316 Stainless Steel Scrap Prices in Texas
Track the latest 316 Stainless Steel scrap prices in Texas. Local yards are currently paying between $0.70 and $0.90 per pound, heavily dependent on material cleanliness and form.
Average 316 Stainless Steel Price
- Low (up to $0.76): Floor price, typically for small loads.
- Mid ($0.83): A fair deal for standard quantities.
- High ($0.90+): Top-dollar rate. Offered for large commercial loads or by the most competitive buyers.
Pricing verified from 3 live board rates today.
Top Paying Scrap Yards for 316 Stainless Steel Texas
Don't let a lazy scale operator lump your premium marine-grade alloys in with standard food-grade scrap in Texas. Check local yard prices against the national average of $0.77 per pound, and always call ahead to ensure the buyer has an XRF analyzer on-site to properly grade your 316.
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🚀 List your scrap yard ⟶How 316 Stainless Steel Compares to Other Alloys
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.
316 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.
316 Stainless Steel: Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (LME)
Avg scrap yard price
World market price (LME)
316 Stainless Steel: Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History
| Period | World price (per lb) | Scrap yard price (per lb) | Spread vs. exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 (current) | $7.841267 | $1.17 | -$6.68 (85.1%) |
| February 2026 | $7.846832 | $2.99 | -$4.86 (61.9%) |
| January 2026 | $8.09 | $4.85 | -$3.24 (40%) |
| December 2025 | $6.824471 | $4.09 | -$2.73 (40%) |
| November 2025 | $6.698093 | $4.02 | -$2.68 (40%) |
| October 2025 | $6.907923 | $3.63 | -$3.27 (47.4%) |
| September 2025 | $6.933847 | $3.85 | -$3.09 (44.5%) |
| August 2025 | $6.901329 | $4.14 | -$2.76 (40%) |
| July 2025 | $6.957161 | $3.29 | -$3.67 (52.8%) |
| June 2025 | $6.90039 | $4.14 | -$2.76 (40%) |
| May 2025 | $7.089084 | $3.35 | -$3.74 (52.8%) |
| April 2025 | $7.016723 | $4.21 | -$2.81 (40%) |
| March 2025 | $7.337168 | $3.49 | -$3.85 (52.5%) |
| February 2025 | $6.967771 | $4.18 | -$2.79 (40%) |
| January 2025 | $7.050497 | $4.23 | -$2.82 (40%) |
| December 2024 | $7.09689 | $4.26 | -$2.84 (40%) |
| November 2024 | $7.17788 | $4.31 | -$2.87 (40%) |
| October 2024 | $7.710884 | $4.63 | -$3.08 (40%) |
| September 2024 | $7.435537 | $4.46 | -$2.98 (40%) |
| August 2024 | $7.453077 | $4.47 | -$2.98 (40%) |
| July 2024 | $7.492252 | $4.50 | -$3.00 (40%) |
| June 2024 | $8.077503 | $4.85 | -$3.23 (40%) |
| May 2024 | $8.950684 | $4.07 | -$4.88 (54.5%) |
| April 2024 | $8.30665 | $3.88 | -$4.42 (53.2%) |
| March 2024 | $7.984839 | $4.79 | -$3.19 (40%) |
| February 2024 | $7.453924 | $4.47 | -$2.98 (40%) |
| January 2024 | $7.388119 | $4.43 | -$2.96 (40%) |
| December 2023 | $7.580055 | $4.55 | -$3.03 (40%) |
| November 2023 | $7.753813 | $4.65 | -$3.10 (40%) |
| October 2023 | $8.366145 | $4.88 | -$3.48 (41.6%) |
316 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/12/2026 | $0.90 / lb | +$0.40 | $0.90 - $0.90 |
| 3/4/2026 | $0.50 / lb | -$0.35 | $0.50 - $0.50 |
| 2/17/2026 | $0.85 / lb | -$0.15 | $0.85 - $0.85 |
| 10/5/2025 | $1.00 / lb | +$0.28 | $1.00 - $1.00 |
| 7/19/2025 | $0.72 / lb | -$0.08 | $0.72 - $0.72 |
| 5/15/2025 | $0.80 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.80 - $0.80 |
| 3/25/2025 | $0.85 / lb | +$0.35 | $0.85 - $0.85 |
| 5/28/2024 | $0.50 / lb | -$0.40 | $0.50 - $0.50 |
| 4/21/2024 | $0.90 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.90 - $0.90 |
Commanding Premium Prices for 316 Stainless Steel
If you are pulling pipe from a chemical plant, dismantling marine exhaust systems, or upgrading commercial pharmaceutical equipment, you are likely sitting on a pile of 316 Stainless Steel. Because of the added molybdenum, 316 is a premium corrosion-resistant alloy that commands a noticeably higher price than standard kitchen-grade stainless. Across the country, our data shows yards are paying anywhere from $0.70 for contaminated or bulky loads up to $0.90 for exceptionally clean, prepared solids. The national average sits near $0.77 per pound. Make sure you know exactly what you are hauling before you hit the scale in Texas.
Yard Pro Tip: You cannot tell the difference between 304 and 316 with a standard yard magnet—both are completely non-magnetic. If you know you have marine-grade or chemical-grade 316, never accept a generic 300 Series Stainless Steel price. Demand the buyer hit the material with their handheld XRF analyzer (the "gun") while you watch. The screen will instantly confirm the molybdenum content. If a yard refuses to shoot it or doesn't own an analyzer, take your heavy loads to a larger facility that will grade it fairly.
Don't Bleed Value: Sorting Tactics That Pay
The biggest mistake scrappers make with 316 is lazy sorting. If you throw a bucket of standard 304 Stainless Steel or 18/8 Stainless Steel into your 316 bin, the buyer will simply downgrade the entire lot to the lower price. Worse, if you run a machine shop and try selling pure 316 solids mixed in a bin with Stainless Steel Turnings, you are going to take a massive hit. Letting a yard downgrade your heavy solids to a turnings price will cost you roughly $0.60 per pound in lost revenue. Keep your solids completely separate from your shavings.
| Material Condition | Impact on Payout |
|---|---|
| Clean 316 Solids | Maximum payout. No steel attachments, non-magnetic, bare metal. Expect rates near $0.90. |
| Dirty 316 | Significant dock. Has steel brackets, heavy grease, plastic, or rubber gaskets attached. Drops toward $0.70. |
Market Movers: Why 316 Prices Fluctuate
The scrap value of 316 is directly tied to global commodities, specifically the nickel and molybdenum markets traded on the LME. When industrial demand for high-end chemical piping or maritime manufacturing spikes, this scrap becomes highly sought after. Typically, domestic buyers offer rates that hover about 89.2% below the spot price of the raw materials to cover their own baling, processing, and freight costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current average payout for 316 Stainless?
Depending on local demand Texas, the current national average for clean 316 stainless is hovering around $0.77 per pound. Keep in mind that heavy solids will always fetch more than thin sheet metal.
How can I prove my scrap is 316 instead of 304?
Look for factory stamps like "316" or "316L" on pipe fittings, flanges, and valves. If there are no clear markings, the only definitive way to prove it at the yard is by having the buyer test it with an XRF analyzer.
Does dirty 316 still pay well?
Not usually. If your 316 has heavy iron attachments, rubber, or plastic, the yard has to pay labor to clean it or sell it downstream as "dirty stainless." This drops your price drastically down to the $0.70 range, so it is almost always worth your time to strip the attachments yourself before heading to the scale.
316 Stainless Steel scrap prices in Texas on the map
The map shows cities in Texas with 316 Stainless Steel scrap prices. Click a marker or pick a city in the list below to see 316 Stainless Steel prices in that location.