Scrap300 Series Stainless Steel Scrap Prices in Illinois
Track the latest 300 Series Stainless Steel scrap prices in Illinois. Local yards are currently paying between $0.35 and $0.45 per pound, depending on volume and material preparation.
Average 300 Series Stainless Steel Price
- Low (around $0.33): Floor price, typically for small loads.
- Mid ($0.35): A fair deal for standard quantities.
- High ($0.40+): Top-dollar rate. Offered for large commercial loads or by the most competitive buyers.
Pricing verified from 3 live board rates in this area.
Top Paying Scrap Yards for 300 Series Stainless Illinois
Don't settle for the first quote you get at the scale. Scrap yards in Illinois have varying rates for 300 Series Stainless Steel based on their current inventory and downstream buyers. Call ahead to confirm their current payout against the national average of $0.40 per pound and ask about minimum weight requirements for premium pricing.
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🚀 List your scrap yard ⟶| Metal grade | Average price (per lb) |
|---|---|
| 300 Series Stainless Steel | $0.35 / lb |
| 316 Stainless Steel | $0.80 / lb |
| 304 Stainless Steel | $0.36 / lb |
| Stainless Steel Turnings | $0.17 / lb |
300 Series Stainless Steel Price Trends & Market 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.
300 Series Stainless Steel: Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (LME)
Avg scrap yard price
Today's world market price (LME)
300 Series Stainless Steel: Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History
| Period | World price (per lb) | Scrap yard price (per lb) | Spread vs. exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2026 (current) | $7.7200 / lb | $0.35 / lb | −$7.37 (95.5%) |
| March 2026 | $7.8114 / lb | $3.30 / lb | −$4.51 (57.8%) |
| February 2026 | $7.8468 / lb | $4.71 / lb | −$3.14 (40%) |
| January 2026 | $8.0900 / lb | $3.32 / lb | −$4.77 (59%) |
| December 2025 | $6.8245 / lb | $4.09 / lb | −$2.73 (40.1%) |
| November 2025 | $6.6981 / lb | $4.02 / lb | −$2.68 (40%) |
| October 2025 | $6.9079 / lb | $4.14 / lb | −$2.77 (40.1%) |
| September 2025 | $6.9338 / lb | $3.92 / lb | −$3.01 (43.5%) |
| August 2025 | $6.9013 / lb | $3.45 / lb | −$3.45 (50%) |
| July 2025 | $6.9572 / lb | $4.17 / lb | −$2.79 (40.1%) |
| June 2025 | $6.9004 / lb | $4.14 / lb | −$2.76 (40%) |
| May 2025 | $7.0891 / lb | $4.25 / lb | −$2.84 (40%) |
| April 2025 | $7.0167 / lb | $4.21 / lb | −$2.81 (40%) |
| March 2025 | $7.3372 / lb | $4.40 / lb | −$2.94 (40%) |
| February 2025 | $6.9678 / lb | $4.18 / lb | −$2.79 (40%) |
| January 2025 | $7.0505 / lb | $4.23 / lb | −$2.82 (40%) |
| December 2024 | $7.0969 / lb | $4.26 / lb | −$2.84 (40%) |
| November 2024 | $7.1779 / lb | $4.31 / lb | −$2.87 (40%) |
| October 2024 | $7.7109 / lb | $4.63 / lb | −$3.08 (40%) |
| September 2024 | $7.4355 / lb | $4.46 / lb | −$2.98 (40%) |
| August 2024 | $7.4531 / lb | $4.47 / lb | −$2.98 (40%) |
| July 2024 | $7.4923 / lb | $4.50 / lb | −$2.99 (39.9%) |
| June 2024 | $8.0775 / lb | $4.85 / lb | −$3.23 (40%) |
| May 2024 | $8.9507 / lb | $5.37 / lb | −$3.58 (40%) |
| April 2024 | $8.3067 / lb | $4.98 / lb | −$3.33 (40%) |
| March 2024 | $7.9848 / lb | $4.79 / lb | −$3.19 (40%) |
| February 2024 | $7.4539 / lb | $4.47 / lb | −$2.98 (40%) |
| January 2024 | $7.3881 / lb | $4.43 / lb | −$2.96 (40%) |
| December 2023 | $7.5801 / lb | $4.55 / lb | −$3.03 (40%) |
| November 2023 | $7.7538 / lb | $4.65 / lb | −$3.10 (40%) |
| October 2023 | $8.3661 / lb | $5.02 / lb | −$3.35 (40%) |
| September 2023 | $9.0371 / lb | $5.42 / lb | −$3.62 (40%) |
| August 2023 | $9.4201 / lb | $5.65 / lb | −$3.77 (40%) |
| July 2023 | $9.7259 / lb | $5.84 / lb | −$3.89 (40%) |
| June 2023 | $9.8351 / lb | $5.90 / lb | −$3.94 (40%) |
| May 2023 | $10.1829 / lb | $6.11 / lb | −$4.07 (40%) |
| April 2023 | $10.8119 / lb | $4.82 / lb | −$5.99 (55.4%) |
| March 2023 | $10.6265 / lb | $6.38 / lb | −$4.25 (40%) |
| February 2023 | $12.1217 / lb | $7.27 / lb | −$4.85 (40%) |
| January 2023 | $12.8679 / lb | $7.72 / lb | −$5.15 (40%) |
| December 2022 | $13.2195 / lb | $7.93 / lb | −$5.29 (40%) |
| November 2022 | $11.5774 / lb | $6.95 / lb | −$4.63 (40%) |
| October 2022 | $9.9901 / lb | $5.99 / lb | −$4.00 (40%) |
| September 2022 | $10.3524 / lb | $6.21 / lb | −$4.14 (40%) |
| August 2022 | $10.0668 / lb | $6.04 / lb | −$4.03 (40%) |
| July 2022 | $9.8220 / lb | $5.89 / lb | −$3.93 (40%) |
| June 2022 | $11.7843 / lb | $7.07 / lb | −$4.71 (40%) |
| May 2022 | $12.8906 / lb | $7.73 / lb | −$5.16 (40%) |
| April 2022 | $15.0402 / lb | $9.03 / lb | −$6.01 (40%) |
| March 2022 | $16.9645 / lb | $10.18 / lb | −$6.78 (40%) |
| February 2022 | $10.7990 / lb | $6.48 / lb | −$4.32 (40%) |
| January 2022 | $10.1320 / lb | $5.88 / lb | −$4.25 (42%) |
300 Series Stainless Steel 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.35 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.40 – $0.40 | |
| 3/23/2026 | $0.33 / lb | — no change | $0.33 – $0.33 |
| 3/22/2026 | $0.33 / lb | −$0.37 | $0.33 – $0.33 |
| 1/29/2026 | $0.70 / lb | +$0.30 | $0.70 – $0.70 |
| 1/28/2026 | $0.40 / lb | −$0.30 | $0.40 – $0.40 |
| 1/26/2026 | $0.70 / lb | +$0.10 | $0.70 – $0.70 |
| 9/2/2025 | $0.60 / lb | +$0.25 | $0.60 – $0.60 |
| 4/27/2023 | $0.35 / lb | −$0.10 | $0.35 – $0.35 |
Cashing In On 300 Series Stainless Steel
If you are tearing out commercial kitchen equipment, industrial piping, or brewery kegs, you are likely dealing with a massive amount of 300 Series Stainless Steel. Right now, national buyers are offering anywhere from $0.35 for mixed or slightly contaminated loads, up to $0.45 for perfectly clean, sorted material. The national average sits around $0.40 per pound. Because this alloy is heavy, even a fraction of a cent makes a huge difference in your final ticket.
Yard Pro Tip: The magnet is your best friend, but it can trick you. 300 Series Stainless is generally non-magnetic because of its high nickel content. However, if the metal has been severely cold-worked (like bent, deeply drawn, or machined), the edges might hold a slight magnetic pull. Don't let a green scale operator downgrade your load to 400 series (which is strongly magnetic and pays significantly less) just because of a faint pull on a bent corner. If they push back, demand a spark test—300 series throws short, reddish-orange sparks with very few sprigs.
Don't Leave Money on the Scale: Sorting and Grading
Mixing your stainless grades is the fastest way to kill your payload value. Yards will always buy a mixed bin at the lowest grade's price. If you toss premium 316 Stainless Steel in with your standard 300 series, you are losing about $0.40 per pound on the 316 material. Take the time to separate.
- Clean vs. Dirty: A clean load means zero attachments. Remove all plastic handles, rubber gaskets, steel screws, and brass fittings. A "dirty" stainless load drops your payout instantly, often by half.
- Know the Relatives: Standard 304 Stainless Steel (frequently referred to in the industry as 18/8 Stainless Steel) makes up the bulk of the 300 series market. If it looks like standard kitchen prep tables or sinks, it is usually 304.
Market Drivers and Pricing Trends
Stainless prices are heavily tied to the nickel market traded on the LME. Currently, scrap rates are hovering about 95.5% below spot prices. Local yards in Illinois adjust their boards based on these global movements, alongside their own freight and processing costs. Keeping an eye on nickel futures will give you a strong indicator of where 300 series prices are heading next.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current price for 300 Series Stainless Steel?
Prices fluctuate daily based on global nickel demand, but our data shows national averages at $0.40 per pound, with pristine, high-volume loads hitting up to $0.45. Always check with your local buyer to lock in a rate before hauling.
Is 304 the same as 300 Series?
Yes, 304 is the most common alloy within the 300 series family. If a yard quotes you a general 300 series price, they are almost always pricing based on standard 304 stainless.
How much money do I lose by not sorting my stainless?
If you mix higher-value alloys like 316 with standard 300 series, you lose the premium. For instance, the national spread for 316 is currently $0.75 to $0.90/lb. By throwing it all in one gaylord box, you force the yard to pay you the lower 300 series rate for the entire batch.
300 Series Stainless Steel scrap prices in Illinois on the map
The map shows cities in Illinois with 300 Series Stainless Steel scrap prices. Click a marker or pick a city in the list below to see 300 Series Stainless Steel prices in that location.