Scrap Computer Wire Prices in the US
National average payouts for Computer Wire are currently sitting around $0.43 per pound. Find the most competitive scrap yards in the US and make sure you're getting top dollar for your IT and e-waste teardowns.
Average Computer Wire Price
- Low (up to $0.30): Floor price, typically for small loads.
- Mid ($0.43): A fair deal for standard quantities.
- High ($0.75+): Top-dollar rate. Offered for large commercial loads or by the most competitive buyers.
Pricing verified from 10 live board rates today.
Best Scrap Yards Buying Computer Wire US
Don't just toss your telecom and IT wire into the nearest shred bin. Compare current rates from top-paying buyers in the US, use our national average of $0.43 as a baseline, and always call the scale house to confirm how they grade electronic cables before hauling them in.
Columbus Metal Recycling
Electronic Recycling
Resource Recovery Solutions
ADJ Metals
J.R.'S Appliance Disposal
Arrow Scrap Corporation
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🚀 List your scrap yard ⟶How Computer Wire Compares to Other Insulated 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.
Computer Wire Price History & Market 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.
Computer Wire: Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (COMEX)
Avg scrap yard price
World market price (COMEX)
Computer Wire: Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History
| Period | World price (per lb) | Scrap yard price (per lb) | Spread vs. exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 (current) | $5.764324 | $2.49 | -$3.28 (56.9%) |
| February 2026 | $5.880136 | $2.73 | -$3.15 (53.6%) |
| 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 | $2.31 | -$2.74 (54.2%) |
| September 2025 | $4.662367 | $2.80 | -$1.87 (40%) |
| August 2025 | $4.477984 | $2.10 | -$2.38 (53%) |
| 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 | $1.52 | -$3.14 (67.4%) |
| March 2025 | $4.919484 | $2.95 | -$1.97 (40%) |
| February 2025 | $4.558107 | $2.15 | -$2.41 (52.8%) |
| January 2025 | $4.269774 | $1.90 | -$2.37 (55.6%) |
| 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 | $2.10 | -$2.39 (53.2%) |
| May 2024 | $4.75471 | $2.85 | -$1.90 (40%) |
| April 2024 | $4.363717 | $2.04 | -$2.33 (53.4%) |
| 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 | $1.73 | -$2.03 (54%) |
| 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 | $2.03 | -$2.03 (49.9%) |
| January 2023 | $4.115113 | $2.34 | -$1.77 (43.1%) |
| 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 | $1.94 | -$1.48 (43.3%) |
| June 2022 | $4.118667 | $2.11 | -$2.01 (48.8%) |
| 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 | $2.14 | -$2.30 (51.8%) |
| 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 | $2.24 | -$1.85 (45.2%) |
| February 2021 | $3.861 | $1.92 | -$1.94 (50.2%) |
| January 2021 | $3.607435 | $1.63 | -$1.98 (54.8%) |
| December 2020 | $3.546903 | $2.13 | -$1.42 (40%) |
| November 2020 | $3.21755 | $1.93 | -$1.29 (40%) |
| October 2020 | $3.060177 | $1.44 | -$1.62 (52.8%) |
| September 2020 | $3.0352 | $1.82 | -$1.21 (40%) |
| August 2020 | $2.909726 | $1.66 | -$1.25 (43.1%) |
| July 2020 | $2.867581 | $1.05 | -$1.81 (63.2%) |
| 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 | $1.33 | -$1.43 (52%) |
| 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 | $2.615533 | $1.57 | -$1.05 (40%) |
| August 2019 | $2.576597 | $1.20 | -$1.38 (53.5%) |
| July 2019 | $2.693468 | $1.62 | -$1.08 (40%) |
| June 2019 | $2.671833 | $1.60 | -$1.07 (40%) |
| May 2019 | $2.7395 | $1.64 | -$1.10 (40%) |
| April 2019 | $2.914283 | $1.75 | -$1.17 (40%) |
| March 2019 | $2.902032 | $1.74 | -$1.16 (40%) |
| February 2019 | $2.845929 | $1.71 | -$1.14 (40%) |
| January 2019 | $2.675468 | $1.61 | -$1.07 (40%) |
| December 2018 | $2.724823 | $1.64 | -$1.09 (40%) |
| November 2018 | $2.7578 | $1.65 | -$1.10 (40%) |
| October 2018 | $2.768435 | $1.66 | -$1.11 (40%) |
| September 2018 | $2.712817 | $1.63 | -$1.09 (40%) |
| August 2018 | $2.6864 | $1.52 | -$1.17 (43.4%) |
Computer Wire 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 | $0.69 / lb | +$0.42 | $0.40 - $0.90 |
| 10/9/2025 | $0.27 / lb | -$0.53 | $0.27 - $0.27 |
| 8/24/2025 | $0.80 / lb | +$0.15 | $0.80 - $0.80 |
| 8/23/2025 | $0.65 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.65 - $0.65 |
| 4/29/2025 | $0.60 / lb | +$0.45 | $0.60 - $0.60 |
| 4/13/2025 | $0.15 / lb | -$0.15 | $0.15 - $0.15 |
| 2/7/2025 | $0.30 / lb | -$0.02 | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 1/23/2025 | $0.32 / lb | -$0.13 | $0.32 - $0.32 |
| 6/25/2024 | $0.45 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.45 - $0.45 |
| 4/18/2024 | $0.40 / lb | +$0.10 | $0.40 - $0.40 |
| 9/16/2023 | $0.30 / lb | -$0.25 | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 2/6/2023 | $0.55 / lb | +$0.10 | $0.55 - $0.55 |
| 7/2/2022 | $0.45 / lb | -$0.20 | $0.45 - $0.45 |
| 10/29/2021 | $0.65 / lb | +$0.35 | $0.65 - $0.65 |
| 3/3/2021 | $0.30 / lb | +$0.20 | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 1/28/2021 | $0.10 / lb | -$0.25 | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 10/28/2020 | $0.35 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.35 - $0.35 |
| 8/2/2020 | $0.30 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 7/24/2020 | $0.25 / lb | -$0.10 | $0.25 - $0.25 |
| 1/27/2020 | $0.35 / lb | +$0.15 | $0.35 - $0.35 |
| 8/23/2019 | $0.20 / lb | — no change | $0.20 - $0.20 |
Cashing In on IT Teardowns: The Reality of Computer Wire
If you are clearing out an office or tearing down old server racks, you are going to end up with mountains of computer wire. We're talking ribbon cables, VGA cords, serial cables, and standard low-grade peripheral wires. Because the copper recovery on these cables is incredibly low compared to the plastic shielding, payouts nationally are hovering between $0.30 and $0.75 per pound. Local yards in the US factor in the heavy plastic waste when pricing this material, so managing your expectations and sorting correctly is the only way to make the haul profitable.
Don't Downgrade Your Premium Cords
The biggest rookie mistake at the scale is tossing everything into one gaylord box. If you throw thick power cords or heavy gauge appliance wires in with your flimsy ribbon and peripheral cables, the yard will grade the entire load as low-yield computer wire. Mixing premium #2 Insulated Wire into a bin of computer wire can cost you up to $1.45 per pound. Sort your heavier, higher-yield cords into a separate bucket to maximize your payout.
Yard Pro Tip: If your computer cables still have large, pin-heavy connectors attached (like old parallel or VGA plugs), snip them off before selling the wire. The thick plastic connectors add dead weight that lowers the overall copper percentage, but more importantly, those gold-plated pins can often be sold separately to an e-scrap buyer for a much higher premium than the basic wire itself.
The Scrapper's Guide to IT Cables
To get the best price for your computer wire, you need to know exactly what buyers are looking for. Processing computer wire is heavily tied to the COMEX market, but because of the massive amount of plastic, expect yards to pay around 92% below the spot price of pure copper. Keep your loads clean of non-wire trash, zip ties, and mounting brackets.
| Cable Type | Typical Payout Expectation |
|---|---|
| Clean CAT5/CAT6 & heavy peripheral cables | Pushes the $0.75 ceiling |
| Mixed IT cables (USB, VGA, basic ribbon) | Hovers near the $0.43 mark |
| Trash-heavy loads (power supplies attached, excess plastic) | Drops to $0.30 or rejected |
Depending on what else you pulled from the demolition site, you might have better-paying wire grades. Check what buyers are offering for these related materials:
- #1 Insulated Wire: $2.50 to $3.90/lb
- #2 Insulated Wire: $1.60 to $2.15/lb
- #3 Insulated Wire (Low Grade): $0.60 to $1.20/lb
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth stripping computer wire?
Absolutely not. The copper inside ribbon cables, USB cords, and thin serial cables is almost hair-like. You will spend hours trying to strip it, likely damaging your tools, and end up with a negligible amount of bare bright copper. Sell it as-is for the $0.43 average rate and let the yard's industrial choppers handle the processing.
Do PC power cords count as computer wire?
Typically, standard heavy power cords from PC power supplies should be sorted as #2 Insulated Wire or a dedicated 'Power Cord' grade, which generally pays better. If you mix them into your thin peripheral wires, the scale master will often just pay you the lower computer wire rate for the entire bin.
Why does computer wire pay so little compared to standard copper wire?
It comes down to recovery percentages. Computer wire consists of a massive amount of plastic insulation, rubber connectors, and foil shielding compared to a very tiny core of copper. Processing and separating this material is expensive for the yard, which is why it sits so far below the COMEX spot price.
Computer Wire scrap prices — find in your state on the map
The map shows states where we have Computer Wire scrap prices. Click a state on the map or use the links below to see current Computer Wire prices in that region.