#2 Insulated Wire Scrap Prices in Ohio
Current national average pricing for #2 Insulated Wire sits at $1.86 per pound. Find the top-paying local scrap yards in Ohio and compare today's rates before hauling your material to the scale.
Average #2 Insulated Wire Price
- Low (up to $1.00): Floor price, typically for small loads.
- Mid ($1.25): A fair deal for standard quantities.
- High ($1.50+): 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 Insulated Wire in Ohio
Check the list below to find local scales in Ohio taking #2 Insulated Wire. Since copper wire prices swing daily based on the COMEX, it always pays to call these buyers ahead of time to confirm their board prices before loading up your truck.
Livingston & Co., Inc.
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🚀 List your scrap yard ⟶Compare #2 Insulated Wire vs. Other Cable 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 Insulated Wire
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 Insulated Wire: Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (COMEX)
Avg scrap yard price
World market price (COMEX)
#2 Insulated Wire: Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History
| Period | World price (per lb) | Scrap yard price (per lb) | Spread vs. exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 (current) | $5.764324 | $2.37 | -$3.40 (59%) |
| February 2026 | $5.880136 | $3.22 | -$2.66 (45.2%) |
| January 2026 | $5.894887 | $3.54 | -$2.36 (40%) |
| December 2025 | $5.497742 | $3.30 | -$2.20 (40%) |
| November 2025 | $5.064033 | $2.73 | -$2.34 (46.2%) |
| October 2025 | $5.050242 | $2.44 | -$2.61 (51.7%) |
| September 2025 | $4.662367 | $2.32 | -$2.35 (50.3%) |
| August 2025 | $4.477984 | $2.22 | -$2.26 (50.4%) |
| July 2025 | $5.482645 | $3.29 | -$2.19 (40%) |
| June 2025 | $4.883233 | $2.93 | -$1.95 (40%) |
| May 2025 | $4.686194 | $2.81 | -$1.87 (40%) |
| April 2025 | $4.654267 | $2.79 | -$1.86 (40%) |
| March 2025 | $4.919484 | $2.30 | -$2.62 (53.2%) |
| February 2025 | $4.558107 | $2.74 | -$1.82 (40%) |
| January 2025 | $4.269774 | $2.56 | -$1.71 (40%) |
| December 2024 | $4.157855 | $2.50 | -$1.66 (40%) |
| November 2024 | $4.199383 | $2.52 | -$1.68 (40%) |
| October 2024 | $4.431839 | $2.66 | -$1.77 (40%) |
| September 2024 | $4.292683 | $2.58 | -$1.72 (40%) |
| August 2024 | $4.121839 | $2.47 | -$1.65 (40%) |
| July 2024 | $4.375242 | $2.63 | -$1.75 (40%) |
| June 2024 | $4.491083 | $2.17 | -$2.32 (51.6%) |
| May 2024 | $4.75471 | $2.85 | -$1.90 (40%) |
| April 2024 | $4.363717 | $2.62 | -$1.74 (40%) |
| March 2024 | $3.983645 | $2.39 | -$1.59 (40%) |
| February 2024 | $3.801776 | $2.28 | -$1.52 (40%) |
| January 2024 | $3.811306 | $2.29 | -$1.52 (40%) |
| December 2023 | $3.871226 | $2.32 | -$1.55 (40%) |
| November 2023 | $3.720817 | $2.23 | -$1.49 (40%) |
| October 2023 | $3.609306 | $2.17 | -$1.44 (40%) |
| September 2023 | $3.759833 | $2.26 | -$1.50 (40%) |
| August 2023 | $3.776097 | $2.27 | -$1.51 (40%) |
| July 2023 | $3.8455 | $2.31 | -$1.54 (40%) |
| June 2023 | $3.804983 | $2.28 | -$1.52 (40%) |
| May 2023 | $3.751484 | $2.25 | -$1.50 (40%) |
| April 2023 | $4.007367 | $2.40 | -$1.60 (40%) |
| March 2023 | $4.02821 | $2.42 | -$1.61 (40%) |
| February 2023 | $4.06475 | $2.44 | -$1.63 (40%) |
| January 2023 | $4.115113 | $2.47 | -$1.65 (40%) |
| December 2022 | $3.820726 | $2.08 | -$1.74 (45.5%) |
| November 2022 | $3.674017 | $2.00 | -$1.68 (45.6%) |
| October 2022 | $3.430419 | $2.06 | -$1.37 (40%) |
| September 2022 | $3.455283 | $2.07 | -$1.38 (40%) |
| August 2022 | $3.616468 | $2.17 | -$1.45 (40%) |
| July 2022 | $3.4195 | $2.05 | -$1.37 (40%) |
| June 2022 | $4.118667 | $2.47 | -$1.65 (40%) |
| May 2022 | $4.292583 | $2.42 | -$1.87 (43.5%) |
#2 Insulated Wire 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/4/2026 | $1.50 / lb | +$0.45 | $1.50 - $1.50 |
| 11/5/2025 | $1.05 / lb | -$0.16 | $1.05 - $1.05 |
| 11/3/2025 | $1.21 / lb | -$0.04 | $0.85 - $1.65 |
| 10/29/2025 | $1.25 / lb | +$0.25 | $1.25 - $1.25 |
| 9/25/2025 | $1.00 / lb | +$0.10 | $1.00 - $1.00 |
| 8/29/2025 | $0.90 / lb | +$0.40 | $0.90 - $0.90 |
| 3/22/2025 | $0.50 / lb | -$0.25 | $0.50 - $0.50 |
| 6/15/2024 | $0.75 / lb | +$0.10 | $0.75 - $0.75 |
| 12/4/2022 | $0.65 / lb | -$0.10 | $0.65 - $0.65 |
The Breakdown: Pricing #2 Insulated Wire
If you're dealing with extension cords, old appliance cables, or tinned copper wiring, you're sitting on #2 Insulated Wire. Our tracking data shows the national average hovering around $1.86 per pound. Depending on the copper recovery rate (how much plastic vs. copper is actually in the wire), yards might offer anywhere from $1.50 on the low end up to $2.34 for a clean, heavy-gauge load. The copper market dictates these payouts, usually trailing the COMEX spot price by about 76.4%. Scrap yards in Ohio have to factor in the heavy plastic shielding and the chopping process, so don't expect bare bright numbers here.
Don't Get Docked: Prepping Your Wire Loads
The fastest way to lose money at the pay window is throwing all your wire into one gaylord box. Mixing your #2 Insulated Wire with premium MCM & Industrial Cable or clean #1 wire will result in a downgrade for the entire bin. That careless sorting mistake can cost you roughly $1.95 per pound across the board. Take the extra five minutes to separate your tinned wire and standard extension cords from your clean, thick-gauge single-strand copper.
Yard Pro Tip: If you're scrapping extension cords or power tool power cables, take a pair of side-cutters and snip off the plug ends before hitting the scale. Strict scale masters will downgrade a bin of #2 Insulated Wire down to #3 Insulated Wire (Low Grade) if they see bulky plastic plugs and brass/steel prongs mixed in, because it ruins the recovery percentage. Snip the ends, toss the wire in your #2 bucket, and throw the brass prongs into your yellow brass pile to maximize your ticket.
Know Your Wire Grades
Not all insulated cable is graded equally. Knowing exactly what you have in your truck prevents the scale master from taking advantage of a mixed load.
| Grade | Characteristics | National Range |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Insulated Wire | Tinned copper, extension cords, appliance wire, thinner gauge (under 16g). | $1.50 - $2.34/lb |
| #1 Insulated Wire | Clean, bare copper inside, thick strands (16+ gauge), no tin or solder. | $2.28 to $3.90/lb |
| #3 Insulated Wire (Low Grade) | High plastic content, telecom/data wire, holiday lights. | $0.60 to $1.20/lb |
| Armored Cable (BX) | Copper wire protected by a steel or aluminum outer sheath. | $0.50 to $0.95/lb |
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I strip #2 Insulated Wire?
Generally, no. Because #2 Insulated Wire consists of either very thin, hair-like strands (like extension cords) or tinned copper, it's rarely worth the time, effort, and blade wear to strip. Even if you strip tinned wire, it still only pays as #2 Copper, not Bare Bright. You are almost always better off selling it as-is for the current average of $1.86 per pound.
How does the yard determine the price for this grade?
Scrap yards look at the 'recovery rate,' which is the percentage of actual copper versus plastic insulation. #2 Insulated usually yields between 45% and 55% copper by weight. Buyers take the COMEX spot price, apply a spread of around 76.4% to cover the heavy cost of chopping and separating the plastic, and that math becomes your daily board price.
Can I mix telecom wire with my #2 Insulated Wire?
No, keep them separated. Telecom and data cables have a much lower copper recovery rate and belong in the #3 Insulated Wire category. Mixing them Ohio will force the buyer to downgrade your entire haul to the lowest common denominator.
#2 Insulated Wire scrap prices in Ohio on the map
The map shows cities in Ohio with #2 Insulated Wire scrap prices. Click a marker or pick a city in the list below to see #2 Insulated Wire prices in that location.