Today’s #2 Copper Scrap Prices in California
Current national pricing for #2 Copper averages $4.28 per pound. Find the top local scrap yards in California and check today's rates before hauling your buckets to the scale.
Average #2 Copper Price
- Low (up to $4.05): Floor price, typically for small loads.
- Mid ($4.13): A fair deal for standard quantities.
- High ($4.20+): Top-dollar rate. Offered for large commercial loads or by the most competitive buyers.
Pricing verified from 2 live board rates today.
Top Scrap Yards Buying #2 Copper in California
Check the list below to find local buyers in California accepting #2 Copper. Because copper prices shift daily with the COMEX, always call these yards ahead of time to confirm their current payouts and lock in your price before unloading.
Greener Recycling
TM Scrap Metals Inc.
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🚀 List your scrap yard ⟶Compare #2 Copper Prices vs. Other Copper 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.
Historical Price Trends for #2 Copper
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.
#2 Copper: Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (COMEX)
Avg scrap yard price
World market price (COMEX)
#2 Copper: Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History
| Period | World price (per lb) | Scrap yard price (per lb) | Spread vs. exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 (current) | $5.764324 | $4.42 | -$1.35 (23.4%) |
| February 2026 | $5.880136 | $4.46 | -$1.42 (24.1%) |
| January 2026 | $5.894887 | $4.59 | -$1.31 (22.2%) |
| December 2025 | $5.497742 | $4.28 | -$1.22 (22.2%) |
| November 2025 | $5.064033 | $3.94 | -$1.12 (22.2%) |
| October 2025 | $5.050242 | $3.86 | -$1.19 (23.5%) |
| September 2025 | $4.662367 | $3.64 | -$1.02 (21.9%) |
| August 2025 | $4.477984 | $3.53 | -$0.94 (21.1%) |
| July 2025 | $5.482645 | $4.27 | -$1.22 (22.2%) |
| June 2025 | $4.883233 | $3.80 | -$1.08 (22.2%) |
| May 2025 | $4.686194 | $3.65 | -$1.04 (22.2%) |
| April 2025 | $4.654267 | $3.62 | -$1.03 (22.1%) |
| March 2025 | $4.919484 | $3.83 | -$1.09 (22.2%) |
| February 2025 | $4.558107 | $3.55 | -$1.01 (22.2%) |
| January 2025 | $4.269774 | $3.35 | -$0.92 (21.5%) |
| December 2024 | $4.157855 | $3.24 | -$0.92 (22.2%) |
| November 2024 | $4.199383 | $3.27 | -$0.93 (22.2%) |
| October 2024 | $4.431839 | $3.45 | -$0.98 (22.2%) |
| September 2024 | $4.292683 | $3.34 | -$0.95 (22.2%) |
| August 2024 | $4.121839 | $3.21 | -$0.91 (22.2%) |
| July 2024 | $4.375242 | $3.46 | -$0.92 (21%) |
| June 2024 | $4.491083 | $3.60 | -$0.89 (19.9%) |
| May 2024 | $4.75471 | $3.70 | -$1.05 (22.2%) |
| April 2024 | $4.363717 | $3.40 | -$0.97 (22.2%) |
| March 2024 | $3.983645 | $3.10 | -$0.88 (22.1%) |
| February 2024 | $3.801776 | $2.96 | -$0.84 (22.2%) |
| January 2024 | $3.811306 | $2.97 | -$0.84 (22.2%) |
| December 2023 | $3.871226 | $3.01 | -$0.86 (22.2%) |
| November 2023 | $3.720817 | $2.90 | -$0.82 (22.2%) |
| October 2023 | $3.609306 | $2.81 | -$0.80 (22.2%) |
| September 2023 | $3.759833 | $2.99 | -$0.77 (20.5%) |
| August 2023 | $3.776097 | $2.94 | -$0.84 (22.2%) |
| July 2023 | $3.8455 | $2.99 | -$0.85 (22.2%) |
| June 2023 | $3.804983 | $2.96 | -$0.84 (22.2%) |
| May 2023 | $3.751484 | $2.92 | -$0.83 (22.2%) |
| April 2023 | $4.007367 | $3.12 | -$0.89 (22.3%) |
| March 2023 | $4.02821 | $3.17 | -$0.86 (21.3%) |
| February 2023 | $4.06475 | $3.17 | -$0.90 (22.1%) |
| January 2023 | $4.115113 | $3.20 | -$0.91 (22.2%) |
| December 2022 | $3.820726 | $3.01 | -$0.81 (21.1%) |
| November 2022 | $3.674017 | $2.82 | -$0.85 (23.1%) |
| October 2022 | $3.430419 | $2.67 | -$0.76 (22.2%) |
| September 2022 | $3.455283 | $2.73 | -$0.72 (20.9%) |
| August 2022 | $3.616468 | $2.82 | -$0.80 (22.2%) |
| July 2022 | $3.4195 | $2.66 | -$0.76 (22.2%) |
| June 2022 | $4.118667 | $3.20 | -$0.91 (22.2%) |
| May 2022 | $4.257274 | $3.39 | -$0.86 (20.3%) |
| April 2022 | $4.649533 | $3.62 | -$1.03 (22.1%) |
| March 2022 | $4.707694 | $3.66 | -$1.04 (22.2%) |
| February 2022 | $4.502304 | $3.50 | -$1.00 (22.2%) |
| January 2022 | $4.4345 | $3.45 | -$0.98 (22.2%) |
| December 2021 | $4.332226 | $3.46 | -$0.87 (20.1%) |
| November 2021 | $4.367567 | $3.40 | -$0.97 (22.2%) |
| October 2021 | $4.432371 | $3.45 | -$0.98 (22.2%) |
| September 2021 | $4.2864 | $3.28 | -$1.01 (23.5%) |
| August 2021 | $4.302984 | $3.35 | -$0.95 (22.2%) |
| July 2021 | $4.347452 | $3.38 | -$0.96 (22.2%) |
| June 2021 | $4.388783 | $3.45 | -$0.94 (21.4%) |
| May 2021 | $4.618871 | $3.60 | -$1.02 (22.1%) |
| April 2021 | $4.192633 | $3.05 | -$1.14 (27.3%) |
| March 2021 | $4.084726 | $3.19 | -$0.89 (21.9%) |
| February 2021 | $3.861 | $3.02 | -$0.84 (21.9%) |
| January 2021 | $3.607435 | $2.80 | -$0.81 (22.3%) |
| December 2020 | $3.546903 | $2.76 | -$0.79 (22.2%) |
| November 2020 | $3.21755 | $2.50 | -$0.71 (22.2%) |
| October 2020 | $3.060177 | $2.39 | -$0.67 (21.9%) |
| September 2020 | $3.0352 | $2.36 | -$0.67 (22.2%) |
| August 2020 | $2.909726 | $2.29 | -$0.62 (21.4%) |
| July 2020 | $2.867581 | $2.23 | -$0.63 (22.1%) |
| June 2020 | $2.5983 | $2.02 | -$0.58 (22.2%) |
| May 2020 | $2.377403 | $1.85 | -$0.53 (22.2%) |
| April 2020 | $2.28595 | $1.78 | -$0.51 (22.1%) |
| March 2020 | $2.356968 | $1.83 | -$0.52 (22.2%) |
| February 2020 | $2.574707 | $2.00 | -$0.57 (22.2%) |
| January 2020 | $2.759935 | $2.15 | -$0.61 (22.2%) |
| December 2019 | $2.774145 | $2.13 | -$0.64 (23%) |
| November 2019 | $2.660717 | $2.06 | -$0.60 (22.5%) |
| October 2019 | $2.621613 | $2.04 | -$0.58 (22.2%) |
| September 2019 | $2.615533 | $2.04 | -$0.58 (22.2%) |
| August 2019 | $2.576597 | $2.02 | -$0.56 (21.8%) |
| July 2019 | $2.693468 | $2.10 | -$0.60 (22.2%) |
| June 2019 | $2.671833 | $2.08 | -$0.59 (22.2%) |
| May 2019 | $2.7395 | $2.13 | -$0.61 (22.2%) |
| April 2019 | $2.914283 | $2.27 | -$0.64 (22.1%) |
| March 2019 | $2.902032 | $2.26 | -$0.64 (22.1%) |
| February 2019 | $2.845929 | $2.22 | -$0.63 (22.1%) |
| January 2019 | $2.675468 | $2.08 | -$0.59 (22.2%) |
| December 2018 | $2.724823 | $2.12 | -$0.60 (22.2%) |
| November 2018 | $2.7578 | $2.15 | -$0.61 (22.2%) |
| October 2018 | $2.768435 | $2.15 | -$0.61 (22.2%) |
| September 2018 | $2.712817 | $2.11 | -$0.60 (22.2%) |
| August 2018 | $2.706081 | $2.11 | -$0.60 (22.2%) |
| July 2018 | $2.807597 | $2.18 | -$0.62 (22.2%) |
| June 2018 | $3.1238 | $2.43 | -$0.69 (22.1%) |
| May 2018 | $3.080177 | $2.40 | -$0.68 (22.2%) |
| April 2018 | $3.08635 | $2.40 | -$0.69 (22.2%) |
| March 2018 | $3.080758 | $2.40 | -$0.68 (22.2%) |
| February 2018 | $3.17875 | $2.47 | -$0.70 (22.2%) |
| January 2018 | $3.215161 | $2.50 | -$0.71 (22.2%) |
| December 2017 | $3.134855 | $2.44 | -$0.69 (22.2%) |
| November 2017 | $3.105817 | $2.42 | -$0.69 (22.1%) |
| October 2017 | $3.103887 | $2.42 | -$0.69 (22.2%) |
| September 2017 | $3.00865 | $2.34 | -$0.67 (22.1%) |
| August 2017 | $2.957097 | $2.30 | -$0.66 (22.2%) |
| July 2017 | $2.732484 | $2.13 | -$0.61 (22.2%) |
| June 2017 | $2.605467 | $2.03 | -$0.58 (22.2%) |
| May 2017 | $2.556677 | $1.99 | -$0.57 (22.2%) |
| April 2017 | $2.595367 | $2.02 | -$0.57 (22.1%) |
| March 2017 | $2.653452 | $2.07 | -$0.59 (22.2%) |
| February 2017 | $2.69925 | $2.10 | -$0.60 (22.2%) |
| January 2017 | $2.622903 | $2.04 | -$0.58 (22.1%) |
| December 2016 | $2.567774 | $2.00 | -$0.57 (22.2%) |
| November 2016 | $2.478267 | $1.95 | -$0.53 (21.3%) |
| October 2016 | $2.148903 | $1.67 | -$0.48 (22.1%) |
| September 2016 | $2.139533 | $1.65 | -$0.49 (22.9%) |
| August 2016 | $2.14129 | $1.67 | -$0.47 (22.2%) |
| July 2016 | $2.210419 | $1.72 | -$0.49 (22%) |
| June 2016 | $2.093733 | $1.63 | -$0.46 (22.1%) |
| May 2016 | $2.111387 | $1.64 | -$0.47 (22.4%) |
| April 2016 | $2.183033 | $1.69 | -$0.49 (22.4%) |
| March 2016 | $2.243533 | $1.74 | -$0.50 (22.3%) |
#2 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/17/2026 | $4.13 / lb | +$0.03 | $4.05 - $4.20 |
| 10/27/2025 | $4.10 / lb | +$0.55 | $4.10 - $4.10 |
| 10/24/2025 | $3.55 / lb | -$0.45 | $3.55 - $3.55 |
| 10/6/2025 | $4.00 / lb | +$0.55 | $4.00 - $4.00 |
| 8/29/2025 | $3.45 / lb | -$0.25 | $3.45 - $3.45 |
| 8/26/2025 | $3.70 / lb | +$0.20 | $3.70 - $3.70 |
| 1/17/2025 | $3.50 / lb | -$0.10 | $3.50 - $3.50 |
| 7/21/2024 | $3.60 / lb | -$0.30 | $3.60 - $3.60 |
| 6/16/2024 | $3.90 / lb | +$0.50 | $3.90 - $3.90 |
| 4/20/2024 | $3.40 / lb | +$0.30 | $3.40 - $3.40 |
| 9/30/2023 | $3.10 / lb | +$0.05 | $3.10 - $3.10 |
| 4/1/2023 | $3.05 / lb | -$0.25 | $3.05 - $3.05 |
| 3/21/2023 | $3.30 / lb | +$0.10 | $3.30 - $3.30 |
| 12/12/2022 | $3.20 / lb | +$0.20 | $3.20 - $3.20 |
| 12/6/2022 | $3.00 / lb | +$0.35 | $3.00 - $3.00 |
| 11/27/2022 | $2.65 / lb | -$0.05 | $2.65 - $2.65 |
| 9/29/2022 | $2.70 / lb | -$0.10 | $2.70 - $2.70 |
| 9/22/2022 | $2.80 / lb | -$0.75 | $2.80 - $2.80 |
| 5/25/2022 | $3.55 / lb | +$0.05 | $3.55 - $3.55 |
| 5/21/2022 | $3.50 / lb | -$0.20 | $3.50 - $3.50 |
| 12/9/2021 | $3.70 / lb | +$0.55 | $3.70 - $3.70 |
| 9/19/2021 | $3.15 / lb | -$0.30 | $3.15 - $3.15 |
| 6/21/2021 | $3.45 / lb | +$1.06 | $3.45 - $3.45 |
| 4/17/2021 | $2.39 / lb | -$0.91 | $2.39 - $2.39 |
| 3/4/2021 | $3.30 / lb | +$0.50 | $3.30 - $3.30 |
| 1/24/2021 | $2.80 / lb | +$0.35 | $2.80 - $2.80 |
| 10/23/2020 | $2.45 / lb | +$0.15 | $2.45 - $2.45 |
| 8/15/2020 | $2.30 / lb | +$0.35 | $2.30 - $2.30 |
| 12/6/2019 | $1.95 / lb | -$0.10 | $1.95 - $1.95 |
| 8/23/2019 | $2.05 / lb | -$0.25 | $2.05 - $2.05 |
| 4/4/2019 | $2.30 / lb | +$0.40 | $2.30 - $2.30 |
| 11/10/2016 | $1.90 / lb | +$0.25 | $1.90 - $1.90 |
| 9/29/2016 | $1.65 / lb | -$0.10 | $1.65 - $1.65 |
| 7/28/2016 | $1.75 / lb | +$0.05 | $1.75 - $1.75 |
| 5/5/2016 | $1.70 / lb | +$0.05 | $1.70 - $1.70 |
The Real Deal on #2 Copper Pricing
When you're tearing out old plumbing or stripping down motors, #2 Copper is the grade you'll run into most often. It's the catch-all category for copper that isn't perfectly clean. Right now, our data shows national pricing averaging $4.28 per pound. Depending on the condition of your scrap and the buyer, payouts range from $4.10 on the dirty end up to $4.50 for well-sorted loads. Since scrap values follow the COMEX closely, local scrap yards in California will typically price #2 Copper about 22.2% below the daily spot rate to cover their refining and processing costs.
Don't Leave Money on the Scale: Sorting & Prep
The golden rule of the yard is simple: mixed metal always gets the lowest price. If you walk in with a bucket of premium Bare Bright Copper but toss a few handfuls of soldered #2 plumbing joints on top, the scale master will downgrade the entire load to the #2 price. That lazy mistake can cost you around $0.52 per pound instantly. Always keep your unalloyed, clean copper completely separated from the painted, soldered, or tinned stuff.
Yard Pro Tip: The biggest mistake scrappers make with plumbing scrap is leaving solder joints or brass fittings attached to clean copper pipe. If you leave a brass valve on a clean stick of pipe, the yard will downgrade the entire piece to #2 Copper. Grab your Sawzall or pipe cutters and snip off the fittings. The clean pipe goes into your #1 pile, and the soldered joints go into your #2 bucket.
Comparing Copper and Wire Grades
Knowing the difference between your #1, #2, and insulated wire grades is how you maximize your ticket at the pay window.
| Grade | What Qualifies | National Range |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Copper | Soldered pipe, painted copper, tinned wire, and hair-wire. | $4.10 - $4.50/lb |
| #1 Copper | Clean pipe and punchings with no paint, solder, or brass. | $4.40 to $4.85/lb |
| #1 Insulated Wire | Thick-strand copper wire (16 gauge+) with clean plastic insulation. | $2.40 to $3.90/lb |
| #2 Insulated Wire | Extension cords, telecom wire, or any wire with tinned strands. | $1.49 to $2.53/lb |
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly makes a piece of copper #2 instead of #1?
Any contamination on the surface bumps it down to #2. This includes solder, paint, heavy oxidation, tar, or a tin coating. Additionally, any bare copper wire that is thinner than a pencil lead (16 gauge)—like speaker wire or stranded appliance cords—is automatically classed as #2 because it burns away too quickly in the smelting furnace.
How much should I expect to get paid for #2 Copper today?
Prices fluctuate daily with the COMEX, but our current national data shows an average of $4.28 per pound. Yards usually lock in their rates at roughly 22.2% below the spot market. Always call ahead to buyers California to check their current board prices.
Can I clean #2 Copper to upgrade it?
It depends on the contamination. If you have a long piece of painted copper pipe, you can technically sand or scrape the paint off to upgrade it to #1. However, if the pipe has solder baked into it or the wire is tinned, it's permanently #2. In most cases, it's more time-efficient to simply cut out the clean sections and sell the dirty joints separately.
#2 Copper scrap prices in California on the map
The map shows cities in California with #2 Copper scrap prices. Click a marker or pick a city in the list below to see #2 Copper prices in that location.