Scrap Aluminum Radiators (Clean) Prices in Virginia
Clean aluminum radiators are a solid payday if prepped right, currently fetching an average of $0.49 at the scale. Check local yard prices in Virginia to ensure you get top dollar before hauling your load.
Average Aluminum Radiators (Clean) Price
- Low (up to $0.35): Floor price, typically for small loads.
- Mid ($0.38): A fair deal for standard quantities.
- High ($0.40+): Top-dollar rate. Offered for large commercial loads or by the most competitive buyers.
Pricing verified from 2 live board rates today.
Top Scrap Yards Buying Clean Aluminum Radiators in Virginia
Don't just dump your radiators at the first scale you see. Buyers in Virginia have different requirements and pricing structures, so use our list below to compare local rates against the national average of $0.49. Always call ahead to confirm their current grading rules and exact payouts for clean aluminum.
Empire Metal Recycling
C & C Cullet LLC
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🚀 List your scrap yard ⟶How Do Clean Aluminum Radiators Stack Up?
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.
Historical Price Trends for Clean Aluminum Radiators
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 Radiators (Clean): Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (LME)
Avg scrap yard price
World market price (LME)
Aluminum Radiators (Clean): Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History
| Period | World price (per lb) | Scrap yard price (per lb) | Spread vs. exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 (current) | $1.097176 | $0.58 | -$0.52 (47.5%) |
| February 2026 | $1.2032 | $0.55 | -$0.65 (54.2%) |
| January 2026 | $1.051423 | $0.63 | -$0.42 (40%) |
| December 2025 | $0.982942 | $0.59 | -$0.39 (40.1%) |
| November 2025 | $0.930043 | $0.56 | -$0.37 (39.9%) |
| October 2025 | $0.887584 | $0.53 | -$0.35 (39.9%) |
| September 2025 | $0.86119 | $0.52 | -$0.34 (40%) |
| August 2025 | $0.866703 | $0.52 | -$0.35 (40%) |
| July 2025 | $0.837774 | $0.50 | -$0.33 (40%) |
| June 2025 | $0.802343 | $0.48 | -$0.32 (39.9%) |
| May 2025 | $0.807171 | $0.48 | -$0.32 (40%) |
| April 2025 | $0.744003 | $0.45 | -$0.30 (39.9%) |
| March 2025 | $0.878574 | $0.53 | -$0.35 (39.9%) |
| February 2025 | $0.893382 | $0.54 | -$0.36 (40.1%) |
| January 2025 | $0.812942 | $0.49 | -$0.33 (40%) |
| December 2024 | $0.805026 | $0.48 | -$0.32 (40.1%) |
| November 2024 | $0.80919 | $0.49 | -$0.32 (39.9%) |
| October 2024 | $0.84811 | $0.51 | -$0.34 (40.1%) |
| September 2024 | $0.84145 | $0.51 | -$0.34 (40%) |
| August 2024 | $0.838665 | $0.50 | -$0.34 (40.1%) |
| July 2024 | $0.905877 | $0.54 | -$0.36 (40.1%) |
| June 2024 | $0.957757 | $0.57 | -$0.38 (40.1%) |
| May 2024 | $0.995197 | $0.60 | -$0.40 (40.2%) |
| April 2024 | $0.9588 | $0.51 | -$0.45 (47.3%) |
| March 2024 | $0.916803 | $0.55 | -$0.37 (39.9%) |
| February 2024 | $0.908876 | $0.55 | -$0.36 (40%) |
| January 2024 | $0.981155 | $0.59 | -$0.39 (39.8%) |
| December 2023 | $0.992781 | $0.60 | -$0.40 (40%) |
| November 2023 | $0.936113 | $0.56 | -$0.37 (40%) |
| October 2023 | $0.91751 | $0.55 | -$0.37 (40.1%) |
| September 2023 | $0.946997 | $0.57 | -$0.38 (40%) |
| August 2023 | $0.930013 | $0.56 | -$0.37 (40.1%) |
| July 2023 | $0.934068 | $0.56 | -$0.37 (39.9%) |
| June 2023 | $0.944237 | $0.57 | -$0.38 (40.1%) |
| May 2023 | $0.9455 | $0.57 | -$0.38 (40.1%) |
| April 2023 | $0.971563 | $0.58 | -$0.39 (40.1%) |
| March 2023 | $1.031729 | $0.62 | -$0.41 (39.9%) |
| February 2023 | $1.081664 | $0.65 | -$0.43 (40.1%) |
| January 2023 | $1.063787 | $0.64 | -$0.42 (39.9%) |
| December 2022 | $1.03949 | $0.62 | -$0.42 (40%) |
| November 2022 | $1.026153 | $0.62 | -$0.41 (40%) |
| October 2022 | $0.962755 | $0.57 | -$0.39 (40.7%) |
| September 2022 | $0.9553 | $0.53 | -$0.43 (44.6%) |
| August 2022 | $1.002665 | $0.52 | -$0.48 (48%) |
| July 2022 | $0.932735 | $0.56 | -$0.37 (40%) |
| June 2022 | $1.03653 | $0.57 | -$0.46 (44.6%) |
| May 2022 | $1.104181 | $0.66 | -$0.44 (40%) |
| April 2022 | $1.12712 | $0.68 | -$0.45 (40%) |
| March 2022 | $1.070248 | $0.64 | -$0.43 (40.1%) |
| February 2022 | $1.12205 | $0.67 | -$0.45 (40%) |
| January 2022 | $1.156365 | $0.70 | -$0.46 (39.8%) |
| December 2021 | $1.092839 | $0.66 | -$0.44 (39.8%) |
| November 2021 | $1.072407 | $0.64 | -$0.43 (40%) |
| October 2021 | $1.051368 | $0.63 | -$0.42 (39.9%) |
| September 2021 | $1.110613 | $0.58 | -$0.53 (47.6%) |
| August 2021 | $1.181813 | $0.71 | -$0.47 (39.9%) |
| July 2021 | $1.106519 | $0.66 | -$0.44 (40%) |
| June 2021 | $1.065053 | $0.64 | -$0.43 (40.1%) |
| May 2021 | $1.079274 | $0.65 | -$0.43 (39.9%) |
| April 2021 | $1.063943 | $0.64 | -$0.42 (39.9%) |
| March 2021 | $1.038232 | $0.62 | -$0.41 (39.9%) |
| February 2021 | $0.997864 | $0.60 | -$0.40 (40%) |
| January 2021 | $0.978155 | $0.51 | -$0.47 (47.7%) |
| December 2020 | $0.912668 | $0.55 | -$0.36 (40%) |
| November 2020 | $0.788713 | $0.39 | -$0.40 (50.3%) |
| October 2020 | $0.748797 | $0.45 | -$0.30 (40%) |
| September 2020 | $0.74391 | $0.45 | -$0.30 (39.9%) |
| August 2020 | $0.681152 | $0.41 | -$0.27 (40%) |
| July 2020 | $0.682474 | $0.41 | -$0.27 (40.1%) |
| June 2020 | $0.707093 | $0.43 | -$0.28 (39.8%) |
| May 2020 | $0.667345 | $0.40 | -$0.27 (40.1%) |
| April 2020 | $0.655233 | $0.39 | -$0.26 (40.1%) |
| March 2020 | $0.63179 | $0.38 | -$0.25 (39.9%) |
| February 2020 | $0.865779 | $0.52 | -$0.34 (39.8%) |
| January 2020 | $0.878045 | $0.53 | -$0.35 (39.9%) |
| December 2019 | $0.919229 | $0.46 | -$0.46 (49.6%) |
| November 2019 | $0.903547 | $0.54 | -$0.36 (40.1%) |
| October 2019 | $0.852754 | $0.49 | -$0.36 (42.2%) |
Aluminum Radiators (Clean) 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.
| Date | Avg price (per lb) | Change | Range (Low/High) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/17/2026 | $0.35 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.35 - $0.35 |
| 2/11/2026 | $0.40 / lb | +$0.08 | $0.40 - $0.40 |
| 4/15/2024 | $0.32 / lb | -$0.03 | $0.32 - $0.32 |
| 10/1/2022 | $0.35 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.35 - $0.35 |
| 8/18/2022 | $0.30 / lb | -$0.10 | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 6/27/2022 | $0.40 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.40 - $0.40 |
| 9/20/2021 | $0.35 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.35 - $0.35 |
| 1/20/2021 | $0.30 / lb | +$0.12 | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 11/24/2020 | $0.18 / lb | -$0.02 | $0.18 - $0.18 |
| 12/9/2019 | $0.20 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.20 - $0.20 |
Squeezing Every Cent Out of Clean Aluminum Radiators
If you are pulling radiators out of scrapped cars or residential HVAC systems, clean aluminum radiators are a bread-and-butter item that can seriously pad your wallet. Nationwide, local scrap yards are paying anywhere from $0.40 to $0.65, depending on the regional market and the volume you are hauling. The operative word here is 'clean'. The moment a scale operator sees contamination, your payout tanks. Our data tracks the national average at $0.49, but the scrappers who consistently hit that top tier are the ones who know how to properly prep their material before ever backing up to the buyer's dock.
Contamination Traps That Kill Your Payout
Scrap yards do not want to do your work for you. If a buyer has to spend time stripping your radiator, you are taking the financial hit. A 'clean' aluminum radiator means 100% aluminum. No plastic side tanks, no steel mounting brackets, no rubber hoses, and absolutely no stray fluids. Handing over a radiator with the plastic tanks still attached drops it straight into the 'dirty aluminum' or 'irony' category, which is a massive, unnecessary price cut.
Yard Pro Tip: Grab your magnet and meticulously check the edges where the fan shroud mounts. Even one hidden steel screw, a tiny steel fitting, or a leftover piece of the plastic tank means the scale master drops your entire load to a 'dirty' price, potentially costing you $0.00 per pound instantly.
Prep and Sorting Guide for the Scale
Getting your aluminum radiators scale-ready in Virginia requires a few basic tools and a bit of elbow grease. Do not let laziness cheat you out of your hard-earned cash. Here is the veteran breakdown on proper prep:
- Cut the Plastic: Use a reciprocating saw to slice off the plastic ends completely. Do not try to pry them off; cutting straight down the aluminum core is faster and ensures no plastic is left behind in the crimps.
- Drain the Fluids: Always drain the coolant completely. Yards will reject leaking loads or hit you with a fine for bringing environmental hazards onto their lot.
- Check for Copper: Make absolutely sure you are not looking at Aluminum Copper Radiators (ACR), which have copper tubing running through the aluminum fins. Those are worth $1.85 to $2.70/lb.
- Separate the Rest: Keep an eye out for Coolers & Condensers and Copper & Brass Radiators (Clean). Mixing these distinct grades into one gaylord box will confuse the scale and cost you money. Keep your metals separated.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current average price for clean aluminum radiators?
Based on national data, expect an average of $0.49. Prices fluctuate based on the LME market, usually hovering about 62.6% below the spot price depending on yard overhead.
Why did my clean aluminum radiator get downgraded at the yard?
If you left a steel hose clamp, a mounting bracket, a petcock valve, or any piece of the plastic tank on the unit, the yard will buy it as dirty aluminum. Always run a strong magnet over the whole piece before loading your truck.
Are aluminum radiators worth more than ACRs?
Generally, no. Aluminum Copper Radiators (ACR) contain copper tubing, which commands a significantly higher price per pound than straight aluminum. Ensure you sort them into entirely separate bins to maximize your total payout.
Aluminum Radiators (Clean) scrap prices in Virginia on the map
The map shows cities in Virginia with Aluminum Radiators (Clean) scrap prices. Click a marker or pick a city in the list below to see Aluminum Radiators (Clean) prices in that location.