Scrap Lithographic Plates (Litho) Prices in Pennsylvania
Track the latest Lithographic Plates (Litho) prices across in Pennsylvania. Our data shows local yards are currently paying between $0.85 and $1.20 per pound depending on the cleanliness of the material.
Average Lithographic Plates (Litho) Price
- Low (up to $0.65): Floor price, typically for small loads.
- Mid ($0.68): A fair deal for standard quantities.
- High ($0.70+): 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 Lithographic Plates (Litho) in Pennsylvania
Before hauling your print shop scrap, compare prices across in Pennsylvania. Rates for clean litho can vary, so always call ahead to verify their daily scale price and ask about their specific deduction rules for ink or paper attachments.
Weiner Iron & Metal Corp
Einfalt Recycling & Salvage
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🚀 List your scrap yard ⟶Compare Litho Plates vs. Other Aluminum 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.
Lithographic Plates (Litho) Price Trends & 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.
Lithographic Plates (Litho): Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (LME)
Avg scrap yard price
World market price (LME)
Lithographic Plates (Litho): Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History
| Period | World price (per lb) | Scrap yard price (per lb) | Spread vs. exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 (current) | $1.097176 | $0.73 | -$0.37 (33.4%) |
| February 2026 | $1.2032 | $0.77 | -$0.44 (36.2%) |
| January 2026 | $1.051423 | $0.71 | -$0.34 (32.7%) |
| December 2025 | $0.982942 | $0.66 | -$0.32 (32.9%) |
| November 2025 | $0.930043 | $0.63 | -$0.30 (32.8%) |
| October 2025 | $0.887584 | $0.60 | -$0.29 (32.7%) |
| September 2025 | $0.86119 | $0.58 | -$0.28 (32.8%) |
| August 2025 | $0.866703 | $0.58 | -$0.28 (32.6%) |
| July 2025 | $0.837774 | $0.56 | -$0.27 (32.6%) |
| June 2025 | $0.802343 | $0.54 | -$0.26 (32.5%) |
| May 2025 | $0.807171 | $0.54 | -$0.26 (32.7%) |
| April 2025 | $0.744003 | $0.50 | -$0.24 (32.6%) |
| March 2025 | $0.878574 | $0.59 | -$0.29 (32.9%) |
| February 2025 | $0.893382 | $0.60 | -$0.29 (32.7%) |
| January 2025 | $0.812942 | $0.54 | -$0.27 (33.7%) |
| December 2024 | $0.805026 | $0.54 | -$0.26 (32.7%) |
| November 2024 | $0.80919 | $0.55 | -$0.26 (32.5%) |
| October 2024 | $0.84811 | $0.57 | -$0.28 (32.6%) |
| September 2024 | $0.84145 | $0.57 | -$0.28 (32.7%) |
| August 2024 | $0.838665 | $0.56 | -$0.27 (32.7%) |
| July 2024 | $0.905877 | $0.61 | -$0.30 (32.7%) |
| June 2024 | $0.957757 | $0.65 | -$0.31 (32.6%) |
| May 2024 | $0.995197 | $0.67 | -$0.33 (32.7%) |
| April 2024 | $0.9588 | $0.65 | -$0.31 (32.6%) |
| March 2024 | $0.916803 | $0.62 | -$0.30 (32.7%) |
| February 2024 | $0.908876 | $0.61 | -$0.30 (32.7%) |
| January 2024 | $0.981155 | $0.66 | -$0.32 (32.6%) |
| December 2023 | $0.992781 | $0.67 | -$0.33 (32.9%) |
| November 2023 | $0.936113 | $0.62 | -$0.31 (33.3%) |
| October 2023 | $0.91751 | $0.62 | -$0.30 (32.7%) |
| September 2023 | $0.946997 | $0.64 | -$0.31 (32.6%) |
| August 2023 | $0.930013 | $0.63 | -$0.30 (32.7%) |
| July 2023 | $0.934068 | $0.63 | -$0.30 (32.6%) |
| June 2023 | $0.944237 | $0.64 | -$0.31 (32.5%) |
| May 2023 | $0.9455 | $0.64 | -$0.31 (32.3%) |
| April 2023 | $0.971563 | $0.65 | -$0.32 (32.6%) |
| March 2023 | $1.031729 | $0.68 | -$0.35 (34.2%) |
| February 2023 | $1.081664 | $0.73 | -$0.35 (32.7%) |
| January 2023 | $1.063787 | $0.72 | -$0.35 (32.7%) |
| December 2022 | $1.03949 | $0.66 | -$0.38 (36.6%) |
| November 2022 | $1.026153 | $0.69 | -$0.34 (32.7%) |
| October 2022 | $0.962755 | $0.65 | -$0.32 (32.9%) |
| September 2022 | $0.9553 | $0.64 | -$0.31 (32.7%) |
| August 2022 | $1.002665 | $0.66 | -$0.34 (34.3%) |
| July 2022 | $0.932735 | $0.63 | -$0.30 (32.6%) |
| June 2022 | $1.03653 | $0.70 | -$0.34 (32.6%) |
| May 2022 | $1.104181 | $0.74 | -$0.36 (32.5%) |
| April 2022 | $1.12712 | $0.76 | -$0.37 (32.7%) |
| March 2022 | $1.070248 | $0.72 | -$0.35 (32.6%) |
| February 2022 | $1.12205 | $0.76 | -$0.37 (32.6%) |
| January 2022 | $1.156365 | $0.77 | -$0.39 (33.7%) |
| December 2021 | $1.092839 | $0.74 | -$0.36 (32.7%) |
| November 2021 | $1.072407 | $0.72 | -$0.35 (32.6%) |
| October 2021 | $1.051368 | $0.69 | -$0.36 (34%) |
| September 2021 | $1.110613 | $0.75 | -$0.36 (32.6%) |
| August 2021 | $1.181813 | $0.80 | -$0.39 (32.7%) |
| July 2021 | $1.106519 | $0.68 | -$0.43 (38.7%) |
| June 2021 | $1.065053 | $0.72 | -$0.35 (32.6%) |
| May 2021 | $1.079274 | $0.73 | -$0.35 (32.7%) |
| April 2021 | $1.063943 | $0.72 | -$0.35 (32.7%) |
| March 2021 | $1.038232 | $0.70 | -$0.34 (32.8%) |
| February 2021 | $0.997864 | $0.67 | -$0.33 (32.7%) |
| January 2021 | $0.978155 | $0.55 | -$0.42 (43.3%) |
| December 2020 | $0.912668 | $0.58 | -$0.34 (36.8%) |
| November 2020 | $0.788713 | $0.44 | -$0.35 (43.9%) |
| October 2020 | $0.748797 | $0.44 | -$0.31 (41.8%) |
| September 2020 | $0.74391 | $0.50 | -$0.24 (32.7%) |
| August 2020 | $0.681152 | $0.43 | -$0.25 (37.3%) |
| July 2020 | $0.682474 | $0.44 | -$0.24 (35.5%) |
| June 2020 | $0.707093 | $0.48 | -$0.23 (32.6%) |
| May 2020 | $0.667345 | $0.45 | -$0.22 (32.7%) |
| April 2020 | $0.655233 | $0.44 | -$0.21 (32.8%) |
| March 2020 | $0.63179 | $0.43 | -$0.21 (32.7%) |
| February 2020 | $0.865779 | $0.58 | -$0.28 (32.7%) |
| January 2020 | $0.878045 | $0.59 | -$0.29 (32.8%) |
| December 2019 | $0.919229 | $0.58 | -$0.34 (37.3%) |
| November 2019 | $0.903547 | $0.52 | -$0.38 (42.5%) |
| October 2019 | $0.820784 | $0.55 | -$0.27 (32.8%) |
| September 2019 | $0.807807 | $0.54 | -$0.26 (32.7%) |
| August 2019 | $0.738452 | $0.50 | -$0.24 (32.7%) |
| July 2019 | $0.808777 | $0.55 | -$0.26 (32.6%) |
| June 2019 | $0.780903 | $0.53 | -$0.25 (32.6%) |
| May 2019 | $0.820665 | $0.55 | -$0.27 (32.6%) |
| April 2019 | $0.942947 | $0.63 | -$0.31 (32.7%) |
| March 2019 | $0.911219 | $0.61 | -$0.30 (32.7%) |
| February 2019 | $0.934725 | $0.62 | -$0.31 (33.5%) |
| January 2019 | $0.875529 | $0.59 | -$0.29 (32.7%) |
| December 2018 | $0.842287 | $0.57 | -$0.27 (32.6%) |
| November 2018 | $0.97931 | $0.65 | -$0.33 (33.8%) |
| October 2018 | $1.115935 | $0.68 | -$0.44 (39.5%) |
| September 2018 | $1.203813 | $0.81 | -$0.39 (32.8%) |
| August 2018 | $1.192819 | $0.80 | -$0.39 (32.7%) |
| July 2018 | $1.199784 | $0.81 | -$0.39 (32.6%) |
| June 2018 | $1.261433 | $0.74 | -$0.52 (41.5%) |
| May 2018 | $1.294884 | $0.87 | -$0.42 (32.8%) |
| April 2018 | $1.215763 | $0.82 | -$0.40 (32.6%) |
| March 2018 | $1.178032 | $0.79 | -$0.38 (32.6%) |
| February 2018 | $1.196529 | $0.70 | -$0.50 (41.7%) |
| January 2018 | $1.240045 | $0.83 | -$0.41 (32.8%) |
| December 2017 | $1.152535 | $0.78 | -$0.38 (32.5%) |
| November 2017 | $1.124073 | $0.76 | -$0.37 (32.6%) |
| October 2017 | $1.080894 | $0.73 | -$0.35 (32.6%) |
| September 2017 | $1.024547 | $0.69 | -$0.34 (32.7%) |
| August 2017 | $1.01609 | $0.68 | -$0.33 (32.6%) |
| July 2017 | $1.05311 | $0.71 | -$0.34 (32.7%) |
| June 2017 | $1.012163 | $0.68 | -$0.33 (32.7%) |
| May 2017 | $1.030332 | $0.69 | -$0.34 (32.6%) |
| April 2017 | $1.047077 | $0.71 | -$0.34 (32.6%) |
| March 2017 | $1.074468 | $0.72 | -$0.35 (32.6%) |
| February 2017 | $1.078479 | $0.73 | -$0.35 (32.8%) |
| January 2017 | $1.065594 | $0.72 | -$0.35 (32.5%) |
| December 2016 | $1.028835 | $0.62 | -$0.41 (40%) |
| November 2016 | $0.931123 | $0.63 | -$0.30 (32.7%) |
| October 2016 | $0.8537 | $0.58 | -$0.28 (32.5%) |
| September 2016 | $0.80081 | $0.50 | -$0.30 (37.9%) |
| August 2016 | $0.826381 | $0.54 | -$0.28 (34.3%) |
| July 2016 | $0.774219 | $0.52 | -$0.25 (32.7%) |
| June 2016 | $0.741897 | $0.50 | -$0.24 (32.7%) |
| May 2016 | $0.718016 | $0.48 | -$0.23 (32.7%) |
| April 2016 | $0.715587 | $0.48 | -$0.23 (32.7%) |
| March 2016 | $0.670245 | $0.45 | -$0.22 (32.6%) |
| February 2016 | $0.592476 | $0.40 | -$0.19 (32.8%) |
| January 2016 | $0.618029 | $0.42 | -$0.20 (32.6%) |
| December 2015 | $0.687187 | $0.46 | -$0.23 (32.8%) |
| November 2015 | $0.741517 | $0.50 | -$0.24 (32.9%) |
| October 2015 | $0.717597 | $0.48 | -$0.23 (32.6%) |
| September 2015 | $0.69765 | $0.47 | -$0.23 (32.7%) |
| August 2015 | $0.799229 | $0.54 | -$0.26 (32.7%) |
| July 2015 | $0.83201 | $0.56 | -$0.27 (32.7%) |
| June 2015 | $0.884197 | $0.60 | -$0.29 (32.7%) |
| May 2015 | $0.905884 | $0.61 | -$0.30 (32.6%) |
| April 2015 | $0.92614 | $0.62 | -$0.30 (32.6%) |
| March 2015 | $0.903377 | $0.61 | -$0.30 (32.7%) |
| February 2015 | $0.864918 | $0.58 | -$0.28 (32.7%) |
| January 2015 | $0.787571 | $0.53 | -$0.26 (32.6%) |
| December 2014 | $0.791997 | $0.53 | -$0.26 (32.6%) |
| November 2014 | $0.811037 | $0.55 | -$0.27 (32.7%) |
| October 2014 | $0.790697 | $0.53 | -$0.26 (32.6%) |
| September 2014 | $0.870313 | $0.59 | -$0.29 (32.8%) |
| August 2014 | $0.829068 | $0.56 | -$0.27 (32.7%) |
| July 2014 | $0.881987 | $0.59 | -$0.29 (32.8%) |
| June 2014 | $0.89763 | $0.60 | -$0.29 (32.7%) |
| May 2014 | $0.889613 | $0.60 | -$0.29 (32.6%) |
| April 2014 | $0.877687 | $0.59 | -$0.29 (32.7%) |
| March 2014 | $0.867168 | $0.58 | -$0.28 (32.7%) |
| February 2014 | $0.910004 | $0.61 | -$0.30 (32.5%) |
| January 2014 | $0.922352 | $0.62 | -$0.30 (32.6%) |
| December 2013 | $0.899003 | $0.61 | -$0.29 (32.6%) |
| November 2013 | $0.921687 | $0.62 | -$0.30 (32.8%) |
| October 2013 | $0.861129 | $0.58 | -$0.28 (32.5%) |
| September 2013 | $0.83415 | $0.56 | -$0.27 (32.7%) |
| August 2013 | $0.7821 | $0.52 | -$0.26 (33.2%) |
Lithographic Plates (Litho) 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 | $0.68 / lb | +$0.18 | $0.65 - $0.70 |
| 1/13/2025 | $0.50 / lb | -$0.10 | $0.50 - $0.50 |
| 12/2/2023 | $0.60 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.60 - $0.60 |
| 6/4/2023 | $0.65 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.65 - $0.65 |
| 3/27/2023 | $0.60 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.60 - $0.60 |
| 12/8/2022 | $0.55 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.55 - $0.55 |
| 8/9/2022 | $0.60 / lb | -$0.15 | $0.60 - $0.60 |
| 1/22/2022 | $0.75 / lb | +$0.10 | $0.75 - $0.75 |
| 10/16/2021 | $0.65 / lb | +$0.15 | $0.65 - $0.65 |
| 7/27/2021 | $0.50 / lb | +$0.08 | $0.50 - $0.50 |
| 1/28/2021 | $0.42 / lb | -$0.08 | $0.42 - $0.42 |
| 1/16/2021 | $0.50 / lb | +$0.15 | $0.50 - $0.50 |
| 12/5/2020 | $0.35 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.35 - $0.35 |
| 11/25/2020 | $0.30 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 10/19/2020 | $0.25 / lb | — no change | $0.25 - $0.25 |
| 8/5/2020 | $0.25 / lb | -$0.20 | $0.25 - $0.25 |
| 12/14/2019 | $0.45 / lb | +$0.17 | $0.45 - $0.45 |
| 11/15/2019 | $0.28 / lb | -$0.32 | $0.28 - $0.28 |
| 2/19/2019 | $0.60 / lb | +$0.25 | $0.60 - $0.60 |
| 11/1/2018 | $0.35 / lb | -$0.07 | $0.35 - $0.35 |
| 6/23/2018 | $0.42 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.42 - $0.42 |
| 2/13/2018 | $0.40 / lb | — no change | $0.40 - $0.40 |
| 12/25/2016 | $0.40 / lb | +$0.06 | $0.40 - $0.40 |
| 9/6/2016 | $0.34 / lb | -$0.18 | $0.34 - $0.34 |
Cashing In On Print Shop Scrap: Lithographic Plates
If you have the hookup at a commercial printing facility or local newspaper, Lithographic Plates (often just called Litho at the scale) are one of the best sources of clean, consistent aluminum scrap. These plates are typically made from high-purity 1000 or 3000 series aluminum. Because the alloy is so predictable, refineries love it. Across Pennsylvania, our market data shows yards are currently paying a national average of $1.03 per pound. If you are organized, hauling litho can mean a very profitable payday.
You can generally expect payouts to range from $0.85 for dirtier loads up to $1.20 for perfectly clean, sorted plates. The key to hitting that premium price ceiling is understanding exactly how the yard inspector grades the load.
The Scrapper's Guide to Prepping Litho
The fastest way to kill your payload value is throwing clean litho into a bin with inferior grades. A classic mistake is mixing premium lithographic plates with cheap, thin scrap like Aluminum Foil & Light Gauge. If the scale master sees foil mixed in, they will instantly downgrade the entire gaylord box to the lower price point. That single lazy move will cost you roughly $0.93 per pound in lost revenue.
Yard Pro Tip: Commercial litho plates are almost always stacked with thin interleaving paper (slip sheets) between every single plate to prevent scratching before they are used on the press. If you do not remove this paper before hitting the scale, the yard will either hit you with a massive tare weight deduction or downgrade the entire load to dirty sheet aluminum. Always pull the paper and check the plate edges for masking tape or rubber strips before bagging them up.
How Litho Stacks Up Against Other Alloys
Knowing your alloys keeps you from leaving money on the table. While litho is incredibly pure, it is worth comparing it against other common industrial aluminum grades. For instance, Aluminum 3003 and Aluminum 5052 (Plate) are also highly sought after. If you are cleaning out an industrial site, you might also run into Aluminum 6061 Structural, which currently fetches around $0.72 to $0.87/lb. Keep your heavy structural pieces completely separate from your thin litho plates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly are Lithographic Plates made of?
Modern litho plates are made of extremely thin, high-quality aluminum. In the past, some were made of zinc, but virtually all modern commercial offset printing relies on aluminum. Because there are no hidden steel attachments or complex alloys mixed in, they are highly valuable to scrap buyers.
Why do yards deduct for ink on litho plates?
While a light stain of ink is usually acceptable, heavy, caked-on offset printing ink acts as a contaminant during the smelting process. Buyers base their pricing off the LME and expect clean metal. If your plates require extra processing to burn off thick ink, expect to be paid about 32.7% below the spot price.
What is the current average price for Litho Plates?
Our tracker indicates a national average of $1.03 per pound. To consistently get this rate, make sure your plates are completely free of slip-sheet paper, masking tape, and rubber edge guards.
Lithographic Plates (Litho) scrap prices in Pennsylvania on the map
The map shows cities in Pennsylvania with Lithographic Plates (Litho) scrap prices. Click a marker or pick a city in the list below to see Lithographic Plates (Litho) prices in that location.