Price trends for insulated copper wire by grade

over the last 90 days

In the last 3 months in the Insulated Copper Wire category: price is up for 1 grade, price is steady for 8 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 $1.31 to $2.03.
Jun '25Sep '25Dec '25Mar '26Today
How Yard Prices Track the Exchange (COMEX)
Average discount to the exchange for this category: ~69.7% (-$4.53/ lb). Based on 13 grades with exchange data. Normal range for this category: 30%–93%.
✓ All 13 grades are within normal market range

U.S. National Price Benchmark — Insulated Copper Wire in Texas

Local scrap yards in Texas 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 Texas

Here is the Insulated Copper Wire data we have on file for Texas. 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 Based on 1 yard
Avg. Price:$4.50/ lbRange: $4.50 – $4.50/ lb
Trend for 30 days: 0.0%
View Details
THHN Wire Based on 1 yard
Avg. Price:$4.05/ lbRange: $4.05 – $4.05/ lb
Trend for 30 days: 0.0%
View Details
Romex® Wire Based on 2 yards
Avg. Price:$2.70/ lbRange: $2.20 – $3.20/ lb
Trend for 90 days: -3.6%
View Details
#1 Insulated Wire Based on 4 yards
Avg. Price:$2.63/ lbRange: $2.45 – $2.80/ lb
Trend for 30 days: -7.1%
View Details
Coax & Heliax Cable Based on 1 yard
Avg. Price:$2.25/ lbRange: $2.25 – $2.25/ lb
Trend for 6 mo.: 0.0%
View Details
Telecom & Data Wire Based on 1 yard
Avg. Price:$2.20/ lbRange: $2.20 – $2.20/ lb
Trend for 6 mo.: -2.2%
View Details
+5.4% / 6 mo.
Wire Harnesses U.S. national average
Avg. Price:$1.75/ lbRange: $1.65 – $1.85/ lb
Trend for 6 mo.: +5.4%
View Details
#2 Insulated Wire Based on 4 yards
Avg. Price:$1.62/ lbRange: $1.20 – $2.04/ lb
Trend for 90 days: -17.3%
View Details
Jelly Wire U.S. national average
Avg. Price:$1.10/ lbRange: $0.90 – $1.30/ lb
Trend for 30 days: 0.0%
View Details
Armored Cable (BX) Based on 1 yard
Avg. Price:$1.00/ lbRange: $1.00 – $1.00/ lb
Trend for 6 mo.: 0.0%
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
Avg. Price:$0.60/ lbRange: $0.60 – $0.60/ lb
Trend for 30 days: 0.0%
View Details
Christmas Lights Based on 1 yard
Avg. Price:$0.50/ lbRange: $0.50 – $0.50/ lb
Trend for 30 days: 0.0%
View Details

Scrap yards paying the most for insulated copper wire in Texas

Live prices from local scrap yards in Texas. 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 6/10/2026

CMC Recycling

Fort Worth, Texas2 grades on price list
Insulated CU Wire #1 50%
$2.65/ lb|🠇 $0.15 (5%)
Insulated CU Wire #2 40%
$2.04/ lb|🠅 $0.09 (5%)
Updated 6/4/2026

Cleveland Recycling Inc.

Cleveland, Texas4 grades on price list
INS #1 COPPER WIRE
$2.80/ lb|🠅 $0.40 (17%)
INS# 2 EXT. CORD (40%)
$0.80/ lb|🠅 $0.25 (45%)
LOW GRADE
$0.40/ lb|🠅 $0.05 (14%)
INS# 1 ROMEX WIRE
$2.20/ lb|🠅 $0.40 (22%)
Updated 5/19/2026

Astro City Scrap Metal

Houston, Texas7 grades on price list
Extension Cord
$1.45/ lb|🠅 $0.05 (4%)
High Recovery 90% or more (Big Wire)
$4.50/ lb|🠅 $0.20 (5%)
#1 Insulated (Size 10 and 12 THNN)
$4.05/ lb|🠅 $0.05 (1%)
#1 Insulated (Romex)
$3.20/ lb|🠅 $0.05 (2%)
#2 Insulated (Cat 5 or Cat 6)
$2.20/ lb|🠇 $0.15 (6%)
Heliax Cable Open Eye
$2.25/ lb|🠇 $0.15 (6%)
BX Iron
$1.00/ lb|🠇 $0.05 (5%)
Updated 3/2/2026

Durham Core Inc.

Forest Hill, Texas5 grades on price list
CU Ins 65 % Insulated #1
$2.00/ lb|🠅 $1.00 (100%)
CU Ins 50 % Insulated #2
$1.00/ lb
Low Grade Insulated Wire
$0.60/ lb
88 % MCM
$2.70/ lb
Wire Harness
$1.00/ lb
Updated 2/17/2026

Decatur Iron & Metal Recycling

Decatur, Texas3 grades on price list
#1 Insulated Copper
$1.80/ lb
#2 Insulated Copper
$1.20/ lb
#3 Insulated Copper
$0.60/ lb
Updated 2/17/2026

Eastland Iron and Metal Recycling LLC

Eastland, Texas2 grades on price list
Copper #2 Insulated
$1.20/ lb
Copper #3 Insulated
$0.60/ lb

Don't see your scrap yard in Texas? List it for free.

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Price chart: insulated copper wire grades and COMEX Copper exchange data

The chart shows average yard buyout rates and COMEX Copper exchange data for your selected insulated copper wire grade. When the exchange moves up and local yard prices lag, they typically follow within a few trading days — a signal to hold if you can. When both lines drop, sell now before yards update their offers downward. Switch grades using the selector above the chart.

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 Texas.

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 $6.49/ lb COMEX$4.50/ lb
High Grade69%
THHN Wire $6.49/ lb COMEX$4.05/ lb
High Grade62%
Romex® Wire $6.49/ lb COMEX$2.70/ lb
Mid Grade42%
#1 Insulated Wire $6.49/ lb COMEX$2.63/ lb
Mid Grade40%
Coax & Heliax Cable $6.49/ lb COMEX$2.25/ lb
Mid Grade35%
Telecom & Data Wire $6.49/ lb COMEX$2.20/ lb
Mid Grade34%
Wire Harnesses $6.49/ lb COMEX$1.75/ lb
Low Grade27%
#2 Insulated Wire $6.49/ lb COMEX$1.62/ lb
Low Grade25%
Jelly Wire $6.49/ lb COMEX$1.10/ lb
Low Grade17%
Armored Cable (BX) $6.49/ lb COMEX$1.00/ lb
Low Grade15%
Computer Wire $6.49/ lb COMEX$0.65/ lb
Low Grade10%
#3 Insulated Wire (Low Grade) $6.49/ lb COMEX$0.60/ lb
Low Grade9%
Christmas Lights $6.49/ lb COMEX$0.50/ lb
Low Grade8%

📊 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.