Copper Turnings Scrap Prices in the US
Check the latest Copper Turnings prices in the US and find top-paying scrap yards near you. Current market data shows average rates at $3.91 per pound, but clean, well-drained loads can push closer to the $4.17 mark.
Average Copper Turnings Price
- Low (up to $3.40): Floor price, typically for small loads.
- Mid ($3.91): A fair deal for standard quantities.
- High ($4.17+): Top-dollar rate. Offered for large commercial loads or by the most competitive buyers.
Pricing verified from 4 live board rates today.
Top Paying Scrap Yards for Copper Turnings US
Don't settle for the first price you hear at the scale. Compare local buyers in the US below to secure the best payout for your copper borings and turnings. National averages are sitting around $3.91, but local demand and the cleanliness of your load will dictate your final ticket. Always call ahead to confirm their current rate and ask about their moisture deduction policies.
Weiner Iron & Metal Corp
Sgt. Scrap
Sgt. Scrap
Integral Scrap & Recycling
Your competitors are already here. Is your yard missing from the list?
Hundreds of people search here every day for the best scrap metal prices. Start capturing ready-to-sell leads today.
🚀 List your scrap yard ⟶Copper Turnings vs. Upgraded Copper 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 Copper Turnings
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.
Copper Turnings: Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (COMEX)
Avg scrap yard price
World market price (COMEX)
Copper Turnings: Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History
| Period | World price (per lb) | Scrap yard price (per lb) | Spread vs. exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 (current) | $5.764324 | $3.89 | -$1.88 (32.6%) |
| February 2026 | $5.880136 | $4.11 | -$1.77 (30.1%) |
| January 2026 | $5.894887 | $4.35 | -$1.54 (26.2%) |
| December 2025 | $5.497742 | $4.05 | -$1.45 (26.3%) |
| November 2025 | $5.064033 | $3.59 | -$1.47 (29.1%) |
| October 2025 | $5.050242 | $3.38 | -$1.67 (33.2%) |
| September 2025 | $4.662367 | $3.03 | -$1.63 (35%) |
| August 2025 | $4.477984 | $3.14 | -$1.34 (29.9%) |
| July 2025 | $5.482645 | $3.47 | -$2.01 (36.7%) |
| June 2025 | $4.883233 | $3.00 | -$1.89 (38.7%) |
| May 2025 | $4.686194 | $3.46 | -$1.23 (26.2%) |
| April 2025 | $4.654267 | $3.20 | -$1.45 (31.2%) |
| March 2025 | $4.919484 | $3.63 | -$1.29 (26.2%) |
| February 2025 | $4.558107 | $3.37 | -$1.19 (26.2%) |
| January 2025 | $4.269774 | $3.08 | -$1.19 (27.9%) |
| December 2024 | $4.157855 | $3.07 | -$1.09 (26.2%) |
| November 2024 | $4.199383 | $3.10 | -$1.10 (26.2%) |
| October 2024 | $4.431839 | $3.27 | -$1.16 (26.2%) |
| September 2024 | $4.292683 | $3.10 | -$1.19 (27.7%) |
| August 2024 | $4.121839 | $3.04 | -$1.08 (26.2%) |
| July 2024 | $4.375242 | $3.18 | -$1.20 (27.3%) |
| June 2024 | $4.491083 | $3.23 | -$1.26 (28.1%) |
| May 2024 | $4.75471 | $3.33 | -$1.42 (29.9%) |
| April 2024 | $4.363717 | $3.10 | -$1.27 (29%) |
| March 2024 | $3.983645 | $2.94 | -$1.04 (26.1%) |
| February 2024 | $3.801776 | $2.81 | -$1.00 (26.2%) |
| January 2024 | $3.811306 | $2.81 | -$1.00 (26.2%) |
| December 2023 | $3.871226 | $2.77 | -$1.10 (28.5%) |
| November 2023 | $3.720817 | $2.74 | -$0.98 (26.5%) |
| October 2023 | $3.609306 | $2.66 | -$0.94 (26.2%) |
| September 2023 | $3.759833 | $2.77 | -$0.99 (26.2%) |
| August 2023 | $3.776097 | $2.79 | -$0.99 (26.1%) |
| July 2023 | $3.8455 | $2.84 | -$1.01 (26.2%) |
| June 2023 | $3.804983 | $2.75 | -$1.06 (27.7%) |
| May 2023 | $3.751484 | $2.72 | -$1.03 (27.6%) |
| April 2023 | $4.007367 | $2.96 | -$1.05 (26.2%) |
| March 2023 | $4.02821 | $2.97 | -$1.05 (26.2%) |
| February 2023 | $4.06475 | $3.00 | -$1.06 (26.2%) |
| January 2023 | $4.115113 | $2.93 | -$1.19 (28.9%) |
| December 2022 | $3.820726 | $2.82 | -$1.00 (26.2%) |
| November 2022 | $3.674017 | $2.64 | -$1.03 (28.1%) |
| October 2022 | $3.430419 | $2.53 | -$0.90 (26.2%) |
| September 2022 | $3.455283 | $2.45 | -$1.01 (29.2%) |
| August 2022 | $3.616468 | $2.47 | -$1.14 (31.6%) |
| July 2022 | $3.4195 | $2.52 | -$0.89 (26.2%) |
| June 2022 | $4.118667 | $3.04 | -$1.08 (26.2%) |
| May 2022 | $4.257274 | $2.98 | -$1.28 (30.1%) |
| April 2022 | $4.649533 | $3.43 | -$1.22 (26.2%) |
| March 2022 | $4.707694 | $3.48 | -$1.23 (26.1%) |
| February 2022 | $4.502304 | $3.32 | -$1.18 (26.2%) |
| January 2022 | $4.4345 | $3.20 | -$1.24 (27.9%) |
| December 2021 | $4.332226 | $3.18 | -$1.15 (26.6%) |
| November 2021 | $4.367567 | $3.20 | -$1.16 (26.6%) |
| October 2021 | $4.432371 | $3.14 | -$1.29 (29.1%) |
| September 2021 | $4.2864 | $3.16 | -$1.12 (26.2%) |
| August 2021 | $4.302984 | $3.18 | -$1.13 (26.2%) |
| July 2021 | $4.347452 | $2.95 | -$1.39 (32.1%) |
| June 2021 | $4.388783 | $3.24 | -$1.15 (26.2%) |
| May 2021 | $4.618871 | $3.41 | -$1.21 (26.2%) |
| April 2021 | $4.192633 | $3.10 | -$1.10 (26.2%) |
| March 2021 | $4.084726 | $3.02 | -$1.07 (26.1%) |
| February 2021 | $3.861 | $2.85 | -$1.01 (26.1%) |
| January 2021 | $3.607435 | $2.24 | -$1.37 (37.9%) |
| December 2020 | $3.546903 | $2.54 | -$1.01 (28.4%) |
| November 2020 | $3.21755 | $2.02 | -$1.19 (37.1%) |
| October 2020 | $3.060177 | $2.17 | -$0.89 (29.2%) |
| September 2020 | $3.0352 | $2.24 | -$0.79 (26.2%) |
| August 2020 | $2.909726 | $2.15 | -$0.76 (26.2%) |
| July 2020 | $2.867581 | $2.12 | -$0.75 (26.1%) |
| June 2020 | $2.5983 | $1.92 | -$0.68 (26.2%) |
| May 2020 | $2.377403 | $1.76 | -$0.62 (26.1%) |
| April 2020 | $2.28595 | $1.69 | -$0.60 (26.1%) |
| March 2020 | $2.356968 | $1.74 | -$0.62 (26.2%) |
| February 2020 | $2.574707 | $1.90 | -$0.67 (26.2%) |
| January 2020 | $2.759935 | $2.04 | -$0.72 (26.2%) |
| December 2019 | $2.774145 | $1.96 | -$0.81 (29.3%) |
| November 2019 | $2.660717 | $1.86 | -$0.80 (30.1%) |
| October 2019 | $2.621613 | $1.94 | -$0.69 (26.1%) |
| September 2019 | $2.615533 | $1.93 | -$0.69 (26.2%) |
| August 2019 | $2.576597 | $1.90 | -$0.67 (26.2%) |
| July 2019 | $2.693468 | $1.99 | -$0.71 (26.2%) |
| June 2019 | $2.671833 | $1.97 | -$0.70 (26.2%) |
| May 2019 | $2.7395 | $2.02 | -$0.72 (26.2%) |
| April 2019 | $2.914283 | $2.15 | -$0.76 (26.1%) |
| March 2019 | $2.902032 | $2.14 | -$0.76 (26.1%) |
| February 2019 | $2.845929 | $2.10 | -$0.74 (26.1%) |
| January 2019 | $2.675468 | $1.98 | -$0.70 (26.2%) |
| December 2018 | $2.724823 | $2.01 | -$0.71 (26.2%) |
| November 2018 | $2.7578 | $2.04 | -$0.72 (26.2%) |
| October 2018 | $2.768435 | $2.04 | -$0.72 (26.2%) |
| September 2018 | $2.712817 | $2.00 | -$0.71 (26.2%) |
| August 2018 | $2.706081 | $2.00 | -$0.71 (26.2%) |
| July 2018 | $2.807597 | $2.07 | -$0.73 (26.2%) |
| June 2018 | $3.1238 | $2.31 | -$0.82 (26.2%) |
| May 2018 | $3.080177 | $2.27 | -$0.81 (26.2%) |
| April 2018 | $3.08635 | $2.28 | -$0.81 (26.2%) |
| March 2018 | $3.080758 | $2.28 | -$0.81 (26.1%) |
| February 2018 | $3.17875 | $2.35 | -$0.83 (26.2%) |
| January 2018 | $3.215161 | $2.37 | -$0.84 (26.2%) |
| December 2017 | $3.134855 | $2.31 | -$0.82 (26.2%) |
| November 2017 | $3.105817 | $2.29 | -$0.81 (26.2%) |
| October 2017 | $3.103887 | $2.29 | -$0.81 (26.2%) |
| September 2017 | $3.00865 | $2.22 | -$0.79 (26.2%) |
| August 2017 | $2.957097 | $2.18 | -$0.77 (26.2%) |
| July 2017 | $2.732484 | $2.02 | -$0.71 (26.1%) |
| June 2017 | $2.605467 | $1.92 | -$0.68 (26.1%) |
| May 2017 | $2.556677 | $1.89 | -$0.67 (26.2%) |
| April 2017 | $2.595367 | $1.92 | -$0.68 (26.1%) |
| March 2017 | $2.653452 | $1.96 | -$0.69 (26.1%) |
| February 2017 | $2.69925 | $1.99 | -$0.71 (26.2%) |
| January 2017 | $2.622903 | $1.94 | -$0.69 (26.2%) |
| December 2016 | $2.497143 | $1.80 | -$0.70 (28%) |
Copper Turnings 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/10/2026 | $3.40 / lb | -$0.77 | $3.40 - $3.40 |
| 3/4/2026 | $4.17 / lb | +$0.54 | $4.17 - $4.17 |
| 2/17/2026 | $3.63 / lb | -$0.27 | $3.15 - $4.10 |
| 12/5/2025 | $3.90 / lb | +$0.24 | $3.90 - $3.90 |
| 11/29/2025 | $3.66 / lb | +$0.11 | $3.66 - $3.66 |
| 11/23/2025 | $3.55 / lb | +$0.05 | $3.55 - $3.55 |
| 11/11/2025 | $3.50 / lb | — no change | $3.50 - $3.50 |
| 11/5/2025 | $3.50 / lb | -$0.15 | $3.50 - $3.50 |
| 10/24/2025 | $3.65 / lb | +$0.35 | $3.65 - $3.65 |
| 10/16/2025 | $3.30 / lb | -$0.28 | $3.30 - $3.30 |
| 10/11/2025 | $3.58 / lb | +$0.08 | $3.58 - $3.58 |
| 10/8/2025 | $3.50 / lb | +$0.80 | $3.50 - $3.50 |
| 10/6/2025 | $2.70 / lb | +$0.70 | $2.70 - $2.70 |
| 10/1/2025 | $2.00 / lb | -$1.12 | $2.00 - $2.00 |
| 9/7/2025 | $3.12 / lb | -$0.06 | $3.12 - $3.12 |
| 9/5/2025 | $3.18 / lb | +$0.18 | $3.18 - $3.18 |
| 8/24/2025 | $3.00 / lb | -$0.05 | $3.00 - $3.00 |
| 8/23/2025 | $3.05 / lb | +$0.55 | $3.05 - $3.05 |
| 8/3/2025 | $2.50 / lb | -$0.20 | $2.50 - $2.50 |
| 7/11/2025 | $2.70 / lb | -$0.50 | $2.70 - $2.70 |
| 7/1/2025 | $3.20 / lb | +$0.70 | $3.20 - $3.20 |
| 6/17/2025 | $2.50 / lb | -$0.05 | $2.50 - $2.50 |
| 6/11/2025 | $2.55 / lb | -$0.05 | $2.55 - $2.55 |
| 4/21/2025 | $2.60 / lb | -$0.50 | $2.60 - $2.60 |
| 1/19/2025 | $3.10 / lb | +$0.20 | $3.10 - $3.10 |
| 1/9/2025 | $2.90 / lb | -$0.29 | $2.90 - $2.90 |
| 9/26/2024 | $3.19 / lb | +$0.23 | $3.19 - $3.19 |
| 9/19/2024 | $2.96 / lb | -$0.24 | $2.96 - $2.96 |
| 7/13/2024 | $3.20 / lb | +$0.20 | $3.20 - $3.20 |
| 6/18/2024 | $3.00 / lb | +$0.10 | $3.00 - $3.00 |
| 5/18/2024 | $2.90 / lb | +$0.20 | $2.90 - $2.90 |
| 4/17/2024 | $2.70 / lb | -$0.11 | $2.70 - $2.70 |
| 12/16/2023 | $2.81 / lb | +$0.61 | $2.81 - $2.81 |
| 12/5/2023 | $2.20 / lb | -$0.40 | $2.20 - $2.20 |
| 12/2/2023 | $2.60 / lb | -$0.22 | $2.60 - $2.60 |
| 11/17/2023 | $2.82 / lb | +$0.10 | $2.82 - $2.82 |
| 9/30/2023 | $2.72 / lb | +$0.42 | $2.72 - $2.72 |
| 6/4/2023 | $2.30 / lb | -$0.40 | $2.30 - $2.30 |
| 1/25/2023 | $2.70 / lb | +$0.30 | $2.70 - $2.70 |
| 11/27/2022 | $2.40 / lb | +$0.30 | $2.40 - $2.40 |
| 9/27/2022 | $2.10 / lb | +$0.20 | $2.10 - $2.10 |
| 8/19/2022 | $1.90 / lb | -$0.68 | $1.90 - $1.90 |
| 8/12/2022 | $2.58 / lb | -$0.22 | $2.58 - $2.58 |
| 5/23/2022 | $2.80 / lb | — no change | $2.80 - $2.80 |
| 5/14/2022 | $2.80 / lb | -$0.20 | $2.80 - $2.80 |
| 1/22/2022 | $3.00 / lb | -$0.02 | $3.00 - $3.00 |
| 12/4/2021 | $3.02 / lb | +$0.22 | $3.02 - $3.02 |
| 10/16/2021 | $2.80 / lb | +$0.55 | $2.80 - $2.80 |
| 7/27/2021 | $2.25 / lb | +$0.85 | $2.25 - $2.25 |
| 1/28/2021 | $1.40 / lb | -$0.90 | $1.40 - $1.40 |
| 1/16/2021 | $2.30 / lb | +$0.20 | $2.30 - $2.30 |
| 12/5/2020 | $2.10 / lb | +$0.85 | $2.10 - $2.10 |
| 11/25/2020 | $1.25 / lb | -$0.65 | $1.25 - $1.25 |
| 10/19/2020 | $1.90 / lb | +$0.20 | $1.90 - $1.90 |
| 12/14/2019 | $1.70 / lb | +$0.15 | $1.70 - $1.70 |
| 11/20/2019 | $1.55 / lb | +$0.05 | $1.55 - $1.55 |
Maximizing Your Payout on Copper Turnings
For machine shops, CNC operators, and industrial scrappers, Copper Turnings (also known as borings, chips, or shavings) are a constant and heavy byproduct. While they might look like a mess of tangled wire and metal dust, there is serious cash sitting in those hoppers in the US. Across the nation, scrap yards are paying anywhere from $3.40 to $4.17 per pound. However, hitting that top tier requires strict attention to detail, as scale buyers are hyper-focused on contamination and moisture weight.
The Machinist's Guide to Clean Turnings
When you dump a Gaylord or a 55-gallon drum on the scale, the yard manager is looking for two things: tramp metal and cutting fluids. Because turnings have a massive surface area, they trap oil, coolant, and water like a sponge. Buyers will routinely deduct weight for moisture—sometimes up to 10%—if your chips are soaking wet. To get the best price, let your hoppers drain completely before hauling them in.
| Condition | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Clean & Dry | Max payout, hitting closer to the $4.17 mark. Bright, unoxidized, and free of pooled cutting fluids. |
| Oily & Mixed | Expect the $3.40 range or worse. Heavy oil saturation means the yard pays for fluid they have to burn off. |
Yard Pro Tip: Always run a heavy-duty magnet through your drums of copper turnings before heading to the yard. Machine shops are notorious for sweeping up steel shavings and dumping them in the same bin. Even a small handful of magnetic steel chips in a 500-lb drum of copper turnings will trigger a massive deduction, often downgrading your load to a dirty brass or breakage rate.
Don't Bleed Profits: The Mixing Trap
One of the biggest rookie mistakes is throwing everything copper into a single bin. Copper Turnings have their own distinct pricing category, usually tracking about 26.2% below the COMEX spot price. If you toss a bucket of turnings into your box of #1 Copper or even #2 Copper, the scale master will downgrade the entire premium load to the turnings price. You are looking at a brutal loss of roughly $0.66 per pound on your solid copper just for being lazy with your sorting. Keep your chips separated from your solids, period.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are copper turnings worth right now?
Depending on your location and the purity of the metal, yards are currently paying between $3.40 and $4.17 per pound. The national average tracks around $3.91, but highly saturated or contaminated loads will fetch much less.
Why do yards deduct weight for oil and coolant?
Turnings hold a massive amount of liquid due to their shape. Buyers cannot melt oil or coolant; in fact, it creates environmental and safety hazards during the smelting process. Yards will subtract the estimated liquid weight before calculating your final payout.
Should I wash my turnings before scrapping?
No, actively washing them isn't practical and can actually cause rapid oxidation (rusting/greening), which lowers the value. The best practice is simply to use a centrifuge or let your hoppers drain gravity-style for a few days before taking them to the yard.
How do turnings compare to other copper grades?
Turnings generally price lower than solid copper scrap. For example, while turnings might average $3.91, a solid grade like #2 Copper usually commands $4.10 to $4.50/lb because it requires less processing, has lower melt-loss, and yields more pure copper when recycled.
Copper Turnings scrap prices — find in your state on the map
The map shows states where we have Copper Turnings scrap prices. Click a state on the map or use the links below to see current Copper Turnings prices in that region.