Average Plate & Structural Steel (P&S) Price

Blended rate: local Winchester, Kentucky prices + national trend. As of 2/17/2026.
$0.13/ lb -$0.45 (10.8%)
Use this as a baseline for negotiations. Always call local yards to confirm their rate for your load size.GT = Gross Ton (2240 lbs)
Avg: $0.13
Lowest price $0.12
Highest price$0.15Who pays the most? ⟶
How to read a yard's offer

The min/max range reflects a blended index (local + national data). Your local high may be lower.

  • Low (up to $0.12): Floor price, typically for small loads.
  • Mid ($0.13): A fair deal for standard quantities.
  • High ($0.15+): Top-dollar rate. Offered for large commercial loads or by the most competitive buyers.
52-week price range
Over the past year, prices ranged from $0.08 to $0.13.
Mar '25Jun '25Sep '25Dec '25Today
Market response to CME pricing
Spread vs. exchange (180-day avg): ~22.0% (-$0.04/lb). Typical spread for this grade: 20%–28%
✓ Scrap yards are offering fair market rates
Market snapshot
Stable market. Prices have held steady over the past 6 months.
Pricing verified from 1 live board rates today.

Plate & Structural Steel (P&S) price reference for Winchester, Kentucky

Scrap yards in Winchester, Kentucky don’t always update their prices in real time. To give you a reliable current value, we use the U.S. national average ($0.13/lb). The secondary metals market tracks exchange moves consistently across the country. Use this national figure as your benchmark when negotiating with local yards. Plate & Structural Steel (P&S) prices across the U.S. →

Where to Sell Plate & Structural Steel (P&S) in Winchester

These are scrap yards in Winchester, Kentucky that recently updated Plate & Structural Steel (P&S) prices in our database. Call them to lock in a quote. If your city isn't listed, use the National Index above as a bargaining reference with your nearest buyer.

💼 Scrap yard owners: Post your buy prices and get more customers
By price
By date
Updated 32 days ago

Stuff Recycling

Listed as: P&S Steel 4’ and under
6169 Lexington Rd, Winchester, KY 40391 Get Directions
$0.14 / lb

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Hundreds of sellers in your area search for current scrap prices every day. Post your buy prices and start getting calls.

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P&S Steel vs. Other Heavy Ferrous 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.

#1 Prepared Steel (HMS) Based on 1 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.13 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Cast Iron (Heavy) Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.11 / lb
Trend (30d): -1.6%
Price analytics
Unprepared Steel (Torch & Shear) Based on 1 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.11 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
#2 Prepared Steel Based on 1 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.10 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Automotive Cast Iron (Rotors/Drums) Estimated prices in Kentucky
Avg price:$0.10 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Tin (Sheet Metal) Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.08 / lb
Trend (30d): -14.2%
Price analytics
Light Iron & Shredder Based on 1 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.08 / lb
Trend (6m): -25.0%
Price analytics
Steel Turnings Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.05 / lb
Trend (6m): -19.4%
Price analytics

Historical Price Trends for Plate & Structural Steel

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.

Plate & Structural Steel (P&S): Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (CME)

Avg scrap yard price

$0.13
Scrap metal dealers
Spread: -$0.04/lb
vs. exchange

World market price (CME)

$0.1796
✓ For 99.9% pure refined metal
💡 Why is the scrap yard price lower than the exchange? The CME price is the global benchmark for 99.99% pure refined metal traded in large institutional contracts. The gap between CME and what you pocket is the yard’s margin — it covers sorting, cleaning, transport to the mill, and protects them against sudden price drops.

Plate & Structural Steel (P&S): Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History

Analyst take: This month’s average spread between scrap yard prices and the world market for Plate & Structural Steel (P&S) is 22.0%. That’s in line with the typical range for this grade (19%–25%). Local yards are offering fair market rates. Check offers in your area ↑
PeriodWorld price (per lb)Scrap yard price (per lb)Spread vs. exchange
March 2026 (current)$0.174571$0.13-$0.04 (23.1%)
February 2026$0.169679$0.13-$0.04 (23.4%)
January 2026$0.169184$0.12-$0.05 (27.5%)
December 2025$0.165335$0.12-$0.05 (27.6%)
November 2025$0.162647$0.13-$0.03 (20.5%)
October 2025$0.158761$0.12-$0.04 (24.4%)
September 2025$0.15567$0.12-$0.04 (22.9%)
August 2025$0.158816$0.12-$0.04 (24.2%)
July 2025$0.159239$0.12-$0.04 (23%)
June 2025$0.155033$0.12-$0.04 (22.6%)
May 2025$0.157923$0.12-$0.04 (23%)
April 2025$0.161157$0.13-$0.04 (22%)
March 2025$0.167327$0.13-$0.04 (22.3%)

Plate & Structural Steel (P&S) 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.

DateAvg price (per lb)ChangeRange (Low/High)
2/17/2026$0.13 / lb+$0.03$0.11 - $0.14
1/12/2026$0.10 / lb+$0.01$0.10 - $0.10

The Heavyweight Champion: Cashing in on Plate & Structural Steel (P&S)

If you are hauling Plate & Structural Steel (P&S), you are moving some of the heaviest, most sought-after ferrous scrap on the market. We are talking about I-beams, H-beams, channel iron, thick steel plates, and heavy angle iron. Yards want this material because it melts down cleanly and efficiently for foundries. Currently, our data shows national pricing for prepared P&S sitting between $0.12 and $0.15 per pound. However, hitting that top tier payout requires strict attention to the rules of the scale.

Anatomy of a Premium P&S Load

Buyers are strict about what qualifies as true P&S. The golden rule for thickness is usually 1/4 inch minimum. If your steel is thinner, it belongs in a different pile. Furthermore, the material must be free of significant attachments. Concrete, massive amounts of rust, or non-ferrous bolted-on junk will give the yard an immediate excuse to dock your pay.

Yard Pro Tip: Always keep a tape measure and a cutting torch handy. P&S pricing is ruthlessly dependent on dimensions. Most scrap yards require pieces to be cut to specific lengths—often 5 feet or less, sometimes even 3 feet depending on their foundry buyer's box size. If you roll across the scale with a beautiful 1/2-inch thick steel plate that is 6 feet long, the scale master will instantly downgrade the entire load to Unprepared Steel or #1 Prepared Steel (HMS). One missed torch cut can cost you the premium rate for the whole haul.

Prep and Sorting Guide: Protect Your Paycheck

Mixing your heavy structural steel with lighter gauge material is the fastest way to lose money at the yard. Scrap buyers base the ticket price on the lowest grade in your truck bed. For instance, tossing this premium heavy steel into a load that gets graded as Wire Fence is a rookie mistake, costing you around $0.09 per pound in lost value. Always separate your heavy structural steel from the light iron before you leave the shop.

FeaturePlate & Structural (P&S)#1 Prepared Steel (HMS)
Thickness1/4 inch or thicker1/4 inch or thicker (broader mix)
Material TypeStrictly structural shapes & heavy platesGeneral heavy melting scrap, pipes
Payout TierPremium Ferrous PriceStandard Heavy Ferrous Price

Market Averages and Ferrous Spreads

To know if local buyers in Winchester are giving you a fair shake, you need to understand the benchmarks. The national average for P&S is tracking around $0.13. These prices generally index off major commodities markets like the CME, typically sitting about 22% below spot depending on regional foundry demand. To put it in perspective against other heavy ferrous grades, #2 Prepared Steel is currently running $0.10 to $0.13/lb, while Automotive Cast Iron (Rotors/Drums) sits at $0.11 to $0.16/lb. Knowing these numbers gives you leverage at the scale.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly qualifies as Plate & Structural (P&S) steel?

P&S includes clean steel plates, I-beams, H-beams, channel iron, and angle iron that is at least 1/4 inch thick. It must be free of rebar, thin sheet iron, and non-metal attachments to qualify for the premium grade.

Why did my clean structural steel get downgraded at the yard?

The most common reason is length. If your structural pieces exceed the yard's maximum prepared dimensions (usually 3 to 5 feet), they will buy it as unprepared heavy melt. Attachments like heavy concrete, dirt, or excessively bolted hardware can also trigger an immediate downgrade.

How much are scrap yards paying for P&S right now?

Prices fluctuate daily based on foundry demand, but our current data shows national averages hovering around $0.13 per pound. We highly recommend calling your preferred yard Winchester ahead of time to confirm their exact payout and size restrictions before you spend the fuel to haul it.