Average Aluminum Wire (EC / Clean) Price

Blended rate: local Phoenix, Arizona prices + national trend. As of 2/17/2026.
$1.27/ lb -$0.45 (10.8%)
Use this as a baseline for negotiations. Always call local yards to confirm their rate for your load size.GT = Gross Ton (2240 lbs)
Avg: $1.27
Lowest price $0.90
Highest price$1.70Who pays the most? ⟶
How to read a yard's offer

The min/max range reflects a blended index (local + national data). Your local high may be lower.

  • Low (up to $0.90): Floor price, typically for small loads.
  • Mid ($1.27): A fair deal for standard quantities.
  • High ($1.70+): Top-dollar rate. Offered for large commercial loads or by the most competitive buyers.
52-week price range
Over the past year, prices ranged from $0.55 to $1.35.
Mar '25Jun '25Sep '25Dec '25Today
Market response to LME pricing
Spread vs. exchange (180-day avg): ~36.1% (+$0.36/lb). Typical spread for this grade: 5%–22%
⚠️ Local prices haven’t caught up with the exchange yet
Market snapshot
Stable market. Prices have held steady over the past 6 months.
Pricing verified from 2 live board rates today.

Aluminum Wire (EC / Clean) price reference for Phoenix, Arizona

Scrap yards in Phoenix, Arizona don’t always update their prices in real time. To give you a reliable current value, we use the U.S. national average ($1.18/lb). The secondary metals market tracks exchange moves consistently across the country. Use this national figure as your benchmark when negotiating with local yards. Aluminum Wire (EC / Clean) prices across the U.S. →

Top Scrap Yards Buying Aluminum Wire (EC / Clean) in Phoenix

These are scrap yards in Phoenix, Arizona that recently updated Aluminum Wire (EC / Clean) prices in our database. Call them to lock in a quote. If your city isn't listed, use the National Index above as a bargaining reference with your nearest buyer.

💼 Scrap yard owners: Post your buy prices and get more customers
By price
By date
Updated 32 days ago

E-Z Money Recycling LLC

Listed as: EC Wire
1234 S 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85034 Get Directions
$1.35 / lb
Updated 32 days ago

E-Z Money Recycling LLC

Listed as: EC Wire
1234 S 7th St, Phoenix Get Directions
$1.35 / lb

Don’t see your scrap yard in Phoenix, Arizona? List it for free.

Hundreds of sellers in your area search for current scrap prices every day. Post your buy prices and start getting calls.

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How Does Clean EC Wire Compare to Other Aluminum?

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.

Aluminum 5052 (Plate) Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$1.28 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Painted Aluminum Extrusion Based on 1 scrap yards
Avg price:$1.10 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Aluminum BX Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.90 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Aluminum Cans (UBC) Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.85 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Aluminum Siding & Gutters Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.81 / lb
Trend (30d): +18.3%
Price analytics
Dirty & Irony Aluminum Wheels Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.81 / lb
Trend (6m): 0.4%
Price analytics
Clean Aluminum Auto Wheels (Alloy 356) Based on 1 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.80 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Aluminum 6061 Structural Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.77 / lb
Trend (30d): +7.6%
Price analytics
Dirty Aluminum Extrusion Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.70 / lb
Trend (90d): +21.5%
Price analytics
Aluminum 6063 Extrusion (Clean) Based on 1 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.70 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Lithographic Plates (Litho) Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.70 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Aluminum Clips & MLC Based on 1 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.65 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Clean Truck & Semi Wheels (Alloy 6061) Based on 1 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.65 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Chrome Plated Aluminum Wheels Based on 1 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.60 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Thermal Break Aluminum Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.60 / lb
Trend (6m): +1.1%
Price analytics
Painted & Old Sheet Aluminum Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.55 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Aluminum Wire (Insulated / ACSR) Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.50 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Cast Aluminum Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.50 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Clean Aluminum Sheet Estimated prices in Arizona
Avg price:$0.45 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Aluminum Turnings Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.26 / lb
Trend (6m): -38.8%
Price analytics
Aluminum Foil & Light Gauge Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.10 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Irony & Breakage Aluminum Estimated prices in Arizona
Avg price:$0.10 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics

Historical Price Trends for Aluminum Wire (EC / Clean)

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.

Aluminum Wire (EC / Clean): Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (LME)

Avg scrap yard price

$1.27
Scrap metal dealers
Spread: +$0.36/lb
vs. exchange

World market price (LME)

$0.9916
✓ For 99.9% pure refined metal
💡 Why is the yard paying a premium over the exchange? The LME price is the global benchmark for primary refined metal in large institutional contracts. U.S. scrap buy prices can sit above that level when regional premiums apply (for aluminum, the Midwest Premium is a familiar example), because clean, furnace-ready grades are already sorted and molten-ready—without the same import and ingot logistics—while local supply and demand still set the final scale price.

Aluminum Wire (EC / Clean): Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History

Analyst take: This month’s average spread between scrap yard prices and the world market for Aluminum Wire (EC / Clean) is 36.1%. That’s in line with the typical range for this grade (33%–39%). Local yards are offering fair market rates. Check offers in your area ↑
PeriodWorld price (per lb)Scrap yard price (per lb)Spread vs. exchange
March 2026 (current)$1.096662$1.09-$0.01 (0.8%)
February 2026$1.2032$1.11-$0.09 (7.7%)
January 2026$1.051423$0.89-$0.16 (15%)
December 2025$0.982942$0.84-$0.15 (14.8%)
November 2025$0.930043$0.79-$0.14 (15.1%)
October 2025$0.887584$0.77-$0.12 (13.7%)
September 2025$0.86119$0.75-$0.11 (13.3%)
August 2025$0.866703$0.74-$0.13 (15%)
July 2025$0.837774$0.70-$0.14 (16.6%)
June 2025$0.802343$0.68-$0.12 (15%)
May 2025$0.807171$0.69-$0.12 (15.1%)
April 2025$0.744003$0.63-$0.11 (15%)
March 2025$0.878574$0.75-$0.13 (15%)
February 2025$0.893382$0.76-$0.13 (15%)
January 2025$0.812942$0.69-$0.12 (15.2%)
December 2024$0.805026$0.69-$0.12 (14.8%)
November 2024$0.80919$0.69-$0.12 (15.1%)
October 2024$0.84811$0.72-$0.13 (14.9%)
September 2024$0.84145$0.72-$0.13 (14.9%)
August 2024$0.838665$0.71-$0.13 (15%)
July 2024$0.905877$0.77-$0.14 (14.9%)
June 2024$0.957757$0.75-$0.21 (21.9%)
May 2024$1.002533$0.81-$0.19 (19.2%)

Aluminum Wire (EC / Clean) 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.

DateAvg price (per lb)ChangeRange (Low/High)
2/17/2026$1.35 / lb+$0.50$1.35 - $1.35
10/4/2025$0.85 / lb+$0.20$0.85 - $0.85
7/24/2025$0.65 / lb+$0.10$0.65 - $0.65
6/21/2024$0.55 / lb-$0.05$0.55 - $0.55

Cashing in on Aluminum Wire (EC / Clean)

When it comes to scrapping, EC (Electrical Conductor) aluminum wire is a top-tier material. Because it is highly pure, yards in Phoenix are currently paying anywhere from $0.90 to $1.70 for properly prepared loads. This isn't your standard scrap; it is meant to go straight back into the smelting pot to become new electrical components. Our data shows that scrappers who take the time to strip and prep this wire flawlessly consistently hit the upper end of the price spectrum.

The Downgrade Danger: Protecting Your Profits

The golden rule of the yard is simple: mixed metal gets the lowest price. If you carelessly mix your pristine EC wire with lower-tier junk, the scale operator is going to grade the entire bin based on the cheapest metal in it. If they drop your load down to an Aluminum Foil & Light Gauge rate because it is tangled up with trash, you are looking at a painful loss of $1.08 per pound. Keep your EC wire completely isolated. Do not toss it in with Aluminum 3003, Aluminum 5052 (Plate), or Aluminum 6061 Structural.

Yard Pro Tip: Always run a strong magnet over your bare aluminum wire. Many overhead utility lines are ACSR (Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced), meaning there is a hidden steel core wire running right down the center of the aluminum strands for strength. If you try to pass ACSR off as clean EC wire, the yard's magnet will catch it, and your high-paying load will instantly drop to a low-tier 'irony aluminum' price. Pull that steel core out before you hit the scale!

Prep and Sorting Guide for the Scale

To get that clean EC price, your wire needs to look practically brand new. Here is how veteran scrappers prep their loads:

  • Strip It Completely: Every single millimeter of plastic insulation must be removed. Using a mechanical wire stripper is the most efficient way to handle high volumes. Burning wire is bad for the environment and usually illegal.
  • Zero Contamination: The wire must be bare, uncoated, and unalloyed. No grease, no oil, no tape, and no paint. Even heavy oxidation (weathering) or ash from burning can cause a buyer to drop the price.
  • Cut the Ends: Make sure to snip off any brass or steel connectors, lugs, or heavily corroded tips. EC stands for clean, pure aluminum only.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current average price for Aluminum Wire (EC / Clean)?

Nationwide data shows an average price of $1.18. However, this fluctuates based on the LME market, usually hovering roughly 36.1% below the spot price depending on the processing overhead of local buyers.

What makes EC aluminum different from other grades?

EC stands for Electrical Conductor, typically made from 1350 alloy, which is 99.5% pure aluminum. Its high conductivity and purity make it much more valuable than standard alloys or cast pieces.

Why did my stripped aluminum wire get downgraded at the scale?

If you left even a tiny piece of insulation, some electrical tape, a steel connector, or the inner steel core from an ACSR cable, the yard will buy it as a dirty or irony grade. Total purity is absolutely required to get the top EC price.