Average Red Brass Price

Blended rate: local Phoenix, Arizona prices + national trend. As of 2/17/2026.
$3.99/ 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: $3.99
Lowest price $3.60
Highest price$4.38Who 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 $3.60): Floor price, typically for small loads.
  • Mid ($3.99): A fair deal for standard quantities.
  • High ($4.38+): 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 $1.15 to $4.01.
Mar '25Jun '25Sep '25Dec '25Today
Market response to COMEX pricing
Spread vs. exchange (180-day avg): ~25.6% (-$1.37/lb). Typical spread for this grade: 25%–40%
✓ Scrap yards are offering fair market rates
Market snapshot
Stable market. Prices have held steady over the past 6 months.
Pricing verified from 2 live board rates today.

Red Brass 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 ($3.98/lb). The secondary metals market tracks exchange moves consistently across the country. Use this national figure as your benchmark when negotiating with local yards. Red Brass prices across the U.S. →

Top Scrap Yards Buying Red Brass in Phoenix

These are scrap yards in Phoenix, Arizona that recently updated Red Brass 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: Copper/W/Brass
1234 S 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85034 Get Directions
$4.00 / lb
Updated 32 days ago

E-Z Money Recycling LLC

Listed as: Copper/W/Brass
1234 S 7th St, Phoenix Get Directions
$4.00 / lb

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Red Brass vs. Other Brass 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.

Water Meters Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$3.77 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Brass EDM Wire Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$3.00 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Plumbing Brass Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$2.72 / lb
Trend (6m): +20.7%
Price analytics
Yellow Brass Solids Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$2.70 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Brass Shells Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$2.50 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Refinery Brass Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$1.05 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Brass Turnings Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.75 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Irony Brass Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.25 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics

Red Brass Price Trends & History

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.

Red Brass: Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (COMEX)

Avg scrap yard price

$3.99
Scrap metal dealers
Spread: -$1.37/lb
vs. exchange

World market price (COMEX)

$5.3745
✓ For 99.9% pure refined metal
💡 Why is the scrap yard price lower than the exchange? The COMEX price is the global benchmark for 99.99% pure refined metal traded in large institutional contracts. The gap between COMEX and what you pocket is the yard’s margin — it covers sorting, cleaning, transport to the mill, and protects them against sudden price drops.

Red Brass: Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History

Analyst take: This month’s average spread between scrap yard prices and the world market for Red Brass is 25.6%. That’s in line with the typical range for this grade (23%–29%). 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)$5.767857$4.24-$1.53 (26.5%)
February 2026$5.880136$4.25-$1.63 (27.7%)
January 2026$5.894887$4.39-$1.51 (25.6%)
December 2025$5.497742$4.09-$1.41 (25.6%)
November 2025$5.064033$3.77-$1.30 (25.6%)
October 2025$5.050242$3.66-$1.39 (27.5%)
September 2025$4.662367$3.39-$1.27 (27.3%)
August 2025$4.477984$3.33-$1.15 (25.6%)
July 2025$5.482645$3.68-$1.80 (32.9%)
June 2025$4.883233$2.97-$1.91 (39.1%)
May 2025$4.686194$3.49-$1.20 (25.6%)
April 2025$4.654267$3.29-$1.37 (29.4%)
March 2025$4.919484$3.66-$1.26 (25.6%)
February 2025$4.558107$3.39-$1.17 (25.6%)
January 2025$4.269774$3.18-$1.09 (25.6%)
December 2024$4.157855$2.59-$1.57 (37.7%)
November 2024$4.199383$3.13-$1.07 (25.6%)
October 2024$4.431839$3.01-$1.43 (32.2%)
September 2024$4.292683$2.93-$1.37 (31.8%)
August 2024$4.121839$3.07-$1.05 (25.6%)
July 2024$4.375242$2.91-$1.47 (33.5%)
June 2024$4.491083$3.08-$1.41 (31.4%)
May 2024$4.75471$3.31-$1.45 (30.4%)
April 2024$4.363717$3.25-$1.12 (25.6%)
March 2024$3.983645$2.96-$1.02 (25.6%)
February 2024$3.801776$2.83-$0.97 (25.6%)
January 2024$3.811306$2.84-$0.97 (25.6%)
December 2023$3.871226$2.88-$0.99 (25.5%)
November 2023$3.720817$2.77-$0.95 (25.6%)
October 2023$3.600864$2.65-$0.95 (26.3%)

Red Brass 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$3.88 / lb+$0.90$3.65 - $4.00
10/4/2025$2.98 / lb+$0.35$2.80 - $3.15
7/23/2025$2.63 / lb+$1.48$2.25 - $3.00
6/11/2025$1.15 / lb-$1.45$1.15 - $1.15
4/14/2025$2.60 / lb+$1.50$2.60 - $2.60
12/27/2024$1.10 / lb-$0.05$1.10 - $1.10
10/4/2024$1.15 / lb-$1.75$1.15 - $1.15
9/28/2024$2.90 / lb+$1.10$2.90 - $2.90
7/24/2024$1.80 / lb-$0.55$1.30 - $2.30
6/21/2024$2.35 / lb-$0.40$2.35 - $2.35
5/26/2024$2.75 / lb+$0.60$2.75 - $2.75

Cashing In: The Truth About Red Brass Prices

Red brass is a top-tier score for any serious scrapper. Packing a high copper content (typically around 85%), it commands significantly better prices than your standard yellow brass. Our data shows that scrap yards Phoenix and across the country are currently paying anywhere from $3.60 to $4.38 per pound for clean red brass. You will usually find this heavy metal in older plumbing fixtures, water meters, industrial valves, and pump housings. But if you think you can just toss a greasy, steel-contaminated valve onto the scale and get top dollar, you are going to lose money.

The Prep: Identifying and Cleaning Your Red Brass

The difference between red and yellow brass can be tough to spot when it is covered in decades of grime or patina. Red brass has a distinct reddish tint due to the high copper content, while yellow brass looks more washed out and yellowish-green. If you leave steel bolts or iron handles attached to your red brass valves, the yard will heavily penalize you.

Yard Pro Tip: Keep a metal file handy in your truck. If you aren't sure if a crusty valve is red or yellow brass, hit it with the file. A deep, reddish-orange scratch means you have got the good stuff. More importantly, check every single red brass water meter or valve with a strong magnet to catch hidden steel screws or iron handles. A single steel bolt will downgrade your premium Red Brass!

Stop Bleeding Money at the Scale

Mixing your grades is the fastest way to shrink your ticket. If you leave iron or steel attached to your clean red brass, the buyer will downgrade the entire load to Irony Brass. That lazy mistake will cost you about $2.78 per pound in lost value. Take the time to wrench or cut off those steel fittings. While you are at it, sort out any Brass Breakage, Brass Shells, or Brass EDM Wire into their own respective buckets. To give you an idea of the market, Brass Breakage usually pays $1.25 to $1.35/lb, so mixing them together just confuses the scale master and hurts your bottom line.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Red Brass pay more than Yellow Brass?

Red brass contains significantly more copper—usually around 85% compared to the 60-65% found in yellow brass. Because scrap pricing is heavily tied to the copper content and the COMEX market, buyers pay a premium for red brass. It trades at about 25.6% below spot copper prices, depending on the yard.

What happens if my Red Brass has paint or chrome plating on it?

Chrome-plated red brass is common in older bathroom fixtures. Most scrap yards will still buy it, but they might downgrade it slightly compared to perfectly clean, bare red brass. You can expect a price closer to the lower end of the national average, but it still beats standard yellow brass.

Are water meters always Red Brass?

Older water meters are almost always cast from red brass, making them incredibly heavy and valuable. However, many modern meters are made from plastic or lower-grade alloys. Always check with a file, and remember to remove the plastic faces, glass dials, and any iron bottom plates before hitting the scale to secure the $3.98 average payout.