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Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-08-04 Origin: Site
You want to know how much scrap metal sells for today. Here are the latest average prices per pound in major markets:
Metal Type | Price per Pound (USD) |
|---|---|
Bare Bright Copper Wire | $3.85 |
Copper (#1) | $3.70 |
Aluminum (Extruded) | $1.10 |
Brass (Red) | $2.70 |
Stainless Steel (316) | $0.85 |
Insulated Copper Wire (45-50%) | $1.15 |
Tungsten Carbide Inserts | $11.25 |
Scrap metal prices change daily. You see different rates based on metal type, grade, and your location.
Scrap metal prices change every day. Prices depend on metal type, quality, and where you live. Always check the latest rates before you sell.
If you sort and clean your scrap metal, you can get almost twice as much money. Take off dirt, paint, and extra parts to earn more.
Industrial aluminum profiles and clean copper wire pay more. They are high quality and people need them for new products.
You can use online tools and mobile apps like iScrap App and ScrapMonster. These help you see prices and find scrap yards nearby with good offers.
Sell scrap metal in warmer months and on days in the middle of the week. This helps you make more money. Be friendly with buyers to get better deals.
Many recycling centers take different scrap metals. Each metal type has its own price. These prices change a lot because of supply and demand. The table below shows the latest average prices for common metals in the United States and Europe:
Metal Type | Region | Average Price | Unit | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 Copper Scrap | United States | $4.74 | USD/lb | 13 Aug 2025 |
#1 Copper Wire Scrap | United States | $4.93 | USD/lb | 13 Aug 2025 |
Brass | Europe | €4,425.22 | EUR/ton | Last 30 days |
Steel (304 Stainless) | United States | $0.51 | USD/lb | 13 Aug 2025 |
Cast Iron Scrap | United States | $140 | USD/ton | 14 Aug 2025 |
Iron and Steel | Europe | €220.87 | EUR/ton | Last 30 days |
Copper pays the most per pound. Brass and stainless steel are also valuable. Iron and steel pay less, but you can collect a lot of them.
Tip: Scrap metal prices change every day. Always check the newest prices before selling.
Aluminum is a very common metal to recycle. You can find it in cans, wires, car parts, and big metal shapes. The price you get depends on the type and how clean the aluminum is.
Here is a table with prices for different aluminum scrap types:
Aluminum Scrap Type | Current Price (per lb) |
|---|---|
Cast Aluminum | $0.50 - $0.52 |
Aluminum Cans (<100 lbs) | $0.45 |
Aluminum Cans (>100 lbs) | $0.48 - $0.65 |
Clean Aluminum | $0.60 |
Clean Aluminum Wire | $0.70 - $0.80 |
Clean aluminum wire pays the most. Aluminum cans pay less, but you can collect many. Cast aluminum comes from car parts and machines.
Note: Industrial aluminum profiles, like those made by Shandong Lansi Aluminum Technology Co.,Ltd, are wanted by many buyers. These profiles are used in robots, cars, and solar panels. They are strong, light, and easy to recycle. Recycling these profiles helps make more things like cars and robots.
The price you get for aluminum scrap depends on a few things:
Grade and Purity: Clean, sorted aluminum pays more. Take off any plastic or screws.
Material Form: Big, even pieces are worth more than small or mixed scraps.
Location: City recycling centers often pay more than ones in the country.
Type of Aluminum: Aluminum rims can pay about $1.00 per pound. Dirty or mixed aluminum pays much less.
Market Competition: Prices can be different at each recycling center, even in the same city.
To get the best price, sort your aluminum and keep it clean. Ask different buyers for their prices. Industrial aluminum profiles, especially those used in robots and new energy cars, can pay more because they are high quality and needed.
Scrap metal prices for aluminum and other metals go up and down with the market. You can make more money if you know what changes the prices and get your scrap ready.
You can use trusted websites to check scrap metal prices. iScrap App gives updates every day for the United States and Canada. You can see prices from other users, news, and find scrap yards. ScrapMonster shows prices for many places around the world. It lists live prices for copper, aluminum, steel, and more. Both websites show price groups, news, and market changes. These sites help you look at prices before you sell.
Mobile apps make checking prices quick and simple. You get live updates on your phone. This way, you always know the newest rates. iScrap App sends alerts when prices change. You can look up local yards, see old prices, and get special deals. This helps you decide fast and not miss good offers.
Online tools let you see market prices fast. You can compare prices from different places and watch trends. Apps give real-time updates, so you do not wait for reports. But, prices online may not match your local yard. Always ask your local buyer for the best price.
You get the best results by talking to local scrap yards. Here are some steps:
Find out what kind of scrap metal you have.
Sort and clean your metals.
Check the yard’s website or call for prices.
Ask about bulk rates if you have a lot.
Go to yards that use certified scales.
Make friends with buyers for better service.
Local yards change prices every day. You can talk with them and sometimes get better deals than online.
Local recycling centers can give special quotes, especially for big or industrial aluminum scrap. For example, they may pay more for clean extruded aluminum profiles used in robots or machines. You can ask for a quote based on weight, size, and type.
Aluminum Scrap Type | Description | Price per Pound |
|---|---|---|
Auto Rims | No tire, dirt, or weights | $1.00 |
Cast | Clean, no attachments | $0.68 |
Extruded | Tubing, no screws | $0.88 |
Pop Cans | Standard cans | $0.70 |
You should call a few centers to compare prices and learn about any fees.
Apps like iScrap App and ScrapMonster help you find local yards and check prices. You get alerts for price changes and deals near you. These tools help you act fast and get the best prices.
Tip: Check prices often and sort your metals. This helps you get the most money for each type.
Scrap metal prices change a lot. Many things make prices go up or down. Here are some main reasons:
When car, building, or machine companies need more metal, prices go up. If these businesses grow, they buy more metal, so prices rise.
When the economy is strong, factories and builders use more scrap metal.
Government rules and trade laws, like tariffs, can change prices. For example, if there are tariffs on steel or aluminum from other countries, companies may buy more scrap from the U.S. This can make prices go higher.
Big world events, like trade fights or import bans, can stop scrap from moving between countries. This makes prices change quickly.
The time of year matters too. In warm months, more building and making happens, so prices go up. In winter, less work happens, so prices can drop.
Local rules and costs, like how much it costs to move or recycle metal, also change prices in your area.
Tip: Watch the news and what is happening in your town. This can help you guess if prices will go up or down.
How clean and good your scrap metal is changes how much you get paid. Scrap yards pay more for metal that is clean and sorted. Here is how different things change the price:
Metal Type | Grade/Condition | Cleanliness Criteria | Impact on Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Copper | Bare Bright | No coating, pure wire | Highest price |
Copper | No. 1 | Clean, no paint or solder | High price |
Copper | No. 2 | Some paint or oil | Lower price |
Aluminum | Clean Extrusion | No paint, no plastic, no screws | Higher price |
Aluminum | Dirty or Painted | With coatings or attachments | Lower price |
Steel | #1 Prepared | Thick, low alloy, clean | Higher price |
Clean and sorted scrap is easier for yards to use, so they pay more.
If your scrap has paint, oil, or plastic, it is worth less.
Industrial aluminum profiles made from 6061 or 6063 alloys are worth more than aluminum cans. These profiles are stronger, last longer, and are harder to make, so they pay more.
Aluminum cans use simple alloys and are easy to recycle, so they pay less.
Remember: If you sort and clean your scrap before selling, you can get more money.
You can make more money if you sort and clean your scrap metal before selling. First, get strong containers and label them for each metal type, like aluminum, copper, brass, iron, and steel. Use a magnet to find out which metals are magnetic. Ferrous metals stick to magnets. Non-ferrous metals do not. Non-ferrous metals, like copper and aluminum, usually pay more.
Here are steps to help you get more money:
Sort metals by type and grade. Put clean metals in one group and dirty metals in another.
Take off things like screws, nails, or plastic. Clean metals by brushing off dirt, rust, and grease.
Cut big pieces into smaller ones so you can move them easily.
Write the metal type and weight on each container.
Keep notes about your sorted metals. This helps you watch prices and plan when to sell.
Tip: Clean and sorted metals can pay almost twice as much as mixed or dirty scrap. If you strip insulation from copper wire or take paint off aluminum profiles, you can get more money.
If you have industrial aluminum profiles or accessories, check if the edges are smooth and sealed well. Look for certifications. Profiles made from 6061 or 6063 alloys, like those from Shandong Lansi Aluminum Technology Co.,Ltd, can pay more because they are strong and resist rust.
You can earn more by selling scrap metal at the best time. Prices go up in warmer months, from April to September, when building and factories need more metal. Prices are steady on mid-week days, like Tuesday to Thursday, because yards change rates after early-week market news.
Try these ideas:
Sell a lot at once to get better deals and discounts.
Make friends with buyers for good offers.
Watch market trends with apps and websites.
Wait to sell if prices are low and you have space to store your scrap.
Best Times to Sell Scrap Metal | Reason |
|---|---|
April–September | More people want metal, prices are higher |
Tuesday–Thursday | Prices are steady and updated |
Month-end | Yards may pay more |
Note: If you keep up with scrap metal prices and sell at the right time, you can make the most money.
You can make the most money from scrap if you know what is happening. Many things change how much you get paid. Global demand, local prices, and metal type all matter.
Check prices often, especially when things are busy or big events happen.
Clean and sort your metals to get better offers.
Industrial aluminum profiles from buildings or machines can make your aluminum scrap worth more.
Stay aware and use online tools and local places to help you choose the best time to sell.
Scrap metal prices change for many reasons. Global demand is important. Metal grade matters too. Local market conditions also affect prices. Prices go up when companies need more metal. Clean and sorted scrap pays more. Dirty or mixed metal pays less.
You need to sort your aluminum. Clean it well before selling. Take off plastic, screws, and paint. Industrial aluminum profiles pay more. These profiles are high quality. They are easy to recycle.
You can use online tools to check prices. iScrap App and ScrapMonster are good choices. You can call local scrap yards for quotes. Mobile apps send alerts when prices change near you.
Reason | Description |
|---|---|
High Purity | Has fewer contaminants |
Strong Alloy | Used in robots and vehicles |
Easy to Process | Quick to recycle |
Buyers want these profiles for new products. You earn more money for them.
You can sell mixed metals if you want. You will get less money for them. Yards pay more for sorted metals. Separate copper, aluminum, brass, and steel. This helps you make more money.
