Aluminum Wire (Insulated / ACSR) Scrap Prices in Texas
Insulated aluminum wire and ACSR lines are steady money makers, currently pulling in a national average of $0.61 per pound. Check local yard prices in Texas to maximize your payout before dropping your heavy loads.
Average Aluminum Wire (Insulated / ACSR) Price
- Low (up to $0.80): Floor price, typically for small loads.
- Mid ($0.85): 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 2 live board rates today.
Top Scrap Yards Buying Aluminum Wire (Insulated / ACSR) in Texas
Don't just toss your heavy aluminum cables at the first scale you see. Buyers in Texas grade insulated and ACSR wire based on recovery rates. Use our data to compare local payouts against the national average of $0.61, and always call ahead to confirm their current pricing for your specific type of wire.
Astro City Scrap Metal
Decatur Iron & Metal Recycling
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🚀 List your scrap yard ⟶How Does Insulated Aluminum Wire Compare to Other 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 Insulated Aluminum & ACSR
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.
Aluminum Wire (Insulated / ACSR): Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (LME)
Avg scrap yard price
World market price (LME)
Aluminum Wire (Insulated / ACSR): Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History
| Period | World price (per lb) | Scrap yard price (per lb) | Spread vs. exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 (current) | $1.097176 | $0.91 | -$0.19 (17.2%) |
| February 2026 | $1.2032 | $0.89 | -$0.31 (25.8%) |
| January 2026 | $1.051423 | $0.86 | -$0.19 (18.2%) |
| December 2025 | $0.982942 | $0.80 | -$0.18 (18.7%) |
| November 2025 | $0.930043 | $0.79 | -$0.14 (15.2%) |
| October 2025 | $0.887584 | $0.75 | -$0.14 (15.3%) |
| September 2025 | $0.86119 | $0.73 | -$0.13 (15.2%) |
| August 2025 | $0.866703 | $0.70 | -$0.17 (19.5%) |
| July 2025 | $0.837774 | $0.71 | -$0.13 (15.3%) |
| June 2025 | $0.802343 | $0.68 | -$0.12 (15.1%) |
| May 2025 | $0.807171 | $0.64 | -$0.17 (21.3%) |
| April 2025 | $0.744003 | $0.63 | -$0.11 (15.2%) |
| March 2025 | $0.878574 | $0.71 | -$0.17 (19.4%) |
| February 2025 | $0.893382 | $0.76 | -$0.13 (15.1%) |
| January 2025 | $0.812942 | $0.64 | -$0.17 (20.9%) |
| December 2024 | $0.805026 | $0.68 | -$0.12 (15%) |
| November 2024 | $0.80919 | $0.69 | -$0.12 (15.1%) |
| October 2024 | $0.84811 | $0.72 | -$0.13 (15.1%) |
| September 2024 | $0.84145 | $0.71 | -$0.13 (15.2%) |
| August 2024 | $0.838665 | $0.69 | -$0.15 (18%) |
| July 2024 | $0.905877 | $0.72 | -$0.18 (20.3%) |
| June 2024 | $0.957757 | $0.81 | -$0.14 (15.1%) |
| May 2024 | $0.995197 | $0.73 | -$0.26 (26.3%) |
| April 2024 | $0.9588 | $0.81 | -$0.14 (15.1%) |
| March 2024 | $0.916803 | $0.78 | -$0.14 (15.1%) |
| February 2024 | $0.908876 | $0.77 | -$0.14 (15.2%) |
| January 2024 | $0.981155 | $0.83 | -$0.15 (15.2%) |
| December 2023 | $0.992781 | $0.84 | -$0.15 (15.1%) |
| November 2023 | $0.936113 | $0.79 | -$0.14 (15.3%) |
| October 2023 | $0.91751 | $0.77 | -$0.15 (16.5%) |
Aluminum Wire (Insulated / ACSR) 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/19/2026 | $0.90 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.90 - $0.90 |
| 3/12/2026 | $0.95 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.95 - $0.95 |
| 3/9/2026 | $0.90 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.90 - $0.90 |
| 2/25/2026 | $0.85 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.85 - $0.85 |
| 2/17/2026 | $0.80 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.80 - $0.80 |
| 1/11/2026 | $0.75 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.75 - $0.75 |
| 12/19/2025 | $0.70 / lb | +$0.10 | $0.70 - $0.70 |
| 8/15/2025 | $0.60 / lb | +$0.10 | $0.60 - $0.60 |
| 5/15/2025 | $0.50 / lb | -$0.10 | $0.50 - $0.50 |
| 3/25/2025 | $0.60 / lb | +$0.10 | $0.60 - $0.60 |
| 1/18/2025 | $0.50 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.50 - $0.50 |
| 8/3/2024 | $0.45 / lb | -$0.10 | $0.45 - $0.45 |
| 5/30/2024 | $0.55 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.55 - $0.55 |
| 5/28/2024 | $0.50 / lb | +$0.10 | $0.50 - $0.50 |
Cashing In on Aluminum Wire (Insulated / ACSR)
Whether you are pulling standard insulated aluminum building wire or hauling heavy high-voltage lines, Aluminum Wire (Insulated / ACSR) is a consistent moneymaker. Nationwide, our data shows yards are paying between $0.40 and $0.90, depending on the specific recovery rate of the wire you have. ACSR stands for Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced, which is heavily used in overhead power lines. Because it has a solid steel core wrapped in aluminum strands, yards pay a specific rate for it compared to standard insulated aluminum wire. The national average sits around $0.61, but your actual ticket in Texas will depend heavily on your sorting.
The Stripping Dilemma: Don't Lose Your Margin
The biggest decision with insulated aluminum is whether to strip it. If you have thick, easily strippable insulated wire and you just throw it on the scale as-is, you might be throwing away cash. Failing to strip it down to Aluminum Wire (EC / Clean) can result in a lost opportunity of roughly $0.57 per pound. However, if you are dealing with ACSR, stripping is usually a massive headache because of the steel core. Don't mix this wire with solid scrap like Aluminum 6061 Structural or Aluminum 5052 (Plate)—keep your wire separate to avoid confusing the scale operator.
Yard Pro Tip: If you do decide to strip ACSR to get the clean aluminum price, you MUST remove the inner steel cable before hitting the scale. Run a strong magnet along the bare wire. If the magnet grabs, it still has the steel core. Trying to sell un-separated ACSR as clean bare aluminum will cause the scale master to instantly downgrade the entire load to 'irony aluminum', killing your payout.
Prep Guide for Insulated & ACSR Wire
Maximizing your payout Texas means knowing what the yard wants to see. Follow these veteran guidelines:
- Separate by Type: Keep standard insulated aluminum wire completely separate from ACSR. They have different aluminum recovery rates (the percentage of actual aluminum vs insulation/steel weight), and mixing them guarantees you get the lower of the two prices.
- Know Your Recovery Rate: Thick insulation means less aluminum per pound of total weight. Don't expect top-tier pricing for wire that is 60% plastic by weight.
- Don't Burn It: Never burn the insulation off your aluminum wire. It's illegal in most places, horrible for your lungs, and yards will pay you less for scorched metal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average price for Aluminum Wire (Insulated / ACSR)?
Currently, the national average is $0.61 per pound. Prices are tied to the broader LME market, usually tracking roughly 15.2% below the spot price to account for the yard's processing and chopping costs.
What does ACSR mean in scrap metal?
ACSR stands for Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced. It's a type of high-capacity wire used for overhead power lines, featuring an outer layer of aluminum strands for conductivity and an inner steel core for physical strength. It pays less than pure aluminum wire because the steel adds non-aluminum weight.
Is it worth it to strip ACSR wire?
Usually, no. Stripping ACSR is exceptionally tough on standard stripping machines because the steel core destroys the blades. Most veteran scrappers sell ACSR as-is to avoid the hassle and equipment damage.
Aluminum Wire (Insulated / ACSR) scrap prices in Texas on the map
The map shows cities in Texas with Aluminum Wire (Insulated / ACSR) scrap prices. Click a marker or pick a city in the list below to see Aluminum Wire (Insulated / ACSR) prices in that location.