Scrap metal value calculator
Estimate your load by metal type and weight before you sell
Reference prices refreshed Aug 24, 2026 from sampled public U.S. yard boards. Local payouts vary by grade and buyer. See current prices.
How the Scrap Value Estimate Works
The calculator multiplies the weight of each metal by its estimated price per pound, then adds the results for your total load. For example, 10 pounds of aluminum cans at the current $0.85-per-pound reference rate produces an estimated value of $8.50.
1. Choose the grade
Select the closest match, such as bare bright copper, insulated wire, aluminum cans, or stainless steel.
2. Enter the weight
Use a scale when possible. Convert ounces, kilograms, or tons inside the calculator.
3. Verify locally
Scrap yards set their own prices and grading rules. Call nearby buyers before hauling a large load.
Next step
Have a whole junk car? Compare the full-vehicle offer.
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💡 Tips for Maximizing Value
- •Clean your metals: Remove insulation, dirt, and other materials
- •Separate by type: Don't mix different metals together
- •Know your grades: #1 copper pays more than #2 copper
- •Call ahead: Verify current prices before making the trip
⚠️ Important Disclaimers
- •Estimates only: Actual prices may vary by location and yard
- •Market fluctuations: Prices change daily based on market conditions
- •Quality matters: Clean, pure metals command higher prices
- •Minimum quantities: Some yards have minimum weight requirements
Increase Your Calculated Value
The prices above are estimates based on as-is condition. Simple processing can increase your payout by 50-100%.
🔌Processing Copper Wire
Insulated wire: $1.80-2.50/lb
Stripped bare copper: $3.30-4.48/lb
That's 70-100% more value!
Manual strippers work for small amounts. For regular processing, powered strippers process 10x faster.
⚖️Verify Your Value
Weigh at home before visiting the yard. Prevents disputes and helps you negotiate confidently.
Don't Know Your Item's Weight?
Use our Item Scrap Value Lookup tool to find estimated weights and values for 150+ common items including cars, appliances, copper wire, aluminum cans, and more.
Search Items by Name →Related Resources
Current Scrap Metal Prices
Today's per-pound prices for copper, aluminum, steel, brass, and more.
Scrap Metal Market Reports
Industry pricing trends and analysis for serious sellers.
Metal Recycling Guide
Identify and prep ferrous and non-ferrous metals for the best price.
Professional Scrap Metal Guide
Expert tips for sorting, processing, and selling scrap profitably.
Scrap metal value: frequently asked questions
How do scrap yards decide what to pay me?
Weight times a per-pound price for the grade you bring in, minus any deductions. The grade is the part people underestimate: yards sort by metal type and cleanliness, and a mixed or dirty load is paid at the lowest grade present. Yards also buy below the commodity market price, because their margin is the spread between what they pay you and what they get from the mill, plus their sorting, transport, and overhead costs.
Why do two yards quote different prices for the same metal?
Distance to the mill, processing capability, and how much volume they move. A yard that can shear and bale sells directly to a mill; one that cannot has to sell on to a larger processor and pays you less. Local competition matters too. Differences of 10% to 40% between yards in the same region are normal, so calling three before a large load is worth the time. On a single bucket of cans it rarely is.
What is the difference between ferrous and non-ferrous scrap?
Ferrous metal contains iron and is magnetic: steel, cast iron, and most appliance and vehicle bodies. Non-ferrous metal is not magnetic and includes copper, aluminum, brass, and lead. The distinction decides the money. Ferrous is bought by the ton for cents per pound, while non-ferrous is bought by the pound and can be worth fifty times as much. A magnet is the fastest sorting tool you own: if it sticks, expect ferrous pricing.
Is it worth stripping insulation off copper wire?
It depends on the wire and on what your time is worth. Stripped bright copper pays substantially more per pound than insulated wire, but thin wire has a low copper recovery rate, so you can spend an hour stripping for a few dollars of gain. Thick, low-count cable is usually worth stripping; thin multi-strand wire usually is not. Test a short length first, weigh the copper you recover, and decide from the actual ratio rather than a guess.
How should I prepare a load to get the best price?
Sort by metal and grade, and keep the grades physically separate so nothing gets downgraded by association. Remove attachments that are not the metal you are selling: plastic, rubber, wood, and steel fittings on non-ferrous items. Drain fluids. Keep clean copper away from anything that would contaminate it. Preparation is where most of the avoidable money is lost, because a yard will not sort your load for free, they will simply pay you the lower rate.
Do I need identification to sell scrap metal?
Almost always. Most states require scrap dealers to record a government photo ID and keep a transaction record, and many require payment by check or hold a waiting period on certain items rather than paying cash immediately. Catalytic converters, copper wire, and metal with a plausible stolen origin carry the strictest rules. Expect to show ID for any material and to answer questions about where it came from.
Are the prices in this calculator what I will actually be paid?
Treat them as a benchmark, not a quote. They are U.S. national averages, and scrap markets move continuously with commodity prices, export demand, and local mill activity. Your payout also depends on grade, preparation, and volume. Use the estimate to know roughly what a fair offer looks like and to spot one that is clearly low, then confirm the current rate by calling the yard.
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