Clean Soft Lead Scrap Prices in Pennsylvania
Check today's scrap prices for Small Lead Acid Batteries in Pennsylvania and see what local buyers are paying. Keep your UPS, alarm system, and power wheels batteries out of the trash and turn them into cash at the yard.
Average Soft Lead (Clean) Price
- Low (up to $0.40): Floor price, typically for small loads.
- Mid ($0.42): A fair deal for standard quantities.
- High ($0.52+): Top-dollar rate. Offered for large commercial loads or by the most competitive buyers.
Pricing verified from 11 live board rates today.
Top Scrap Yards Buying Small Lead Acid Batteries in Pennsylvania
Don't just hand over your battery backups to the first buyer you find. Compare prices across buyers in Pennsylvania to ensure you get the maximum payout for your load. National averages are currently around $0.47, but local demand dictates the final rate. Always call ahead to confirm their receiving rules for sealed lead acid units.
Paz Metals Inc.
Brenner Recycling
JFR Salvage Inc
American Steel Processing
Kantner Iron & Steel Inc
Royalton Recycling - Roll Off Dumpster Service & Scrap Metal Recycling
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🚀 List your scrap yard ⟶Small Lead Acid vs. Other Battery 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 Small Lead Acid Batteries
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.
Soft Lead (Clean): Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (LME)
Avg scrap yard price
World market price (LME)
Soft Lead (Clean): Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History
| Period | World price (per lb) | Scrap yard price (per lb) | Spread vs. exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 (current) | $0.878181 | $0.50 | -$0.38 (43.5%) |
| February 2026 | $0.892971 | $0.50 | -$0.39 (43.8%) |
| January 2026 | $0.92151 | $0.55 | -$0.37 (39.9%) |
| December 2025 | $0.901455 | $0.46 | -$0.44 (49.2%) |
| November 2025 | $0.918033 | $0.54 | -$0.38 (41%) |
| October 2025 | $0.907758 | $0.47 | -$0.44 (48.3%) |
| September 2025 | $0.906913 | $0.54 | -$0.36 (40.2%) |
| August 2025 | $0.906455 | $0.54 | -$0.36 (40%) |
| July 2025 | $0.925719 | $0.49 | -$0.44 (47.2%) |
| June 2025 | $0.91682 | $0.51 | -$0.40 (44.2%) |
| May 2025 | $0.907029 | $0.55 | -$0.36 (39.9%) |
| April 2025 | $0.88155 | $0.53 | -$0.35 (40.1%) |
| March 2025 | $0.926848 | $0.56 | -$0.37 (40%) |
| February 2025 | $0.896882 | $0.54 | -$0.36 (40%) |
| January 2025 | $0.88191 | $0.52 | -$0.36 (41%) |
| December 2024 | $0.914952 | $0.55 | -$0.36 (39.9%) |
| November 2024 | $0.91361 | $0.55 | -$0.37 (40%) |
| October 2024 | $0.938668 | $0.56 | -$0.38 (40.1%) |
| September 2024 | $0.926587 | $0.53 | -$0.40 (42.7%) |
| August 2024 | $0.920674 | $0.55 | -$0.37 (39.9%) |
| July 2024 | $0.971394 | $0.58 | -$0.39 (40.1%) |
| June 2024 | $1.000473 | $0.60 | -$0.40 (40%) |
| May 2024 | $1.020332 | $0.61 | -$0.41 (40%) |
| April 2024 | $0.979673 | $0.57 | -$0.41 (42.3%) |
| March 2024 | $0.939158 | $0.56 | -$0.38 (40%) |
| February 2024 | $0.946955 | $0.57 | -$0.38 (40%) |
| January 2024 | $0.962006 | $0.58 | -$0.38 (39.9%) |
| December 2023 | $0.937619 | $0.50 | -$0.44 (47.2%) |
| November 2023 | $0.998843 | $0.60 | -$0.40 (40%) |
| October 2023 | $0.954132 | $0.57 | -$0.38 (40.1%) |
| September 2023 | $1.00769 | $0.60 | -$0.40 (40%) |
| August 2023 | $0.975368 | $0.59 | -$0.39 (39.9%) |
| July 2023 | $0.959526 | $0.58 | -$0.38 (39.9%) |
| June 2023 | $0.94668 | $0.54 | -$0.41 (42.9%) |
| May 2023 | $0.948729 | $0.57 | -$0.38 (40%) |
| April 2023 | $0.96532 | $0.56 | -$0.40 (42%) |
| March 2023 | $0.954935 | $0.50 | -$0.45 (47.4%) |
| February 2023 | $0.947779 | $0.53 | -$0.42 (44%) |
| January 2023 | $0.995823 | $0.59 | -$0.41 (41.2%) |
| December 2022 | $1.006974 | $0.60 | -$0.41 (40.6%) |
| November 2022 | $0.954497 | $0.53 | -$0.42 (44.4%) |
| October 2022 | $0.900239 | $0.52 | -$0.38 (42.2%) |
| September 2022 | $0.851097 | $0.48 | -$0.37 (43.8%) |
| August 2022 | $0.940587 | $0.56 | -$0.38 (39.9%) |
| July 2022 | $0.89739 | $0.54 | -$0.36 (40%) |
| June 2022 | $0.943147 | $0.50 | -$0.44 (46.9%) |
| May 2022 | $0.979358 | $0.56 | -$0.42 (43.2%) |
| April 2022 | $1.085437 | $0.65 | -$0.44 (40.1%) |
| March 2022 | $1.067548 | $0.64 | -$0.43 (40%) |
| February 2022 | $1.041989 | $0.63 | -$0.42 (39.9%) |
| January 2022 | $1.055206 | $0.56 | -$0.50 (47.2%) |
| December 2021 | $1.033365 | $0.62 | -$0.41 (40%) |
| November 2021 | $1.04863 | $0.63 | -$0.42 (39.9%) |
| October 2021 | $1.051348 | $0.58 | -$0.47 (44.5%) |
| September 2021 | $1.00872 | $0.53 | -$0.48 (47.3%) |
| August 2021 | $1.045868 | $0.62 | -$0.42 (40.5%) |
| July 2021 | $1.060394 | $0.60 | -$0.46 (43.1%) |
| June 2021 | $0.994603 | $0.60 | -$0.40 (40.1%) |
| May 2021 | $0.991113 | $0.56 | -$0.43 (43.7%) |
| April 2021 | $0.915917 | $0.47 | -$0.45 (48.7%) |
| March 2021 | $0.893019 | $0.54 | -$0.36 (40.1%) |
| February 2021 | $0.94915 | $0.57 | -$0.38 (39.9%) |
| January 2021 | $0.918352 | $0.55 | -$0.37 (40.1%) |
| December 2020 | $0.919945 | $0.55 | -$0.37 (39.9%) |
| November 2020 | $0.876117 | $0.45 | -$0.43 (49.1%) |
| October 2020 | $0.809948 | $0.49 | -$0.32 (40.1%) |
| September 2020 | $0.86099 | $0.52 | -$0.34 (40%) |
| August 2020 | $0.884855 | $0.53 | -$0.35 (39.9%) |
| July 2020 | $0.828568 | $0.50 | -$0.33 (40.2%) |
| June 2020 | $0.79943 | $0.48 | -$0.32 (40%) |
| May 2020 | $0.743652 | $0.45 | -$0.30 (40.1%) |
| April 2020 | $0.759563 | $0.46 | -$0.30 (39.9%) |
| March 2020 | $0.788032 | $0.47 | -$0.32 (40.2%) |
| February 2020 | $0.836728 | $0.50 | -$0.34 (40.1%) |
| January 2020 | $0.876068 | $0.53 | -$0.35 (39.9%) |
| December 2019 | $0.870332 | $0.52 | -$0.35 (40%) |
| November 2019 | $0.921577 | $0.48 | -$0.44 (47.6%) |
| October 2019 | $0.989932 | $0.60 | -$0.39 (39.9%) |
| September 2019 | $0.944473 | $0.47 | -$0.47 (50%) |
| August 2019 | $0.925842 | $0.52 | -$0.41 (44.4%) |
| July 2019 | $0.900535 | $0.49 | -$0.41 (45.4%) |
| June 2019 | $0.855477 | $0.51 | -$0.34 (39.9%) |
| May 2019 | $0.831081 | $0.50 | -$0.33 (39.9%) |
| April 2019 | $0.885733 | $0.53 | -$0.35 (40%) |
| March 2019 | $0.93729 | $0.56 | -$0.38 (40%) |
| February 2019 | $0.943904 | $0.57 | -$0.38 (40%) |
| January 2019 | $0.912506 | $0.51 | -$0.40 (44%) |
| December 2018 | $0.900277 | $0.54 | -$0.36 (40%) |
| November 2018 | $0.889743 | $0.53 | -$0.36 (40.1%) |
| October 2018 | $0.908848 | $0.54 | -$0.36 (40.1%) |
| September 2018 | $0.92573 | $0.55 | -$0.37 (40.1%) |
| August 2018 | $0.938287 | $0.56 | -$0.37 (39.9%) |
| July 2018 | $1.007526 | $0.60 | -$0.40 (40%) |
| June 2018 | $1.10771 | $0.66 | -$0.44 (40%) |
| May 2018 | $1.073797 | $0.64 | -$0.43 (40%) |
| April 2018 | $1.06914 | $0.64 | -$0.43 (40%) |
| March 2018 | $1.085806 | $0.65 | -$0.43 (40%) |
| February 2018 | $1.171221 | $0.70 | -$0.47 (40.1%) |
| January 2018 | $1.168132 | $0.60 | -$0.57 (48.8%) |
| December 2017 | $1.13579 | $0.68 | -$0.45 (39.9%) |
| November 2017 | $1.120227 | $0.67 | -$0.45 (40.1%) |
| October 2017 | $1.135061 | $0.68 | -$0.45 (39.9%) |
| September 2017 | $1.08336 | $0.65 | -$0.43 (39.9%) |
| August 2017 | $1.070542 | $0.64 | -$0.43 (40%) |
| July 2017 | $1.039674 | $0.62 | -$0.42 (40.1%) |
| June 2017 | $0.97398 | $0.58 | -$0.39 (40.1%) |
| May 2017 | $0.969174 | $0.58 | -$0.39 (40%) |
| April 2017 | $1.01125 | $0.61 | -$0.40 (40%) |
| March 2017 | $1.037732 | $0.62 | -$0.42 (40%) |
| February 2017 | $1.049211 | $0.63 | -$0.42 (40.1%) |
| January 2017 | $1.009342 | $0.61 | -$0.40 (40%) |
| December 2016 | $1.001261 | $0.60 | -$0.40 (40.1%) |
| November 2016 | $0.992793 | $0.60 | -$0.40 (40%) |
| October 2016 | $0.925242 | $0.47 | -$0.45 (48.9%) |
| September 2016 | $0.882423 | $0.53 | -$0.35 (39.9%) |
| August 2016 | $0.837584 | $0.50 | -$0.33 (39.9%) |
| July 2016 | $0.836445 | $0.50 | -$0.33 (40%) |
| June 2016 | $0.777687 | $0.47 | -$0.31 (40%) |
| May 2016 | $0.778326 | $0.47 | -$0.31 (39.9%) |
| April 2016 | $0.78937 | $0.48 | -$0.31 (39.8%) |
| March 2016 | $0.819416 | $0.49 | -$0.33 (40.1%) |
| February 2016 | $0.802514 | $0.48 | -$0.32 (40%) |
| January 2016 | $0.7533 | $0.45 | -$0.30 (39.9%) |
| December 2015 | $0.775794 | $0.47 | -$0.31 (40%) |
| November 2015 | $0.738203 | $0.44 | -$0.30 (40.1%) |
| October 2015 | $0.786935 | $0.47 | -$0.32 (40.1%) |
| September 2015 | $0.766807 | $0.45 | -$0.31 (40.8%) |
Soft Lead (Clean) 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 | $0.42 / lb | +$0.07 | $0.35 - $0.52 |
| 12/14/2025 | $0.35 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.35 - $0.35 |
| 12/12/2025 | $0.30 / lb | -$0.15 | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 12/5/2025 | $0.45 / lb | +$0.20 | $0.45 - $0.45 |
| 10/14/2025 | $0.25 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.25 - $0.25 |
| 7/15/2025 | $0.30 / lb | -$0.10 | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 6/17/2025 | $0.40 / lb | -$0.10 | $0.40 - $0.40 |
| 1/13/2025 | $0.50 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.50 - $0.50 |
| 9/8/2024 | $0.45 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.45 - $0.45 |
| 4/13/2024 | $0.50 / lb | +$0.20 | $0.50 - $0.50 |
| 12/10/2023 | $0.30 / lb | -$0.15 | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 6/8/2023 | $0.45 / lb | +$0.15 | $0.45 - $0.45 |
| 4/2/2023 | $0.30 / lb | -$0.20 | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 3/21/2023 | $0.50 / lb | +$0.10 | $0.50 - $0.50 |
| 2/6/2023 | $0.40 / lb | — no change | $0.40 - $0.40 |
| 12/1/2022 | $0.40 / lb | +$0.09 | $0.40 - $0.40 |
| 10/3/2022 | $0.31 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.31 - $0.31 |
| 6/25/2022 | $0.30 / lb | -$0.15 | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 5/16/2022 | $0.45 / lb | +$0.10 | $0.45 - $0.45 |
| 1/22/2022 | $0.35 / lb | -$0.12 | $0.35 - $0.35 |
| 10/22/2021 | $0.47 / lb | +$0.12 | $0.47 - $0.47 |
| 9/10/2021 | $0.35 / lb | -$0.15 | $0.35 - $0.35 |
| 8/1/2021 | $0.50 / lb | +$0.04 | $0.50 - $0.50 |
| 5/13/2021 | $0.46 / lb | +$0.21 | $0.46 - $0.46 |
| 4/19/2021 | $0.25 / lb | — no change | $0.25 - $0.25 |
| 11/25/2020 | $0.25 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.25 - $0.25 |
| 11/15/2019 | $0.30 / lb | -$0.07 | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 9/22/2019 | $0.37 / lb | +$0.12 | $0.37 - $0.37 |
| 9/4/2019 | $0.25 / lb | -$0.10 | $0.25 - $0.25 |
| 7/17/2019 | $0.35 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.35 - $0.35 |
| 1/15/2019 | $0.40 / lb | +$0.10 | $0.40 - $0.40 |
| 1/11/2018 | $0.30 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 10/8/2016 | $0.25 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.25 - $0.25 |
Powering Up Your Payout: Scrapping Small Lead Acid Batteries
If you regularly pull apart old computer UPS systems, security alarm panels, or kids' ride-on toys, you are likely sitting on a steady supply of Small Lead Acid Batteries (SLA). These sealed units are heavy, easy to handle, and a highly reliable source of scrap income. According to our data, scrap yards are currently paying anywhere from $0.40 for mixed loads, up to $0.65 per pound for clean, fully sorted pallets. Because they are incredibly dense with lead, their value adds up very quickly at the scale.
The Sorting Guide: Don't Leave Money on the Scale
The biggest mistake scrappers make is throwing every small battery into the exact same bucket. If you mix your clean Small Lead Acid units with lower-tier backups or let a buyer lump them in with heavy Telecom & Absolyte Batteries, you could easily lose around $0.36 per pound on the downgrade. Keep your battery grades meticulously separated. Also, never let a stray Lithium Ion Batteries unit slip into your lead acid bin. Lithium batteries are severe fire hazards when crushed, and one mistake can get your entire load rejected or get you permanently banned from the facility.
Yard Pro Tip: Always check the recycling stamp on the side of small emergency backup batteries. Look for 'Pb' (the chemical symbol for lead). Many small alarm and emergency light batteries look absolutely identical to NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) or NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) units. Throwing a non-lead battery into your clean SLA bin will cause a sharp-eyed scale master to downgrade your entire bucket.
Keep Them Separate from Automotive Grades
While they share similar internal chemistry, you should keep your small sealed units physically separated from standard Automotive Batteries (Car & Truck). Some local buyers in Pennsylvania might pay a flat rate for all Scrap Lead Acid Batteries, but many tier their pricing based on the battery size and ease of processing. For context, standard car batteries are currently trading between nationwide. Presenting clearly separated categories proves to the buyer that you are a pro who knows your material.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current average price for Small Lead Acid Batteries?
Based on national market tracking, the average price is currently $0.47 per pound. Because they are heavy in lead, their prices are directly tied to the LME base metal markets. Local yards typically offer rates that sit about 50.4% below the spot market rate.
Do I need to take the batteries out of the plastic UPS casing?
Yes. If you bring in an entire computer UPS battery backup fully intact, the yard will buy it as low-grade e-waste or standard shred. You must take the time to unscrew the plastic housing and pull the actual Small Lead Acid unit out to get the much higher battery rate.
Will scrap yards buy leaking or swollen SLA batteries?
Most yards will immediately reject leaking batteries due to strict environmental, DOT, and safety regulations. Swollen batteries (often caused by internal failure or overcharging) are generally accepted as long as the plastic casing is completely intact and not actively leaking acid, but always call your local buyer to confirm their specific receiving rules before loading up your truck.
Soft Lead (Clean) scrap prices in Pennsylvania on the map
The map shows cities in Pennsylvania with Soft Lead (Clean) scrap prices. Click a marker or pick a city in the list below to see Soft Lead (Clean) prices in that location.