Price trends for insulated copper wire by grade

over the last 90 days

In the last 3 months in the Insulated Copper Wire category: price is up for 5 grades, price is steady for 5 grades, and price is down for 2 grades.

Prices up for these grades:
Armored Cable (BX)+31.7%🠅$1.00/ lbTHHN Wire+11.6%🠅$4.25/ lbChristmas Lights+6.7%🠅$0.35/ lbMCM & Industrial Cable+5.7%🠅$4.85/ lb
Prices down for these grades:
#3 Insulated Wire (Low Grade)19.2%🠇$0.80/ lb
Data source: live prices from 59 local yards (across the U.S.).
How Have Prices Moved Over the Last 52 Weeks?
Over the past year, the category average ranged from $1.54 to $2.31.
Nov '25Feb '26May '26Aug '26Today
Category Grades
The Insulated Copper Wire category has 12 grades with current prices on file. No exchange data is configured for this category — prices shown are sourced directly from local yards.
Data Sources
Data source: live prices from 59 local yards across the U.S..

Insulated Copper Wire scrap prices by grade in the US

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.

+5.7% / 90 days
MCM & Industrial Cable Based on 5 yards
Avg. Price:$4.45/ lbRange: $4.04 – $4.85/ lb
Trend for 90 days: +5.7%
View Details
+11.6% / 90 days
THHN Wire Based on 5 yards
Avg. Price:$3.73/ lbRange: $3.20 – $4.25/ lb
Trend for 90 days: +11.6%
View Details
#1 Insulated Wire Based on 6 yards
Avg. Price:$3.35/ lbRange: $2.90 – $3.80/ lb
Trend for 30 days: -4.1%
View Details
Romex® Wire Based on 6 yards
Avg. Price:$2.97/ lbRange: $2.31 – $3.63/ lb
Trend for 30 days: +0.5%
View Details
Coax & Heliax Cable Based on 4 yards
Avg. Price:$2.48/ lbRange: $2.20 – $2.75/ lb
Trend for 90 days: 0.3%
View Details
#2 Insulated Wire Based on 5 yards
Avg. Price:$2.18/ lbRange: $1.75 – $2.60/ lb
Trend for 90 days: 0.5%
View Details
Wire Harnesses Based on 5 yards
Avg. Price:$2.00/ lbRange: $1.90 – $2.10/ lb
Trend for 90 days: +0.7%
View Details
+3.2% / 90 days
Telecom & Data Wire Based on 4 yards
Avg. Price:$1.70/ lbRange: $1.40 – $2.00/ lb
Trend for 90 days: +3.2%
View Details
+31.7% / 90 days
Armored Cable (BX) Based on 5 yards
Avg. Price:$0.85/ lbRange: $0.70 – $1.00/ lb
Trend for 90 days: +31.7%
View Details
#3 Insulated Wire (Low Grade) Based on 4 yards
Avg. Price:$0.70/ lbRange: $0.60 – $0.80/ lb
Trend for 90 days: -19.2%
View Details
Computer Wire Based on 1 yard
Avg. Price:$0.40/ lbRange: $0.40 – $0.40/ lb
Trend for 30 days: 0.0%
View Details
+6.7% / 6 mo.
Christmas Lights Based on 3 yards
Avg. Price:$0.28/ lbRange: $0.20 – $0.35/ lb
Trend for 6 mo.: +6.7%
View Details

Scrap yards paying the most for insulated copper wire in the US

Live prices from local scrap yards across the U.S.. 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 10/22/2026

Big Daddy Scrap

Kankakee, Illinois•3 grades on price list
Wire, #1 (90%)
$4.61/ lb|🠅 $0.58 (14%)
Wire, #1 House
$3.63/ lb|🠅 $0.64 (21%)
Wire, Heliac
$2.47/ lb|🠇 $0.04 (2%)
Updated 10/21/2026

RJ Industrial Recycling

Genesee Charter Township, Michigan•2 grades on price list
Harness Wire
$1.90/ lb|🠅 $0.70 (58%)
Christmas Lights
$0.45/ lb|🠅 $0.20 (80%)
Updated 10/21/2026

Double M Recycling

Swanton, Maryland•2 grades on price list
Insulated Copper Wire (+50%)
$2.60/ lb|🠅 $0.15 (6%)
Insulated Copper Wire (-50%)
$1.25/ lb|🠅 $0.25 (25%)
Updated 10/12/2026

E-Z Money Recycling LLC

Phoenix, Arizona•9 grades on price list
#1 Insulated Wire 80%
$4.00/ lb|🠅 $0.45 (13%)
Fire Alarm Wire
$1.80/ lb|🠅 $0.60 (50%)
MCM Copper Wire 90%
$4.15/ lb|🠅 $0.35 (9%)
Romex Wire 65%
$3.15/ lb|🠅 $0.25 (9%)
Cat5/6 Wire
$2.00/ lb|🠅 $0.25 (14%)
Harness Wire
$2.00/ lb|🠅 $0.30 (18%)
Ribbon Wire
$0.90/ lb|🠅 $0.10 (13%)
Christmas Lights
$0.40/ lb|🠅 $0.05 (14%)
Steel BX Wire
$0.15/ lb
Updated 10/12/2026

Rubino Brothers

Stamford, Connecticut•4 grades on price list
THHN
$3.40/ lb|🠅 $0.25 (8%)
Romex
$2.75/ lb|🠅 $0.25 (10%)
Cat 5/6
$1.50/ lb|🠅 $0.20 (15%)
Steel BX
$0.75/ lb|🠅 $0.25 (50%)
Updated 10/12/2026

Rubino Brothers Derby

Derby, Connecticut•4 grades on price list
THHN
$3.40/ lb|🠅 $0.25 (8%)
Romex
$2.75/ lb|🠅 $0.25 (10%)
Cat 5/6
$1.50/ lb|🠅 $0.20 (15%)
Steel BX
$0.75/ lb|🠅 $0.25 (50%)

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Buyout price trends for insulated copper wire by grade

The chart shows average buyout prices by grade for insulated copper wire from local scrap yards. When the line trends up, yards are raising their offers and it may pay to wait. When it turns down, lock in your price now. Use the grade selector above the chart to switch views.

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 across the U.S..

Select a metal above to estimate value