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Compare personal auto quotesScrap Car Prices Per Ton: What Yards Pay in 2026
Scrap car prices per ton run about $140 to $180 per short ton in 2026, or $157 to $202 per gross ton for the same metal.
Convert a per-ton price to what your car pays
Fluids, tires, glass and interior still in it.
If they did not say, ask. It changes the payout by up to 12%.
Enter an offer to check it against current market rates.
RecycleFind maintains a U.S. reference rate for comparing quotes, but your yard's scale ticket is the only price you can accept. Convert any quote before you agree to it. Reference-rate snapshot last refreshed August 24, 2026.
Is the per-ton scrap value what a junkyard will pay for my car?
Not necessarily. A per-ton calculation compares weight with a quoted material rate. A full-vehicle offer may also account for reusable parts, processing, missing components, and transport. Ask whether the rate is for a complete vehicle, prepared metal, or a different yard grade.
At an example $200 per short ton, 3,000 pounds gives a weight-price reference of $300. The same numerical rate per gross ton gives about $267.86 because a gross ton is 2,240 pounds. Confirm the unit before comparing quotes; these example rates are not current offers.
Ask local buyers whether towing is included and whether deductions will be taken at collection or weigh-in. For a vehicle-specific range, use the junk car value calculator and compare it with a complete-car quote.
Scrap car prices per ton by grade (2026)
Cars are bought at ferrous scrap grades, not at a special "car" price. These are the current U.S. national average rates for the grades a vehicle can fall into, shown in all three ton units so you can match whichever one your yard quotes.
| Ferrous grade | Per pound | Short ton (2,000 lb) | Gross ton (2,240 lb) | Metric tonne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Iron | $0.07 | $140 | $157 | $154 |
| Heavy Melt Steel (HMS) | $0.08 | $160 | $179 | $176 |
| Shredded Steel | $0.09 | $180 | $202 | $198 |
A complete unprepared car is typically bought between light iron and heavy melt steel. A drained and stripped car moves up toward shredded steel.
Short ton vs gross ton vs metric tonne
Three different tons are in everyday use at US scrap yards, and a quote rarely specifies which one. A gross ton is 12% more metal than a short ton, so a yard offering a lower headline number per gross ton can still be the better deal.
| Unit | Pounds | Where you'll see it |
|---|---|---|
| Short ton | 2,000 lbs | The default in most of the US. Also called a net ton. |
| Gross ton | 2,240 lbs | Standard for ferrous scrap at many East Coast yards. Also called a long ton. |
| Metric tonne | 2,204.62 lbs | Used by exporters and mills. Close to a gross ton, but not identical. |
Divide any quote by the number of pounds in that yard's ton to get a price per pound, then compare. The calculator above does this for you, and shows the same rate restated in the other units so you can hold two quotes side by side.
How much does a junk car weigh?
Weight is the other half of the payout. Your exact curb weight is on the sticker inside the driver's door jamb. These are typical figures to work from, with the current whole-car range applied.
| Vehicle type | Typical curb weight | Scrap steel value |
|---|---|---|
| Compact | 2,500 lbs | $175 - $225 |
| Sedan | 3,000 lbs | $210 - $270 |
| Wagon | 3,200 lbs | $224 - $288 |
| Minivan | 4,200 lbs | $294 - $378 |
| SUV | 4,500 lbs | $315 - $405 |
| Truck | 4,800 lbs | $336 - $432 |
Next step
Compare the whole-car offer.
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Why your payout is less than the per-ton price
A quoted per-ton rate is close to a best case. It generally assumes a prepared vehicle delivered to the yard's scale, and the number you get handed is usually lower. Towing is the biggest single deduction, and on a low-value car it can swallow most of the payout, which is why a free-pickup buyer often nets more than a higher headline rate.
Yards also dock for undrained fluids, tires still mounted, and a missing engine or transmission, since those are the heaviest steel components in the car. Some price on their own scale weight rather than published curb weight, which can differ by a few hundred pounds either way. None of this is dishonest, but it is rarely volunteered.
Ask three questions before you commit: which ton the price is quoted in, whether it is before or after towing, and what gets deducted for the car's current condition. Answers to those three turn a headline rate into a number you can compare.
Finding scrap car prices per ton near you
Per-ton rates are regional. They follow local mill demand and freight costs, so the spread between a yard near a steel mill and one several hundred miles away is real. National reference rates like the ones above are a sanity check, not a quote.
Call two or three yards in your area and ask each for a price per ton on a complete car, the ton unit, and whether towing is included. You can find licensed scrap yards and auto recyclers near you with a local recycling center search, then run each quote through the converter above to compare them on the same basis.
Before you accept a per-ton quote
- ⚠Always ask which ton. Short (2,000 lb), gross (2,240 lb), and metric (2,204.62 lb) differ by up to 12%.
- ⚠Confirm whether towing is included. On a light car it can outweigh the difference between any two quotes.
- ⚠Per-ton pricing ignores the catalytic converter and resaleable parts. A whole-car buyer usually pays for those.
- ⚠Ferrous prices move monthly. Treat these U.S. national averages as a benchmark, not a guaranteed offer.
Scrap car prices per ton: frequently asked questions
How much is a scrap car per ton?
Scrap cars run roughly $140 to $180 per short ton in 2026, depending on grade and preparation. A complete unprepared car sits at the bottom of that range because glass, plastic and fluids count against it. Quoted per gross ton (2,240 lb) the same metal is $157 to $202, which is why the unit matters as much as the number.
What is the difference between a short ton and a gross ton?
A short ton is 2,000 lbs, a gross ton (also called a long ton) is 2,240 lbs, and a metric tonne is 2,204.62 lbs. A gross ton is 12% more metal than a short ton, so the same dollar figure means noticeably different money. Many East Coast ferrous yards quote gross tons while most of the country quotes short tons, and neither always says so. Convert both quotes to a price per pound before comparing.
How do I find scrap car prices per ton near me?
Call two or three local yards and ask three things: the price per ton for a complete car, which ton they mean, and whether that price is before or after towing. Rates vary by region because they track local mill demand and freight costs. You can find licensed scrap yards and auto recyclers in your area through the RecycleFind directory, then compare their quotes on a per-pound basis.
How much does a junk car weigh?
A compact car is about 2,500 lbs, a typical sedan 3,000 lbs, an SUV around 4,500 lbs, and a full-size pickup roughly 4,800 lbs. Your exact curb weight is usually printed on the driver's door jamb sticker. Weight is the single biggest factor in a scrap payout, which is why a truck can be worth nearly twice what a compact brings at the same per-ton rate.
Why did the yard pay less than the quoted price per ton?
Quoted per-ton rates almost always assume a prepared vehicle delivered to the yard. Common deductions include towing, undrained fluids, tires still on the car, and a missing engine or transmission. Some yards also pay on their own scale weight rather than your car's published curb weight. Ask what the quote includes before you agree to it.
Is it worth stripping a car before scrapping it?
Sometimes. Draining fluids and removing tires, glass and interior moves a car from the light iron grade up toward shredded steel, which is worth a few cents more per pound, or roughly $40 to $60 on a typical sedan. That only pays if you already have the tools and a legal way to dispose of the fluids and tires, which often carry their own fees.
Do scrap yards pay more for a complete car or a crushed one?
A complete car is usually worth more, because the yard can pull the catalytic converter, alternator, wheels and other resaleable parts before it goes to the shredder. Once a car is crushed, it is bought purely as ferrous tonnage. This is also why whole-car buyers typically beat a pure per-ton scrap price.
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