Price trends for insulated copper wire by grade

over the last 30 days

In the last month in the Insulated Copper Wire category: price is up for 4 grades, price is steady for 5 grades, and price is down for 4 grades.

How Have Prices Moved Over the Last 52 Weeks?
Over the past year, the category average ranged from $1.15 to $1.97.
May '25Aug '25Nov '25Feb '26Today
How Yard Prices Track the Exchange (COMEX)
Average discount to the exchange for this category: ~69.1% (-$4.41/ lb). Based on 13 grades with exchange data. Normal range for this category: 34%–94%.
✓ All 13 grades are within normal market range

U.S. National Price Benchmark — Insulated Copper Wire in Chicago Heights (Illinois)

Local scrap yards in Chicago Heights (Illinois) sometimes post their prices with a short delay. To keep you informed of what your metal is worth right now, we use U.S. national averages as a reference. The secondary metals market responds to exchange moves in sync across the country — use this national benchmark when negotiating with local buyers. Insulated Copper Wire prices across the U.S. →

Insulated Copper Wire scrap prices by grade in Chicago Heights

Here is the Insulated Copper Wire data we have on file for Chicago Heights (Illinois). Local yards don't always update their online prices daily — if your grade isn't listed, use the National Benchmark above as leverage when negotiating with local buyers.

MCM & Industrial Cable U.S. national average
Avg. Price:$4.15/ lbRange: $3.80 – $4.50/ lb
Trend for 30 days: +2.0%
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THHN Wire U.S. national average
Avg. Price:$3.83/ lbRange: $3.05 – $4.60/ lb
Trend for 30 days: +1.5%
View Details
Romex® Wire U.S. national average
Avg. Price:$3.08/ lbRange: $2.75 – $3.40/ lb
Trend for 30 days: -2.2%
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#1 Insulated Wire U.S. national average
Avg. Price:$3.05/ lbRange: $2.70 – $3.40/ lb
Trend for 30 days: -7.7%
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Coax & Heliax Cable U.S. national average
Avg. Price:$2.19/ lbRange: $2.12 – $2.25/ lb
Trend for 90 days: -11.8%
View Details
+26.9% / 30 days
Telecom & Data Wire U.S. national average
Avg. Price:$1.80/ lbRange: $1.40 – $2.20/ lb
Trend for 30 days: +26.9%
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Wire Harnesses U.S. national average
Avg. Price:$1.78/ lbRange: $1.71 – $1.85/ lb
Trend for 6 mo.: -1.8%
View Details
#2 Insulated Wire U.S. national average
Avg. Price:$1.65/ lbRange: $1.55 – $1.75/ lb
Trend for 30 days: -19.1%
View Details
+12.0% / 90 days
#3 Insulated Wire (Low Grade) U.S. national average
Avg. Price:$1.12/ lbRange: $1.00 – $1.24/ lb
Trend for 90 days: +12.0%
View Details
+3.3% / 6 mo.
Jelly Wire U.S. national average
Avg. Price:$1.10/ lbRange: $0.90 – $1.30/ lb
Trend for 6 mo.: +3.3%
View Details
+12.6% / 30 days
Armored Cable (BX) U.S. national average
Avg. Price:$0.83/ lbRange: $0.65 – $1.00/ lb
Trend for 30 days: +12.6%
View Details
Computer Wire U.S. national average
Avg. Price:$0.65/ lbRange: $0.40 – $0.90/ lb
Trend for 30 days: 0.0%
View Details
Christmas Lights U.S. national average
Avg. Price:$0.39/ lbRange: $0.27 – $0.50/ lb
Trend for 30 days: 0.0%
View Details

Scrap yards paying the most for insulated copper wire in Chicago Heights

Live prices from local scrap yards in Chicago Heights (Illinois). Compare offers and find the buyer paying the most.

💼 Scrap yard owners: Post your buy prices and get more customers
By price
By date
Updated 4/14/2026

Big Daddy Scrap

Chicago Heights, Illinois3 grades on price list
Wire, #1 (90%)
$4.22/ lb|🠅 $0.54 (15%)
Wire, #1 House
$3.31/ lb|🠅 $0.59 (22%)
Wire, Heliac
$2.24/ lb|🠅 $0.16 (8%)

Don't see your scrap yard in Chicago Heights (Illinois)? List it for free.

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Calculate the value of your insulated copper wire lot

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 Chicago Heights (Illinois).

Select a metal above to estimate value

Compare insulated copper wire grades and their value

Insulated wire pricing is always a discount to bare copper (COMEX basis) — the yard factors in the cost of stripping or processing the insulation to recover the copper. Identifying your material correctly before selling is the single most effective step to maximize your payout.

GradeExchange (100%)Yard Price (per lb)Grade Quality
MCM & Industrial Cable $6.38/ lb COMEX$4.15/ lb
High Grade65%
THHN Wire $6.38/ lb COMEX$3.83/ lb
High Grade60%
Romex® Wire $6.38/ lb COMEX$3.08/ lb
High Grade48%
#1 Insulated Wire $6.38/ lb COMEX$3.05/ lb
High Grade48%
Coax & Heliax Cable $6.38/ lb COMEX$2.19/ lb
Mid Grade34%
Telecom & Data Wire $6.38/ lb COMEX$1.80/ lb
Mid Grade28%
Wire Harnesses $6.38/ lb COMEX$1.78/ lb
Mid Grade28%
#2 Insulated Wire $6.38/ lb COMEX$1.65/ lb
Mid Grade26%
#3 Insulated Wire (Low Grade) $6.38/ lb COMEX$1.12/ lb
Low Grade18%
Jelly Wire $6.38/ lb COMEX$1.10/ lb
Low Grade17%
Armored Cable (BX) $6.38/ lb COMEX$0.83/ lb
Low Grade13%
Computer Wire $6.38/ lb COMEX$0.65/ lb
Low Grade10%
Christmas Lights $6.38/ lb COMEX$0.39/ lb
Low Grade6%

📊 What determines the value of insulated copper wire:

  • Recovery percentage: #1 insulated wire (Romex, THHN) has ~75–80% copper recovery; #2 insulated (mixed, thicker insulation) drops to ~45–65%. Yards price accordingly.
  • Strip it yourself: Stripping THHN or Romex converts it to bare bright copper — which pays 40–60¢/lb more in most markets. Do the math on large loads.
  • MCM & industrial cable: Large-gauge aluminum or copper power cable; priced per pound based on conductor metal and insulation type.
  • Christmas lights / computer wire: Low-grade, thin conductor — the lowest paying category because recovery is under 30%.
  • Coax / Heliax: Specialty cable with copper/aluminum center; priced separately at most yards — don't mix with standard insulated wire.
💡 Tip: THHN, Romex, and similar building wire can often be stripped for bare bright copper pricing instead of selling insulated.