Average Automotive AC Compressors Price

Blended rate: local Miami, Florida prices + national trend. As of 2/17/2026.
$0.26/ 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: $0.26
Lowest price $0.25
Highest price$0.30Who 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 $0.25): Floor price, typically for small loads.
  • Mid ($0.26): A fair deal for standard quantities.
  • High ($0.30+): 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 $0.25 to $2.99.
Mar '25Jun '25Sep '25Dec '25Today
Market response to COMEX pricing
Spread vs. exchange (180-day avg): ~95.3% (-$5.12/lb). Typical spread for this grade: 39%–58%
⚠️ 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.

Automotive AC Compressors price reference for Miami, Florida

Scrap yards in Miami, Florida don’t always update their prices in real time. To give you a reliable current value, we use the U.S. national average ($0.27/lb). The secondary metals market tracks exchange moves consistently across the country. Use this national figure as your benchmark when negotiating with local yards. Automotive AC Compressors prices across the U.S. →

Top Scrap Yards Buying Automotive AC Compressors Miami, FL

These are scrap yards in Miami, Florida that recently updated Automotive AC Compressors 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

Scrap X

Listed as: Car Compressors
3177 NW 26th St, Miami, FL 33142 Get Directions
$0.25 / lb
Updated 32 days ago

USA Scrap Metal & Recycling

Listed as: Car Compressors
3147 NW N River Dr, Miami, FL 33142 Get Directions
$0.25 / lb

Don’t see your scrap yard in Miami, Florida? List it for free.

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

🚀 List your scrap yard ⟶

Compare Automotive AC Compressors With Similar Auto Parts

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.

Copper Electric Motors Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.25 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Sealed Unit Compressors (Appliance) Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.25 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Automotive Alternators Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.25 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Automotive Starters Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.25 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Aluminum & Steel Transformers Based on 1 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.12 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Light Ballasts & Power Supplies Based on 1 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.12 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Copper Transformers Estimated prices in Florida
Avg price:$0.10 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Aluminum & Dirty Motors Based on 2 scrap yards
Avg price:$0.06 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics
Scrap Engines & Transmissions Estimated prices in Florida
Avg price:$0.05 / lb
Trend (30d): 0.0%
Price analytics

Automotive AC Compressors 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.

Automotive AC Compressors: Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (COMEX)

Avg scrap yard price

$0.26
Scrap metal dealers
Spread: -$5.12/lb
vs. exchange

World market price (COMEX)

$5.3745
✓ 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.

Automotive AC Compressors: Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History

Analyst take: This month’s average spread between scrap yard prices and the world market for Automotive AC Compressors is 95.3%. That’s in line with the typical range for this grade (92%–98%). 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)$5.767857$2.43-$3.34 (57.9%)
February 2026$5.880136$2.60-$3.28 (55.7%)
January 2026$5.894887$3.54-$2.36 (40%)
December 2025$5.497742$3.30-$2.20 (40%)
November 2025$5.064033$3.04-$2.03 (40%)
October 2025$5.050242$3.03-$2.02 (40%)
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$2.50-$1.66 (40%)
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$2.62-$1.74 (40%)
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$1.83-$2.20 (54.5%)
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$2.909726$1.75-$1.16 (40%)
July 2020$2.867581$1.72-$1.15 (40%)
June 2020$2.5983$1.56-$1.04 (40%)
May 2020$2.377403$1.43-$0.95 (40%)
April 2020$2.28595$1.37-$0.91 (40%)
March 2020$2.356968$1.41-$0.94 (40%)
February 2020$2.574707$1.54-$1.03 (40.1%)
January 2020$2.759935$1.66-$1.10 (40%)
December 2019$2.774145$1.67-$1.11 (39.9%)
November 2019$2.660717$1.60-$1.06 (40%)
October 2019$2.621613$1.57-$1.05 (40%)
September 2019$2.622025$1.50-$1.12 (42.8%)

Automotive AC Compressors 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$0.25 / lb+$0.10$0.25 - $0.25
3/13/2023$0.15 / lb+$0.03$0.15 - $0.15

Cashing in on Automotive AC Compressors

If you're pulling parts from junk cars or doing mechanic work in Miami, Automotive AC Compressors are heavy, dense items that belong in their own bucket, not the shred pile. These units are a solid mix of a cast aluminum housing, internal copper windings, and a heavy steel clutch assembly. Because they yield multiple metals, buyers price them as a specific breakage grade. Right now, our data shows yards are paying anywhere from $0.25 to $0.30 per pound for complete, drained compressors, with the average hovering right around $0.27.

Don't Let the Scale Boss Downgrade Your Load

A rookie mistake is throwing all your automotive breakage into a single bin. If you dump your clean AC compressors in with lower-yield breakage like Aluminum & Steel Transformers, the yard manager will likely downgrade the whole container to the cheapest metal in the pile. You could lose roughly $0.15 per pound instantly just because you didn't sort your haul. Keep your compressors segregated from other items.

Prep Like a Pro: Draining and Stripping

Yards hate a mess, and AC compressors are notorious for leaking PAG oil all over the scale. Most reputable buyers require you to drain the oil completely before bringing them in. While you don't need to tear the compressor completely apart—the labor and broken tools rarely justify the internal copper recovery—you must remove any bulky steel mounting brackets attached to the aluminum housing. Leaving massive steel mounts on the unit brings down the aluminum-to-steel ratio, which can result in a harsh downgrade.

Yard Pro Tip: Always drain the oil from your Automotive AC Compressors and unbolt the heavy cast-iron or steel mounting brackets before heading to the scale. Leave the magnetic clutch assembly attached, but removing the extra vehicle-side brackets keeps your aluminum-to-weight ratio high, ensuring you get the true compressor rate instead of a 'dirty aluminum' or 'light iron' downgrade.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do yards buy Automotive AC Compressors as a specific grade?

Compressors have a very predictable recovery ratio of aluminum, copper, and steel. Instead of you spending hours cracking the tough aluminum shell to get a small amount of copper wire, industrial shredders process them in bulk. The price averages $0.27 per pound nationwide based on this expected yield.

Do market fluctuations affect compressor prices?

Yes. Because the main value comes from the aluminum housing and internal copper, their scrap value is heavily tied to commodity markets like the COMEX. However, due to the heavy processing and shredding required, the price buyers offer is usually about 95.3% below spot prices to cover the processor's margin.

Can I sell them if they are still attached to the engine block?

If you leave the compressor bolted to the engine, the yard will buy the entire assembly as a dirty motor or engine block, which pays significantly less per pound than the compressor alone. Always unbolt the AC compressor, alternator, and starter to sell them as separate, higher-paying breakage items.