Price trends for insulated copper wire by grade

over the last 6 months

In the last 6 months in the Insulated Copper Wire category: price is up for 5 grades, price is steady for 2 grades, and price is down for 6 grades.

How Have Prices Moved Over the Last 52 Weeks?
Over the past year, the category average ranged from $1.15 to $1.92.
May '25Aug '25Nov '25Feb '26Today
How Yard Prices Track the Exchange (COMEX)
Average discount to the exchange for this category: ~69.9% (-$4.64/ lb). Based on 13 grades with exchange data. Normal range for this category: 37%–95%.
✓ All 13 grades are within normal market range

Insulated Copper Wire scrap prices by grade in the US

The percentage of copper inside the insulation determines the grade — higher copper recovery = higher price per pound. Click any grade to get a detailed price chart, market analysis, and a list of yards currently paying the most.

MCM & Industrial Cable Based on 6 yards
Avg. Price:$4.15/ lbRange: $3.80 – $4.50/ lb
Trend for 30 days: -2.7%
View Details
+2.7% / 30 days
#1 Insulated Wire Based on 4 yards
Avg. Price:$3.55/ lbRange: $2.70 – $4.40/ lb
Trend for 30 days: +2.7%
View Details
THHN Wire Based on 5 yards
Avg. Price:$3.53/ lbRange: $2.95 – $4.10/ lb
Trend for 30 days: -12.2%
View Details
Romex® Wire Based on 3 yards
Avg. Price:$3.00/ lbRange: $2.70 – $3.30/ lb
Trend for 30 days: -3.7%
View Details
Coax & Heliax Cable Based on 5 yards
Avg. Price:$2.18/ lbRange: $2.10 – $2.25/ lb
Trend for 90 days: -3.7%
View Details
Telecom & Data Wire Based on 3 yards
Avg. Price:$1.98/ lbRange: $1.65 – $2.30/ lb
Trend for 30 days: -9.8%
View Details
#2 Insulated Wire Based on 6 yards
Avg. Price:$1.89/ lbRange: $1.65 – $2.13/ lb
Trend for 30 days: -0.6%
View Details
+5.9% / 6 mo.
Wire Harnesses Based on 8 yards
Avg. Price:$1.70/ lbRange: $1.60 – $1.80/ lb
Trend for 6 mo.: +5.9%
View Details
+4.9% / 30 days
Avg. Price:$1.12/ lbRange: $1.00 – $1.24/ lb
Trend for 30 days: +4.9%
View Details
Jelly Wire Based on 3 yards
Avg. Price:$1.10/ lbRange: $0.90 – $1.30/ lb
Trend for 6 mo.: -10.9%
View Details
+4.1% / 30 days
Armored Cable (BX) Based on 11 yards
Avg. Price:$0.75/ lbRange: $0.50 – $1.00/ lb
Trend for 30 days: +4.1%
View Details
Computer Wire Based on 6 yards
Avg. Price:$0.65/ lbRange: $0.40 – $0.90/ lb
Trend for 30 days: 0.0%
View Details
+33.8% / 6 mo.
Christmas Lights Based on 11 yards
Avg. Price:$0.39/ lbRange: $0.28 – $0.50/ lb
Trend for 6 mo.: +33.8%
View Details

Scrap yards paying the most for insulated copper wire in the US

Live prices from local scrap yards across the U.S.. 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 today

Astro City Scrap Metal

Houston, Texas7 grades on price list
Extension Cord
$1.55/ lb|🠅 $0.05 (3%)
High Recovery 90% or more (Big Wire)
$4.50/ lb|🠅 $0.05 (1%)
#1 Insulated (Size 10 and 12 THNN)
$4.10/ lb|🠅 $0.10 (2%)
#1 Insulated (Romex)
$3.30/ lb|🠅 $0.10 (3%)
#2 Insulated (Cat 5 or Cat 6)
$2.30/ lb|🠅 $0.05 (2%)
Heliax Cable Open Eye
$2.25/ lb|🠇 $0.15 (6%)
BX Iron
$1.00/ lb|🠇 $0.05 (5%)
Updated today

Brenner Recycling

Hazleton, Pennsylvania3 grades on price list
Insulated Copper Cable
$3.50/ lb|🠇 $0.05 (1%)
Low Grade Copper Wire
$0.35/ lb|🠅 $0.05 (17%)
Steel BX Cable
$0.70/ lb
Updated yesterday

Wichita Material Recovery - WMR - 303-9303

Wichita, Kansas5 grades on price list
ire Insulated #2 50%
$1.88/ lb|🠅 $0.13 (7%)
Wire Insulated #3 25%
$0.54/ lb|🠇 $0.04 (7%)
Wire Insulated MCM 80%
$3.81/ lb|🠇 $0.16 (4%)
Wire Insulated #1 THHN 75%
$3.41/ lb|🠇 $0.15 (4%)
Wire Cat 5/6 Communication
$1.65/ lb|🠅 $0.20 (14%)
Updated yesterday

CMC Recycling

Chattanooga, Tennessee3 grades on price list
Insulated CU Wire #1
$3.34/ lb|🠅 $0.33 (11%)
Insulated CU Wire #2
$2.13/ lb|🠅 $0.24 (13%)
Low Grade Insulated Wire
$1.22/ lb|🠅 $0.15 (14%)
Updated 5/11/2026

Metalico South Park

Buffalo, New York2 grades on price list
High Grade Insulated Copper Wire
$2.52/ lb|🠅 $0.24 (11%)
Low Grade Insulated Copper Wire
$1.24/ lb|🠅 $0.10 (9%)
Updated 5/11/2026

Skyway Auto Parts Inc

Buffalo, New York2 grades on price list
High Grade Insulated Copper Wire
$2.52/ lb|🠅 $0.24 (11%)
Low Grade Insulated Copper Wire
$1.24/ lb|🠅 $0.10 (9%)

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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 across the U.S..

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 $6.64/ lb COMEX$4.15/ lb
High Grade63%
#1 Insulated Wire $6.64/ lb COMEX$3.55/ lb
High Grade53%
THHN Wire $6.64/ lb COMEX$3.53/ lb
High Grade53%
Romex® Wire $6.64/ lb COMEX$3.00/ lb
High Grade45%
Coax & Heliax Cable $6.64/ lb COMEX$2.18/ lb
Mid Grade33%
Telecom & Data Wire $6.64/ lb COMEX$1.98/ lb
Mid Grade30%
#2 Insulated Wire $6.64/ lb COMEX$1.89/ lb
Mid Grade28%
Wire Harnesses $6.64/ lb COMEX$1.70/ lb
Mid Grade26%
#3 Insulated Wire (Low Grade) $6.64/ lb COMEX$1.12/ lb
Low Grade17%
Jelly Wire $6.64/ lb COMEX$1.10/ lb
Low Grade17%
Armored Cable (BX) $6.64/ lb COMEX$0.75/ lb
Low Grade11%
Computer Wire $6.64/ lb COMEX$0.65/ lb
Low Grade10%
Christmas Lights $6.64/ 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.