ScrapToday’s #1 Copper Scrap Prices in Indiana
Current #1 Copper prices at scrap yards in Indiana. Compare local offers against the U.S. national average to get the most money for your scrap.
Average #1 Copper Price
National high for this grade: $5.04 / lb.
The min/max range reflects a blended index (local + national data). Your local high may be lower.
- Low (around $4.00): Floor price, typically for small loads.
- Mid ($4.34): A fair deal for standard quantities.
- High ($4.25+): Top-dollar rate. Offered for large commercial loads or by the most competitive buyers.
Pricing verified from 2 live board rates in this area.
#1 Copper price reference for Indiana
Scrap yards in Indiana don't always update their prices in real time. To give you a reliable current value, we use the U.S. national average ($4.76 / lb). The secondary metals market tracks exchange moves consistently across the country. Use this national figure as your benchmark when negotiating with local yards. #1 Copper prices across the U.S. →
Top-Paying Scrap Yards for #1 Copper in Indiana
These are scrap yards in Indiana that recently updated #1 Copper 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.
Merrillville Metal Recycling
JB's Salvage, Inc
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🚀 List your scrap yard ⟶| Metal grade | Average price (per lb) |
|---|---|
| #1 Copper | $4.34 / lb |
| Bare Bright Copper | $4.39 / lb |
| #2 Copper | $3.94 / lb |
| Copper Turnings | $3.91 / lb |
| MCM & Industrial Cable | $3.88 / lb |
| Light Copper / Sheet Copper | $3.50 / lb |
| #1 Insulated Wire | $3.20 / lb |
| THHN Wire | $3.17 / lb |
| Romex® Wire | $2.30 / lb |
| Coax & Heliax Cable | $2.13 / lb |
| Telecom & Data Wire | $1.35 / lb |
| #2 Insulated Wire | $1.25 / lb |
| Jelly Wire | $1.03 / lb |
| Wire Harnesses | $1.00 / lb |
| #3 Insulated Wire (Low Grade) | $0.86 / lb |
| Computer Wire | $0.69 / lb |
| Armored Cable (BX) | $0.62 / lb |
| Christmas Lights | $0.38 / lb |
#1 Copper 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.
#1 Copper: Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (COMEX)
Avg scrap yard price
Today's world market price (COMEX)
#1 Copper: Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History
| Period | World price (per lb) | Scrap yard price (per lb) | Spread vs. exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2026 (current) | $5.6213 / lb | $4.13 / lb | −$1.49 (26.5%) |
| March 2026 | $5.6775 / lb | $4.12 / lb | −$1.56 (27.4%) |
| February 2026 | $5.8801 / lb | $3.97 / lb | −$1.91 (32.5%) |
| January 2026 | $5.8949 / lb | $4.24 / lb | −$1.65 (28.1%) |
| December 2025 | $5.4977 / lb | $3.96 / lb | −$1.54 (28%) |
| November 2025 | $5.0640 / lb | $3.64 / lb | −$1.42 (28.1%) |
| October 2025 | $5.0502 / lb | $3.63 / lb | −$1.42 (28.1%) |
| September 2025 | $4.6624 / lb | $3.35 / lb | −$1.31 (28.1%) |
| August 2025 | $4.4780 / lb | $3.16 / lb | −$1.32 (29.4%) |
| July 2025 | $5.4826 / lb | $3.94 / lb | −$1.54 (28.1%) |
| June 2025 | $4.8832 / lb | $3.51 / lb | −$1.37 (28.1%) |
| May 2025 | $4.6862 / lb | $3.37 / lb | −$1.32 (28.1%) |
| April 2025 | $4.6543 / lb | $3.35 / lb | −$1.30 (28%) |
| March 2025 | $4.9195 / lb | $3.55 / lb | −$1.37 (27.8%) |
| February 2025 | $4.5581 / lb | $3.28 / lb | −$1.28 (28%) |
| January 2025 | $4.2698 / lb | $3.16 / lb | −$1.11 (26%) |
| December 2024 | $4.1532 / lb | $3.00 / lb | −$1.15 (27.8%) |
#1 Copper 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $4.13 / lb | +$0.88 | $4.00 – $4.25 | |
| 2/17/2026 | $3.25 / lb | +$0.25 | $3.25 – $3.25 |
| 8/29/2025 | $3.00 / lb | −$0.70 | $3.00 – $3.00 |
| 3/25/2025 | $3.70 / lb | +$0.25 | $3.70 – $3.70 |
| 1/29/2025 | $3.45 / lb | +$0.15 | $3.45 – $3.45 |
The Anatomy of #1 Copper
Let's get straight to it: #1 Copper is the bread and butter of the scrap game. We are talking about clean, unalloyed, and uncoated copper clipping, punching, bus bars, commutator segments, and clean copper tubing. Wire has to be thicker than 16 gauge (about pencil lead thickness) to make the cut. Right now, our data shows national payouts ranging from $4.65 on the conservative side up to $5.04 for heavy, perfectly prepped gaylord boxes. The current national average is sitting at $4.76 per pound.
Prep It Right or Lose Money at the Scale
Scale masters do not mess around when grading #1 Copper. If they see a single brass fitting, a dab of solder, or heavy green oxidation on your copper pipes, your entire bin is getting downgraded to #2 Copper. Yards typically pay $4.50 to $4.85/lb for the lower grade, so laziness directly eats your profits. The same goes for mixing grades upward: if you toss perfectly stripped Bare Bright Copper into a bucket of #1, buyers will pay the #1 price for the whole load, costing you roughly $0.12 per pound on the premium stuff.
Yard Pro Tip: Cut those old plumbing pipes open and check the inside. Heavy mineral scale, water deposits, or hidden sediment inside a seemingly clean copper pipe will get your load kicked down to #2 Copper instantly. Run a wire brush through it or smack the debris out if you want that top-tier pricing.
Also, watch out for copper-plated steel wire. It looks exactly like the real deal, but a quick tap with your everyday magnet will expose it. If it sticks, it's steel, and throwing it in your #1 pile will ruin your reputation with local buyers in Indiana. Taking the extra time to sort your metals ensures you get paid exactly what your load is worth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What dictates the daily price of #1 Copper?
Scrap yards base their daily boards on the COMEX. Because yards have overhead, processing, and freight costs, they typically buy #1 Copper at about 24.3% below the spot price. Keep an eye on the market to know when to hold and when to haul.
Can I strip insulated wire and sell it as #1 Copper?
Absolutely. If the wire inside is thicker than 16 gauge and is uncoated (no tin or nickel plating), stripping #1 Insulated Wire is the best way to upgrade your payout to the $4.76 range. Just make sure no insulation residue is left behind.
Why did my clean copper pipe get downgraded?
If your pipe had any paint, oil, solder joints, or brass fittings attached, buyers will categorize it as #2. Even a tiny sweat joint means it is no longer pure #1. Always cut the joints off and sell them in a separate bucket to maximize your payout in Indiana.
#1 Copper scrap prices in Indiana on the map
The map shows cities in Indiana with #1 Copper scrap prices. Click a marker or pick a city in the list below to see #1 Copper prices in that location.