Price trends for insulated copper wire by grade

over the last 6 months

In the last 6 months in the Insulated Copper Wire category: price is up for 2 grades and price is steady for 11 grades.

How Have Prices Moved Over the Last 52 Weeks?
Over the past year, the category average ranged from $1.33 to $1.79.
Jun '25Sep '25Dec '25Mar '26Today
How Yard Prices Track the Exchange (COMEX)
Average discount to the exchange for this category: ~72.0% (-$4.67/ lb). Based on 13 grades with exchange data. Normal range for this category: 41%–96%.
✓ All 13 grades are within normal market range

Insulated Copper Wire scrap prices by grade in New Jersey

The percentage of copper inside the insulation determines the grade — higher copper recovery = higher price per pound. Click any grade to get a detailed price chart, market analysis, and a list of yards currently paying the most.

MCM & Industrial Cable Based on 2 yards
Avg. Price:$3.83/ lbRange: $3.60 – $4.05/ lb
Trend for 90 days: +2.0%
View Details
THHN Wire Based on 3 yards
Avg. Price:$3.62/ lbRange: $3.05 – $4.18/ lb
Trend for 6 mo.: -1.5%
View Details
#1 Insulated Wire Based on 1 yard
Avg. Price:$3.05/ lbRange: $3.05 – $3.05/ lb
Trend for 30 days: 0.0%
View Details
+17.7% / 90 days
Romex® Wire Based on 4 yards
Avg. Price:$2.75/ lbRange: $2.40 – $3.10/ lb
Trend for 90 days: +17.7%
View Details
+19.6% / 6 mo.
#2 Insulated Wire Based on 4 yards
Avg. Price:$2.05/ lbRange: $1.65 – $2.45/ lb
Trend for 6 mo.: +19.6%
View Details
Coax & Heliax Cable Based on 3 yards
Avg. Price:$2.04/ lbRange: $1.95 – $2.12/ lb
Trend for 30 days: 0.0%
View Details
Telecom & Data Wire Based on 2 yards
Avg. Price:$1.80/ lbRange: $1.80 – $1.80/ lb
Trend for 30 days: 0.0%
View Details
Wire Harnesses Based on 2 yards
Avg. Price:$1.71/ lbRange: $1.71 – $1.71/ lb
Trend for 30 days: 0.0%
View Details
Jelly Wire Based on 2 yards
Avg. Price:$0.90/ lbRange: $0.90 – $0.90/ lb
Trend for 30 days: 0.0%
View Details
Avg. Price:$0.75/ lbRange: $0.65 – $0.84/ lb
Trend for 30 days: 0.0%
View Details
Armored Cable (BX) Based on 5 yards
Avg. Price:$0.62/ lbRange: $0.58 – $0.65/ lb
Trend for 30 days: 0.0%
View Details
Computer Wire Based on 1 yard
Avg. Price:$0.30/ lbRange: $0.30 – $0.30/ lb
Trend for 30 days: 0.0%
View Details
Christmas Lights Based on 4 yards
Avg. Price:$0.26/ lbRange: $0.25 – $0.27/ lb
Trend for 30 days: 0.0%
View Details

Scrap yards paying the most for insulated copper wire in New Jersey

Live prices from local scrap yards in New Jersey. Compare offers and find the buyer paying the most.

💼 Scrap yard owners: Post your buy prices and get more customers
By price
By date
Updated 6/15/2026

ADJ Metals

Keyport, New Jersey5 grades on price list
High grade wire/ MCM Wire
$4.05/ lb|🠅 $0.10 (3%)
Romex® Wire
$2.70/ lb|🠇 $0.05 (2%)
Computer Wire
$0.30/ lb|🠇 $0.30 (50%)
Christmas Lights
$0.25/ lb|🠅 $0.05 (25%)
Insulated Steel BX
$0.65/ lb|🠅 $0.10 (18%)
Updated 3/24/2026

RAW Recycling

Roxbury Township, New Jersey8 grades on price list
INSULATED COPPER WIRE 50%
$1.60/ lb|🠇 $0.10 (6%)
COPPER WIRE LOW GRADE
$0.60/ lb|🠅 $0.15 (33%)
THHN
$3.05/ lb|🠅 $0.10 (3%)
ROMEX 65%
$2.40/ lb|🠅 $0.10 (4%)
HARNESS WIRE
$1.60/ lb|🠅 $0.05 (3%)
CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS
$0.27/ lb
HELIAX OPEN EYE
$1.90/ lb
BX- STEEL
$0.60/ lb|🠅 $0.20 (50%)
Updated 3/23/2026

Southard Scrap Metal

Rockaway Township, New Jersey3 grades on price list
Low Grade Wire
$0.84/ lb|🠅 $0.17 (25%)
THHN Wire
$2.95/ lb
Romex Wire
$2.30/ lb
Updated 3/22/2026

Sgt. Scrap

Pennsauken Township, New Jersey10 grades on price list
#2 – Insulated Wire 55%
$1.56/ lb|🠇 $0.89 (36%)
Copper Insulated Lead
$0.65/ lb|🠅 $0.10 (18%)
THHN 82% (#12 AWG – #2AWG)
$4.10/ lb|🠇 $0.22 (5%)
Romix Wire
$3.10/ lb|🠅 $0.27 (10%)
Data Wire
$1.80/ lb|🠅 $0.20 (13%)
Car Harness/ No Boxes
$1.71/ lb|🠅 $0.06 (4%)
X-mas Lights / Low Grade / URD
$0.25/ lb|🠅 $0.05 (25%)
Jelly Wire
$0.90/ lb|🠇 $0.10 (10%)
Heliax Open Eye/No Conectors
$2.12/ lb|🠅 $1.37 (183%)
Steel BX 22%
$0.58/ lb|🠇 $0.01 (2%)
Updated 3/22/2026

Sgt. Scrap

Haddon Township, New Jersey10 grades on price list
#2 – Insulated Wire 55%
$1.56/ lb|🠇 $0.89 (36%)
Copper Insulated Lead
$0.65/ lb|🠅 $0.10 (18%)
THHN 82% (#12 AWG – #2AWG)
$4.10/ lb|🠇 $0.22 (5%)
Romix Wire
$3.10/ lb|🠅 $0.32 (12%)
Data Wire
$1.80/ lb|🠅 $0.30 (20%)
Car Harness/ No Boxes
$1.71/ lb|🠅 $0.07 (4%)
X-mas Lights / Low Grade / URD
$0.25/ lb|🠅 $0.05 (25%)
Jelly Wire
$0.90/ lb|🠇 $0.10 (10%)
Heliax Open Eye/No Conectors
$2.12/ lb|🠅 $1.37 (183%)
Steel BX 22%
$0.58/ lb|🠅 $0.13 (29%)
Updated 3/22/2026

Best Price Recycling

Dennis Township, New Jersey1 grade on price list
Insulated Copper Wire
$1.31/ lb|🠅 $0.10 (8%)

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Price chart: insulated copper wire grades and COMEX Copper exchange data

The chart shows average yard buyout rates and COMEX Copper exchange data for your selected insulated copper wire grade. When the exchange moves up and local yard prices lag, they typically follow within a few trading days — a signal to hold if you can. When both lines drop, sell now before yards update their offers downward. Switch grades using the selector above the chart.

Calculate the value of your insulated copper wire lot

Selling a mixed load? Pick the grades below — a weight field appears after you select at least one grade, then the calculator estimates your haul's value from current average prices New Jersey.

Select a metal above to estimate value

Compare insulated copper wire grades and their value

Insulated wire pricing is always a discount to bare copper (COMEX basis) — the yard factors in the cost of stripping or processing the insulation to recover the copper. Identifying your material correctly before selling is the single most effective step to maximize your payout.

GradeExchange (100%)Yard Price (per lb)Grade Quality
MCM & Industrial Cable $6.49/ lb COMEX$3.83/ lb
High Grade59%
THHN Wire $6.49/ lb COMEX$3.62/ lb
High Grade56%
#1 Insulated Wire $6.49/ lb COMEX$3.05/ lb
High Grade47%
Romex® Wire $6.49/ lb COMEX$2.75/ lb
High Grade42%
#2 Insulated Wire $6.49/ lb COMEX$2.05/ lb
Mid Grade32%
Coax & Heliax Cable $6.49/ lb COMEX$2.04/ lb
Mid Grade31%
Telecom & Data Wire $6.49/ lb COMEX$1.80/ lb
Mid Grade28%
Wire Harnesses $6.49/ lb COMEX$1.71/ lb
Mid Grade26%
Jelly Wire $6.49/ lb COMEX$0.90/ lb
Low Grade14%
#3 Insulated Wire (Low Grade) $6.49/ lb COMEX$0.75/ lb
Low Grade11%
Armored Cable (BX) $6.49/ lb COMEX$0.62/ lb
Low Grade9%
Computer Wire $6.49/ lb COMEX$0.30/ lb
Low Grade5%
Christmas Lights $6.49/ lb COMEX$0.26/ lb
Low Grade4%

📊 What determines the value of insulated copper wire:

  • Recovery percentage: #1 insulated wire (Romex, THHN) has ~75–80% copper recovery; #2 insulated (mixed, thicker insulation) drops to ~45–65%. Yards price accordingly.
  • Strip it yourself: Stripping THHN or Romex converts it to bare bright copper — which pays 40–60¢/lb more in most markets. Do the math on large loads.
  • MCM & industrial cable: Large-gauge aluminum or copper power cable; priced per pound based on conductor metal and insulation type.
  • Christmas lights / computer wire: Low-grade, thin conductor — the lowest paying category because recovery is under 30%.
  • Coax / Heliax: Specialty cable with copper/aluminum center; priced separately at most yards — don't mix with standard insulated wire.
💡 Tip: THHN, Romex, and similar building wire can often be stripped for bare bright copper pricing instead of selling insulated.