Scrap Copper Transformers Prices in Ohio
Check the latest daily payouts for Copper Transformers in Ohio. Compare national averages and find local scrap yards paying top dollar for your heavy electrical scrap.
Average Copper Transformers Price
- Low (up to $0.20): Floor price, typically for small loads.
- Mid ($0.38): A fair deal for standard quantities.
- High ($0.55+): Top-dollar rate. Offered for large commercial loads or by the most competitive buyers.
Pricing verified from 2 live board rates today.
Top Paying Scrap Yards for Copper Transformers Ohio
Don't just hand over your heavy electrical scrap to the first buyer you meet. Yards in Ohio offer varying rates for Copper Transformers based on their downstream processors and recovery margins. Compare local yard prices against the national benchmarks below, and always call ahead to lock in their daily dock rate before hauling your load.
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🚀 List your scrap yard ⟶Comparing Copper Transformers to Other Heavy Scrap
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 Copper Transformers
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.
Copper Transformers: Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (COMEX)
Avg scrap yard price
World market price (COMEX)
Copper Transformers: Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History
| Period | World price (per lb) | Scrap yard price (per lb) | Spread vs. exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 (current) | $5.764324 | $2.47 | -$3.30 (57.2%) |
| February 2026 | $5.880136 | $2.69 | -$3.19 (54.3%) |
| January 2026 | $5.894887 | $3.54 | -$2.36 (40%) |
| December 2025 | $5.497742 | $3.30 | -$2.20 (40%) |
| November 2025 | $5.064033 | $2.75 | -$2.31 (45.6%) |
| October 2025 | $5.050242 | $2.56 | -$2.49 (49.2%) |
| 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 | $2.04 | -$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 | $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 | $2.909726 | $1.75 | -$1.16 (40%) |
| July 2020 | $2.899188 | $1.54 | -$1.36 (46.8%) |
Copper Transformers 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 | $0.55 / lb | +$0.35 | $0.55 - $0.55 |
| 11/3/2025 | $0.20 / lb | -$0.20 | $0.20 - $0.20 |
| 4/18/2024 | $0.40 / lb | +$0.25 | $0.40 - $0.40 |
Cashing In on Copper Transformers
When you are hauling heavy electrical scrap in Ohio, knowing exactly what is inside your material dictates your payout. Our market data shows yards are currently paying a national average of $0.42 per pound for Copper Transformers. Depending on the size of the units and how cleanly they are prepped, dock prices typically range from a floor of $0.30 up to $0.55. Because these heavy items are prized for their internal copper recovery, expect scale rates to sit roughly 92.9% below the COMEX spot price.
The Scrapper's Guide to Transformer Prep
Transformers are essentially a block of steel wrapped in copper wire, but yards don't just hand out premium prices blindly. The cleaner the unit is from excess external garbage, the better the rate you will secure.
| Transformer Condition | Yard Reaction |
|---|---|
| Clean Copper Transformer | Just the steel core and the copper windings. No heavy brackets, plastic casings, or excess wiring. Top tier payout. |
| Dirty / Oversized Attachments | Excessive steel framing, large plastic housings, or heavy mounting plates attached. Paid as a lower-grade iron combo. |
Yard Pro Tip: Do not assume heavy equals copper. A lot of modern microwave and industrial transformers use copper-coated aluminum wire to cut manufacturing costs. Always take a file or a grinder and deeply scratch the windings before hitting the scale. If it shines silver underneath, it is aluminum. Trying to pass it off as copper will get your entire load downgraded on the spot, tanking your profit.
Don't Lose Money at the Scale
Throwing all your electrical scrap into one bin is a rookie mistake that kills your bottom line. If you toss clean Copper Transformers into a gaylord box with Aluminum & Steel Transformers, the buyer will simply drop the whole bin to the lowest common denominator. That lazy sorting mistake will cost you around $0.30 per pound. Here is how similar heavy items stack up at the yard:
- Alum Transformers: Typical Aluminum & Steel Transformers have a much lower recovery value, fetching $0.10 to $0.15/lb.
- Electric Motors: Standard Aluminum & Dirty Motors usually command $0.09 to $0.22/lb.
- AC Compressors: Sealed Automotive AC Compressors generally sit around $0.25 to $0.30/lb.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth breaking down Copper Transformers to get the bare wire?
Generally, no. Unless you have specialized hydraulic cutters or heavy-duty shears, extracting the copper windings from the welded or laminated steel core is incredibly labor-intensive. Most scrappers find it far more profitable to sell the units whole at the $0.42 average rate rather than wasting two hours for a few pounds of #2 copper.
Why are prices for transformers tied to the COMEX?
Transformers contain a significant percentage of copper by weight. Because copper is a globally traded commodity, scrap yards adjust their payout prices based on the COMEX market, usually aiming for about 92.9% below the spot price to account for processing and recovery costs.
Can I leave the oil in large commercial transformers?
Absolutely not. Oil-filled pole or pad-mount transformers must be completely drained before any yard will accept them. Some older units may even contain PCBs, which are highly regulated hazardous materials. Always communicate with your local buyer before hauling large, sealed commercial units to the scale.
Copper Transformers scrap prices in Ohio on the map
The map shows cities in Ohio with Copper Transformers scrap prices. Click a marker or pick a city in the list below to see Copper Transformers prices in that location.