Average Armored Cable (BX) Price

180-day market: price lists from 2 yards. As of 2/17/2026.
$0.55/ lb -$0.45 (10.8%)
GT = Gross Ton (2240 lbs)
Avg: $0.55
Lowest price $0.50
Highest price$0.60Who pays the most? ⟶
How to read a yard's offer
  • Low (up to $0.50): Floor price, typically for small loads.
  • Mid ($0.55): A fair deal for standard quantities.
  • High ($0.60+): 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 $0.50 to $2.99.
Mar '25Jun '25Sep '25Dec '25Today
Market response to COMEX pricing
Spread vs. exchange (180-day avg): ~89.6% (-$4.75/lb). Typical spread for this grade: 40%–57%
⚠️ 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 2 live board rates today.

Top Scrap Yards Buying Armored Cable (BX) Ohio

Before you load up your truck, check out these local yards in Ohio to compare payouts for Armored Cable (BX). National averages give you a solid baseline, but local demand dictates the final ticket, so always call ahead to lock in your rate.

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

Columbus Metal Recycling

Listed as: Insulated Steel BX / MC
533 N Nelson Rd, Columbus, OH 43219 Get Directions
$0.60 / lb
Updated 138 days ago

Speedie Recycling

Listed as: Steel BX Wire
7021 Eberhart Rd NW Get Directions
Today: 8-11AM
$0.50 / lb

Your competitors are already here. Is your yard missing from the list?

Hundreds of people search here every day for the best scrap metal prices. Start capturing ready-to-sell leads today.

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Compare Armored Cable (BX) with Similar Wire 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.

MCM & Industrial Cable Based on 1 scrap yards
Avg price:$4.10 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
THHN Wire Based on 1 scrap yards
Avg price:$3.05 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Romex® Wire Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$2.38 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
#1 Insulated Wire Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$2.20 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Coax & Heliax Cable Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$1.53 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Telecom & Data Wire Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$1.45 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
#2 Insulated Wire Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$1.25 / lb
Trend (6m): +37.5%
Price analytics
Wire Harnesses Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$1.15 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Jelly Wire Estimated U.S. prices
Avg price:$1.03 / lb
Trend (6m): +4.9%
Price analytics
#3 Insulated Wire (Low Grade) Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.90 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Computer Wire Based on 1 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.75 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Christmas Lights Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.35 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics

Armored Cable (BX) Price Trends & Market History

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.

Armored Cable (BX): Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (COMEX)

Avg scrap yard price

$0.55
Scrap metal dealers
Spread: -$4.75/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.

Armored Cable (BX): Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History

Analyst take: This month’s average spread between scrap yard prices and the world market for Armored Cable (BX) is 89.6%. That’s in line with the typical range for this grade (87%–93%). 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$2.53-$3.24 (56.2%)
February 2026$5.880136$2.70-$3.18 (54%)
January 2026$5.894887$3.54-$2.36 (40%)
December 2025$5.497742$3.30-$2.20 (40%)
November 2025$5.064033$2.78-$2.28 (45.1%)
October 2025$5.050242$2.61-$2.44 (48.3%)
September 2025$4.662367$2.80-$1.87 (40%)
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$4.919484$2.95-$1.97 (40%)
February 2025$4.558107$2.74-$1.82 (40%)
January 2025$4.269774$2.56-$1.71 (40%)
December 2024$4.157855$2.03-$2.12 (51.1%)
November 2024$4.199383$2.52-$1.68 (40%)
October 2024$4.431839$2.66-$1.77 (40%)
September 2024$4.292683$2.58-$1.72 (40%)
August 2024$4.121839$2.47-$1.65 (40%)
July 2024$4.375242$2.63-$1.75 (40%)
June 2024$4.491083$2.70-$1.80 (40%)
May 2024$4.75471$2.85-$1.90 (40%)
April 2024$4.363717$2.06-$2.30 (52.7%)
March 2024$3.983645$2.39-$1.59 (40%)
February 2024$3.801776$2.28-$1.52 (40%)
January 2024$3.811306$2.29-$1.52 (40%)
December 2023$3.871226$2.32-$1.55 (40%)
November 2023$3.720817$2.23-$1.49 (40%)
October 2023$3.609306$2.17-$1.44 (40%)
September 2023$3.759833$2.26-$1.50 (40%)
August 2023$3.776097$2.27-$1.51 (40%)
July 2023$3.8455$2.31-$1.54 (40%)
June 2023$3.804983$2.28-$1.52 (40%)
May 2023$3.751484$2.25-$1.50 (40%)
April 2023$4.007367$2.40-$1.60 (40%)
March 2023$4.02821$2.42-$1.61 (40%)
February 2023$4.06475$2.44-$1.63 (40%)
January 2023$4.115113$2.47-$1.65 (40%)
December 2022$3.820726$2.29-$1.53 (40%)
November 2022$3.674017$2.20-$1.47 (40%)
October 2022$3.430419$2.06-$1.37 (40%)
September 2022$3.455283$2.07-$1.38 (40%)
August 2022$3.616468$2.17-$1.45 (40%)
July 2022$3.4195$2.05-$1.37 (40%)
June 2022$4.118667$2.47-$1.65 (40%)
May 2022$4.257274$2.55-$1.70 (40%)
April 2022$4.649533$2.79-$1.86 (40%)
March 2022$4.707694$2.83-$1.88 (40%)
February 2022$4.502304$2.70-$1.80 (40%)
January 2022$4.4345$2.66-$1.77 (40%)
December 2021$4.332226$2.60-$1.73 (40%)
November 2021$4.367567$2.62-$1.75 (40%)
October 2021$4.432371$2.66-$1.77 (40%)
September 2021$4.2864$2.57-$1.71 (40%)
August 2021$4.302984$2.58-$1.72 (40%)
July 2021$4.347452$2.61-$1.74 (40%)
June 2021$4.388783$2.63-$1.76 (40%)
May 2021$4.618871$2.77-$1.85 (40%)
April 2021$4.192633$2.51-$1.68 (40%)
March 2021$4.084726$2.45-$1.63 (40%)
February 2021$3.861$2.32-$1.54 (40%)
January 2021$3.607435$2.16-$1.44 (40%)
December 2020$3.546903$2.13-$1.42 (40%)
November 2020$3.21755$1.93-$1.29 (40%)
October 2020$3.060177$1.84-$1.22 (40%)
September 2020$3.0352$1.82-$1.21 (40%)
August 2020$2.911117$1.70-$1.21 (41.7%)

Armored Cable (BX) 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$0.60 / lb+$0.10$0.60 - $0.60
11/3/2025$0.50 / lb-$0.25$0.50 - $0.50
12/12/2024$0.75 / lb+$0.25$0.75 - $0.75
4/18/2024$0.50 / lb+$0.30$0.50 - $0.50

Cracking the Code on Armored Cable (BX)

Armored Cable, commonly known on the job site as BX, MC (Metal Clad), or AC cable, is a staple in commercial and industrial electrical tear-outs. It consists of insulated copper wires encased in a flexible, spiraled metal jacket. Because of that heavy outer armor, the recovery rate of the internal copper is relatively low, which is why scrap yards price it differently than your standard Romex. Currently, national data shows yards are paying anywhere from $0.50 to $0.95 per pound, with the average hovering right around $0.63.

Steel vs. Aluminum Armor: Know Your Load

Not all BX is created equal. The outer sheathing is typically made of either galvanized steel or aluminum. Always keep a magnet handy in your bucket. If the magnet sticks to the jacket, you've got steel-armored BX. If it doesn't, it's aluminum. While both fall under the Armored Cable category, some buyers will pay a slight premium for aluminum-jacketed wire because aluminum is easier for choppers to process and holds more value than light steel shred.

Yard Pro Tip: Do not waste your time trying to strip BX cable. The interlocking metal armor is notoriously difficult and dangerous to remove by hand or with standard wire strippers. The time and blades you burn through will far outweigh the extra copper recovery. Sell it as-is and focus your labor on stripping easier, higher-yielding material like large-gauge bare bright.

Field Prep: Maximizing Your Haul Before the Scale

When you are tearing out old electrical systems in Ohio, preparation is key. A lot of scrappers just toss everything into a gaylord box and hope for the best. Keep your lengths manageable. Most yards prefer the wire coiled or cut into manageable sections so it fits easily onto their scales. If you have massive, tangled bird's nests of BX, it slows down the weighing process. A clean, organized load shows the yard manager you are a professional.

Don't Take a Beating at the Scale

Mixing your metals is the fastest way to lose money on a haul. If you throw your clean BX in with a lower-grade wire, the scale master will downgrade the entire bin to the cheapest material in the pile. For example, if you get lazy and dump your BX into a pile of Christmas Lights, expect to take a hit of roughly $0.25 per pound. Keep your BX strictly segregated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Armored Cable (BX) pay less than standard insulated wire?

The payout is entirely based on copper recovery. Because the metal jacket makes up a significant portion of the total weight, the actual copper content per pound is much lower compared to standard household wiring. Scrap yards factor in the weight of this low-value jacket when setting the price, bringing the national average to about $0.63 per pound.

How does the commodities market affect BX prices?

Like all copper-bearing scrap, BX prices are heavily influenced by the COMEX exchange. Because of the heavy processing required to chop the armor and extract the copper, local yard prices usually sit about 89.6% below the spot copper price to cover their processing margins.

Should I cut the ends or fittings off my BX?

Yes. If you have heavy steel connectors, die-cast zinc locknuts, or brass fittings attached to the ends of your BX runs, snip them off. Leaving heavy, non-copper attachments on the wire can lead to a downgrade at the scale or a heavy deduction in your total payload weight.