / lb | — no change | $0.04 - $0.04 |
| 12/14/2019 | $0.04 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.03 - $0.04 |
| 11/20/2019 | $0.03 / lb | — no change | $0.03 - $0.03 |
| 11/18/2019 | $0.03 / lb | -$0.02 | $0.03 - $0.03 |
| 11/15/2019 | $0.05 / lb | +$0.03 | $0.05 - $0.06 |
| 10/20/2019 | $0.02 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.02 - $0.02 |
| 9/4/2019 | $0.07 / lb | +$0.03 | $0.07 - $0.07 |
| 8/24/2019 | $0.04 / lb | -$0.02 | $0.04 - $0.04 |
| 8/21/2019 | $0.06 / lb | — no change | $0.05 - $0.07 |
| 8/17/2019 | $0.06 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.05 - $0.06 |
| 7/17/2019 | $0.04 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.04 - $0.04 |
| 6/18/2019 | $0.05 / lb | — no change | $0.05 - $0.05 |
| 2/19/2019 | $0.05 / lb | -$0.02 | $0.05 - $0.05 |
| 11/1/2018 | $0.07 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.05 - $0.08 |
| 8/15/2018 | $0.05 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.05 - $0.05 |
| 7/25/2018 | $0.06 / lb | — no change | $0.06 - $0.06 |
| 7/1/2018 | $0.06 / lb | — no change | $0.06 - $0.06 |
| 3/20/2018 | $0.06 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.05 - $0.06 |
| 2/26/2018 | $0.05 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.05 - $0.05 |
| 2/13/2018 | $0.06 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.06 - $0.06 |
| 12/10/2017 | $0.07 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.07 - $0.07 |
| 6/30/2017 | $0.05 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.05 - $0.06 |
| 12/25/2016 | $0.04 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.04 - $0.04 |
| 11/26/2016 | $0.03 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.03 - $0.04 |
| 10/26/2016 | $0.02 / lb | -$0.02 | $0.02 - $0.02 |
| 9/6/2016 | $0.04 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.03 - $0.04 |
| 5/23/2016 | $0.05 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.05 - $0.05 |
| 4/20/2016 | $0.04 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.03 - $0.04 |
| 4/3/2016 | $0.03 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.02 - $0.03 |
| 12/25/2015 | $0.02 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.02 - $0.02 |
| 10/22/2015 | $0.03 / lb | -$0.04 | $0.03 - $0.03 |
| 9/1/2015 | $0.07 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.07 - $0.07 |
| 5/12/2015 | $0.06 / lb | — no change | $0.06 - $0.06 |
| 3/27/2015 | $0.06 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.06 - $0.06 |
| 2/9/2015 | $0.05 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.04 - $0.06 |
| 8/27/2014 | $0.10 / lb | — no change | $0.10 - $0.11 |
The Heavy Haul: Making Unprepared Steel Pay
Unprepared Steel—often known around the yard as Torch & Shear—is the heavy, oversized iron that is simply too big for the foundry box. We are talking about long I-beams, thick pipe, heavy equipment frames, and massive steel plates that need to be cut down before they can be melted. Because the yard has to spend gas, time, and labor slicing it up, buyers offer a lower rate than they do for prepared grades. Right now, our data shows national prices ranging from $0.06 on the dirty or heavily attached end up to $0.09 for clean, easily shearable loads, with the current average sitting at $0.08.
Yard Pro Tip: Before you haul a massive load of unprepared steel, check for sealed tanks, closed cylinders, or heavy non-metallic attachments like thick rubber mounts or concrete. Yards will aggressively dock your pay or reject the load entirely if they spot sealed units, because their torch guys do not want the explosion hazard. Torching open a closed shock absorber, venting a hydraulic tank, or knocking off concrete before you hit the scale will save you from a nasty downgrade or a rejected ticket.
Scale Smarts: Prepping Your Heavy Iron
When you are hauling heavy iron in Pennsylvania, sorting is everything. The biggest mistake scrappers make is throwing high-value, thick unprepared steel into the same roll-off bin as light sheet iron, tin, or Wire Fence. If the scale master sees a bird's nest of thin wire mixed with your heavy plate, they will grade the whole ticket at the cheapest price. That lazy mistake can cost you roughly $0.05 per pound in lost value. Always keep your heavy iron completely separate from your light shred.
| Grade | Description | Price Expectation |
|---|---|---|
| Unprepared Steel | Over 36 inches long, over 1/4 inch thick. Needs torching/shearing. | Baseline: $0.08 |
| Prepared HMS | Already cut to foundry spec (typically under 3 ft x 18 in). | Premium rate |
| Mixed/Dirty | Heavy steel mixed with light iron or heavy trash attachments. | Downgraded to $0.06 |
If you have the heavy-duty equipment and the time to cut your material down to size yourself, you can bump it up to #1 Prepared Steel (HMS) or #2 Prepared Steel. Just do the math on your torch gas, blade wear, and labor first. Also, keep an eye out for dense cast parts mixed into your machinery scrap; Automotive Cast Iron (Rotors/Drums) often pays a slightly different rate, currently tracking around $0.11 to $0.16/lb.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do yards pay less for unprepared steel?
It all comes down to processing costs. Buyers offer lower prices because they have to use heavy alligator shears, large excavators with shear attachments, or manual torching to cut the steel down to the strict dimensions required by the steel mills. Expect local prices to sit about 47.1% below the CME spot price to cover this heavy labor and freight.
What dimensions make steel "unprepared"?
While every yard has slightly different rules based on their domestic buyers, steel is generally considered unprepared if it is thicker than 1/4 inch but larger than 3 feet by 18 inches. Anything larger simply will not fit into the standard melting boxes at the foundry.
Should I torch the steel myself before selling?
It depends entirely on your volume and overhead. If you can efficiently cut the metal into #1 Prepared Steel (HMS) without spending more on oxygen and acetylene than the price bump is worth, it is a smart move. Otherwise, you are better off taking the $0.08 unprepared price and letting the yard handle the heavy lifting and safety risks.
Unprepared Steel (Torch & Shear) scrap prices in Pennsylvania on the map
The map shows cities in Pennsylvania with Unprepared Steel (Torch & Shear) scrap prices. Click a marker or pick a city in the list below to see Unprepared Steel (Torch & Shear) prices in that location.