Today’s Copper Scrap Prices in the US
Real-time market analysis for Copper scrap prices in the US. Track the latest fluctuations against the COMEX exchange, calculate your load's worth, and identify the highest-paying scrap yards in the US for every grade from Bare Bright to insulated wire.
Copper Scrap Price Trends
over the last 6 monthsIn the last 6 months in the Copper category: price is up for 5 grades, price is steady for 6 grades, and price is down for 7 grades.
Current Copper Scrap Prices in the US by Grade
Copper values currently fluctuate between $0.30/lb and $5.07/lb depending on purity and insulation. Premium Bare Bright Copper fetches the highest market rates at $4.50 to $5.07/lb, while common #1 Copper and #2 Copper are moving for $4.40 to $4.85/lb and $4.10 to $4.50/lb respectively. For those with wiring, Romex® Wire is currently priced around $2.30 to $3.20/lb.
Where to Sell Copper for the Best Rates in the US
Live prices from local scrap yards across the U.S.. Compare offers and find the buyer paying the most.
Sgt. Scrap
Sgt. Scrap
Cable Management
E-Z Money Recycling LLC
Paz Metals Inc.
Your competitors are already getting customers from here.
Hundreds of people search for the best scrap prices across the U.S. every day. Add your yard and start capturing those leads.
🚀 List your scrap yard ⟶Price Chart & History
See how local yard buy prices track the exchange (COMEX). Use this chart to judge whether it's a good time to cash in now or wait for yards to catch up with the latest exchange move.
Copper Load Value & Payout Calculator
Selling a mixed load? Pick the grades below — a weight field appears after you select at least one grade, then the calculator estimates your haul’s value from current average prices across the U.S..
Copper Recovery: Understanding Purity & Payouts
The exchange price represents pure, refined metal (99.9%+). Each scrap grade contains varying levels of impurities, which require different amounts of processing. The higher the percentage, the more valuable the grade and the closer its payout is to the spot price.
| Grade | Exchange (100%) | Yard Price (per lb) | Grade Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bare Bright Copper | $5.30 COMEX | $4.79 | High Grade•90% |
| #1 Copper | $5.30 COMEX | $4.63 | High Grade•87% |
| #2 Copper | $5.30 COMEX | $4.30 | High Grade•81% |
| Light Copper / Sheet Copper | $5.30 COMEX | $4.29 | High Grade•81% |
| MCM & Industrial Cable | $5.30 COMEX | $3.90 | High Grade•74% |
| THHN Wire | $5.30 COMEX | $3.80 | High Grade•72% |
| Copper Turnings | $5.30 COMEX | $3.79 | High Grade•71% |
| #1 Insulated Wire | $5.30 COMEX | $3.15 | Mid Grade•59% |
| Romex® Wire | $5.30 COMEX | $2.75 | Mid Grade•52% |
| Coax & Heliax Cable | $5.30 COMEX | $2.08 | Mid Grade•39% |
| #2 Insulated Wire | $5.30 COMEX | $2.02 | Mid Grade•38% |
| Telecom & Data Wire | $5.30 COMEX | $1.80 | Low Grade•34% |
| Wire Harnesses | $5.30 COMEX | $1.68 | Low Grade•32% |
| Jelly Wire | $5.30 COMEX | $1.10 | Low Grade•21% |
| #3 Insulated Wire (Low Grade) | $5.30 COMEX | $0.90 | Low Grade•17% |
| Armored Cable (BX) | $5.30 COMEX | $0.73 | Low Grade•14% |
| Computer Wire | $5.30 COMEX | $0.53 | Low Grade•10% |
| Christmas Lights | $5.30 COMEX | $0.40 | Low Grade•8% |
📊 What Determines Copper Grade Value:
- Copper Recovery Rate: The percentage of actual metal left after stripping insulation or removing contaminants (solder, paint, brass fittings).
- Market Spread: The difference between the COMEX price and what local yards pay, currently averaging 57.2.
- Processing Time: Heavily insulated wires like Christmas Lights require more industrial processing, lowering their per-pound value.
- Weight & Volume: Bulk industrial loads of MCM & Industrial Cable often command 'tier-one' pricing at the scale.
Mastering the Copper Market in the US
Copper is the backbone of the scrap industry, often providing the biggest payday for a day's haul. In US, prices range from $0.30 to $5.07 per pound. But don't just grab a bucket and head to the nearest yard. To get the top-tier $2.59 average, you need to understand how yards distinguish between the 18+ different grades of copper. Whether you are hauling Bare Bright Copper or a tangled mess of Wire Harnesses, the goal is always to minimize the yard's labor so they maximize your cash.
The Difference Between #1 and #2 Copper
The most common mistake scrappers make is mixing grades. #1 Copper must be clean, unalloyed, and uncoated. If it has paint, solder, or oxidation (that green crust), it immediately falls to #2 Copper or even Light Copper / Sheet Copper. Yards use these technicalities to protect their margins, so if you don't sort your load, you risk losing up to $4.39 per load on simple grading errors.
Yard Pro Tip: Beware of 'Copper-Clad Steel' (CCS). Some modern coaxial and communication wires look like solid copper but have a steel core. Always keep a magnet handy—if it sticks, it's not copper, and the yard will pay you shred prices for it.
The Veteran’s Sorting Guide
- Bare Bright: Stripped, 16-gauge or thicker, shiny wire. No exceptions.
- Insulated Grades: Categorize your wire by copper recovery. THHN Wire and Romex® Wire have high recovery and pay more than Computer Wire or Christmas Lights.
- Industrial Loads: If you have MCM & Industrial Cable, don't strip it unless you have a powered machine. The labor often isn't worth the weight loss unless you're dealing with massive gauges.
- Plumbing Scrap: Cut the 'sweated' (soldered) ends off your pipes. A few minutes with a pipe cutter can turn a pile of #2 into high-value #1.
Market Insights
How Copper Payouts are Calculated
Local buyers in the US base their daily board prices on the global commodity market, specifically the COMEX. However, the price you see at the scale isn't the spot price; yards subtract their 'spread' (around 57.2%) to cover overhead, shipping, and processing. Purity is king—any attachment of brass, steel, or heavy solder will instantly drop your load from #1 to #2 or even Light Copper status.
Maximize Your Copper Payout
- The 'Candy' Standard: Strip your thickest wires to get that 'Bare Bright' premium—it’s the gold standard of the industry.
- Clean Your Pipes: Cut off soldered joints and brass fittings from plumbing scrap; leaving a $0.10 fitting on a #1 pipe can cost you $4.39 in lost value.
- Check Your Coatings: Use a file to scratch wire; if it's silver on the inside, it's tinned copper or aluminum, not pure red metal.
- Watch the Scale: Ensure your Copper Turnings are dry—yards will deduct significantly for excess cutting oil or moisture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my local price lower than the COMEX spot price?
The spot price is for 25,000-pound contracts of pure cathode copper. Local yards in the US have to account for profit margins, transport to refineries, and the 57.2 market spread. Use our tracker to see the actual street price, not the Wall Street price.
Is it worth stripping #2 Insulated Wire?
Generally, if the wire is thinner than a pencil (like Telecom & Data Wire), the weight you lose by removing the plastic jacket outweighs the price-per-pound increase. For heavy THHN Wire, stripping is almost always worth the effort.
What is 'Light Copper'?
This is often called 'Sheet Copper.' It includes thin items like roofing flashing, gutters, and tea kettles. It usually has the lowest value among solid copper grades because it's often contaminated with tar, caulk, or solder.
Copper scrap prices — find in your state on the map
The map shows states where we have Copper scrap prices. Click a state on the map or use the links below to see current Copper prices in that region.