Average Aluminum Copper Radiators (ACR) Price

Blended rate: local Kentucky prices + national trend. As of 3/4/2026.
$2.04/ 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: $2.04
Lowest price $1.65
Highest price$2.70Who 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 $1.65): Floor price, typically for small loads.
  • Mid ($2.04): A fair deal for standard quantities.
  • High ($2.70+): 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 $1.50 to $2.99.
Mar '25Jun '25Sep '25Dec '25Today
Market response to COMEX pricing
Spread vs. exchange (180-day avg): ~68.9% (-$3.65/lb). Typical spread for this grade: 40%–56%
⚠️ Local prices haven’t caught up with the exchange yet
Market snapshot
Stable market. Prices have held steady over the past 6 months.
Pricing verified from 1 live board rates today.

Aluminum Copper Radiators (ACR) price reference for Kentucky

Scrap yards in Kentucky don’t always update their prices in real time. To give you a reliable current value, we use the U.S. national average ($2.24/lb). The secondary metals market tracks exchange moves consistently across the country. Use this national figure as your benchmark when negotiating with local yards. Aluminum Copper Radiators (ACR) prices across the U.S. →

Top Paying Scrap Yards for Aluminum Copper Radiators (ACR) in Kentucky

These are scrap yards in Kentucky that recently updated Aluminum Copper Radiators (ACR) 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 17 days ago

Stuff Recycling

Listed as: CU/AL Radiators Clean
6169 Lexington Rd, Winchester, KY 40391 Get Directions
$1.65 / lb

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How Do Aluminum Copper Radiators (ACR) Compare to Other Coils?

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.

Pure Copper Radiators Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$2.62 / lb
Trend (30d): -10.0%
Price analytics
Irony Aluminum Copper Radiators (Dirty ACR) Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$2.20 / lb
Trend (30d): +3.1%
Price analytics
Copper & Brass Radiators (Clean) Based on 1 scrap yards
Avg price:$1.80 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Irony Copper & Brass Radiators Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$1.69 / lb
Trend (30d): +25.9%
Price analytics
Radiator Ends Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.87 / lb
Trend (6m): -22.2%
Price analytics
Coolers & Condensers Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.54 / lb
Trend (90d): 0.4%
Price analytics
Aluminum Radiators (Clean) Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.49 / lb
Trend (90d): +30.6%
Price analytics
Irony Aluminum Radiators Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$0.46 / lb
Trend (90d): +122.0%
Price analytics

Aluminum Copper Radiators (ACR) Price Trends

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.

Aluminum Copper Radiators (ACR): Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (COMEX)

Avg scrap yard price

$2.04
Scrap metal dealers
Spread: -$3.65/lb
vs. exchange

World market price (COMEX)

$5.3003
✓ For 99.9% pure refined metal
💡 Why is the scrap yard price lower than the exchange? The COMEX price is the global benchmark for 99.99% pure refined metal traded in large institutional contracts. The gap between COMEX and what you pocket is the yard’s margin — it covers sorting, cleaning, transport to the mill, and protects them against sudden price drops.

Aluminum Copper Radiators (ACR): Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History

Analyst take: This month’s average spread between scrap yard prices and the world market for Aluminum Copper Radiators (ACR) is 68.9%. That’s in line with the typical range for this grade (66%–72%). 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)$5.764324$2.54-$3.23 (56%)
February 2026$5.880136$2.76-$3.12 (53.1%)
January 2026$5.894887$3.06-$2.84 (48.1%)
December 2025$5.497742$2.48-$3.02 (54.9%)
November 2025$5.064033$2.98-$2.08 (41.1%)
October 2025$5.050242$3.03-$2.02 (40%)
September 2025$4.662367$2.46-$2.20 (47.3%)
August 2025$4.477984$2.69-$1.79 (40%)
July 2025$5.482645$3.29-$2.19 (40%)
June 2025$4.883233$2.93-$1.95 (40%)
May 2025$4.686194$2.81-$1.87 (40%)
April 2025$4.654267$2.79-$1.86 (40%)
March 2025$5.13$3.08-$2.05 (40%)

Aluminum Copper Radiators (ACR) 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)
3/4/2026$1.70 / lb-$0.05$1.65 - $1.75
2/17/2026$1.75 / lb+$0.10$1.75 - $1.75
1/8/2026$1.65 / lb+$0.10$1.65 - $1.65
1/1/2026$1.55 / lb+$0.05$1.55 - $1.55
12/7/2025$1.50 / lb-$0.10$1.50 - $1.50

Cashing In on Aluminum Copper Radiators (ACR)

If you handle HVAC demo or commercial tear-downs, Aluminum Copper Radiators (ACR) are one of the most profitable items you can haul to the scale. These units—often called 'coils' in the trade—feature copper tubing running through thin aluminum cooling fins. Because they yield high-quality copper recovery, scrap yards aggressively compete for them. Right now, our data shows national payouts ranging from $1.85 for smaller or mixed loads up to $2.70 for bulk, perfectly prepped coils.

The Steel Bracket Trap

The single biggest mistake scrappers make with ACRs is throwing them directly into the truck after pulling them from an air conditioning unit. Most coils have heavy steel plates or brackets bolted to the ends. If you leave those on, the yard will grade the load as Irony Aluminum Radiators instead of clean ACR. Doing that means you are throwing away roughly $1.78 per pound. Taking five minutes to cut those ends off is the easiest money you will make all day.

Yard Pro Tip: Grab a reciprocating saw and slice off the steel ends right where the aluminum fins meet the bracket. Do not worry about cutting off the curved copper 'hairpin' loops on the ends—yards expect those to stay on clean ACRs. Run a strong magnet along the edges of the coil; if it sticks anywhere, you still have iron contamination.

Scale Prep: Getting Top Dollar for Your Coils

Getting the maximum $2.24 average rate in Kentucky comes down to proper preparation. Buyers do not want to do the processing for you. Here is how veterans prep their loads:

  • Drain Everything: Ensure all refrigerants and oils are safely and legally recovered before cutting into any AC system. Yards will reject units leaking fluids.
  • Chop the Fittings: Sometimes coils have brass or heavy copper fittings on the inlet/outlet pipes. While leaving them on might fly at some yards, snipping them off and tossing them in your brass bucket is a smarter play.
  • Keep it Dry: Water-logged coils weigh more, but scale masters will take a hefty deduction if they see water pouring out. Store your prepped coils under a tarp.

Frequently Asked Questions

What determines the daily price of ACRs?

ACR prices rely heavily on the copper market. When the COMEX goes up, coil prices follow. Typically, scrap yards pay about 68.9% below the spot price for clean ACRs, factoring in the recovery rate of separating the copper from the aluminum fins.

Is it worth separating the copper tubes from the aluminum fins?

For 99% of scrappers, no. It requires specialized machinery to cleanly strip the fins off the copper. Selling them together as ACR is highly lucrative. If you happen to come across purely single-metal units, look at the $2.10 to $3.43/lb or $0.40 to $0.65/lb prices to see the difference.

Do I need to clean the dirt off the fins?

Light dust is fine, but if the coil is caked in mud, heavy grease, or debris, the yard buyer will knock off weight for contamination. Give them a quick blast with an air compressor or hose if they are completely filthy before heading to the yard.