Copper Roofing and Sheet is worth $4.41 per lb today in the United States, ranking 8 of 12 copper grades, against $6.22 for bare bright copper at the top. That is 24 percent below the general copper scrap rate. Roofing, flashing and sheet, graded as light copper.
Copper roofing, flashing, gutters and downpipes grade as light copper, a step below number 2, because they are thin sheet weathered over decades. Weight makes up for the lower rate. Steel nails left in drop the grade further, so pulling them is the first job on any roofing lot.
- Versus the general copper scrap rate-24%
- Change today+$0.06
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Roofing is light copper
Copper roofing is a form, and the grade it lands in is light copper. The ReMA code is Dream. That grade exists for thin sheet that has been outdoors: it is nearly pure metal, but thin, patinated, and arriving with fixings and sealant.
Sellers often expect number 1 because the metal is clean copper. The specification is about thickness and weathering, not purity, so roofing is light copper however carefully it is prepared.
What a roof weighs
Useful for planning, because roofing is sold by weight and the quantities are large.
Standing seam roofing in 16 ounce copper weighs about one pound per square foot installed, including seams. A 1,000 square foot roof is roughly 1,000 pounds.
20 ounce copper runs about 1.25 pounds per square foot.
Gutters in 16 ounce copper weigh roughly 1 to 1.5 pounds per linear foot depending on profile. Downpipes about half that.
Flashing is usually 16 ounce in short lengths, often with tar on it.
So a modest church roof or a large house can yield a tonne or more, which is why roofing theft is a recognised problem and why yards ask questions.
Preparing roofing copper
Four jobs, in order of value.
Pull every nail and screw. Steel fixings left in a bundle drop light copper to irony copper at a sharp discount. A magnet sweep finds them. This is the most valuable minute you will spend.
Cut off brass. Gutter outlets, downpipe brackets and any brass fittings sell separately. The brass grades page covers the two grades.
Scrape tar and mortar. Yards deduct for heavy contamination. Flashing is the usual offender.
Flatten and bundle. Sheet takes less space flat, and a tidy bundle is graded more generously than a loose crumple.
Patina and the green roof
The green patina on old copper is expected on light copper and does not attract a separate deduction. Heavy corrosion that flakes or pits can push a lot lower, but ordinary weathering is priced into the grade.
Do not try to clean it off. It does not lift the grade, since roofing is light copper by specification, and it wastes an afternoon.
Roofing against the other grades
On the table above roofing sits with light copper, below number 2 and 25 to 35 percent below bare bright. A roof and a plumbing system of equal weight return very different sums, which surprises people, but the roof usually weighs far more.
Proof of ownership
Worth stating plainly. Copper roofing and guttering are among the most stolen scrap items, and yards in most jurisdictions record ID, often photograph the material, and sometimes hold payment. A roofer with a job sheet, or an owner with a replacement invoice, sells easily. A pickup of gutters with no story does not.
Copper Roofing and Sheet prices around the world
| Market | Currency | Price | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | USD | $4.41 / lb | ▲ +1.38% |
| Canada | CAD | C$5.92 / lb | ▲ +1.38% |
| United Kingdom | GBP | £6.90 / kg | ▲ +1.38% |
| Australia | AUD | A$12.82 / kg | ▲ +1.38% |
| Germany | EUR | €8.54 / kg | ▲ +1.38% |
| France | EUR | €8.37 / kg | ▲ +1.38% |
| Italy | EUR | €8.62 / kg | ▲ +1.38% |
| Spain | EUR | €8.37 / kg | ▲ +1.38% |
| Netherlands | EUR | €8.37 / kg | ▲ +1.38% |
| Belgium | EUR | €8.46 / kg | ▲ +1.38% |
| China | CNY | CN¥64.02 / kg | ▲ +1.38% |
| Japan | JPY | ¥1,473 / kg | ▲ +1.38% |
| South Korea | KRW | ₩12,830 / kg | ▲ +1.38% |
| India | INR | ₹846 / kg | ▲ +1.38% |
| Bangladesh | BDT | ৳1,052 / kg | ▲ +1.38% |
| Pakistan | PKR | Rs 2,321 / kg | ▲ +1.38% |
| UAE | AED | AED 33.92 / kg | ▲ +1.38% |
| Saudi Arabia | SAR | SAR 33.91 / kg | ▲ +1.38% |
| Turkey | TRY | ₺490.00 / kg | ▲ +1.38% |
| South Africa | ZAR | R 131.87 / kg | ▲ +1.38% |
| Ireland | EUR | €8.12 / kg | ▲ +1.38% |
| Singapore | SGD | S$11.70 / kg | ▲ +1.38% |
| Kenya | KES | KSh 1,057 / kg | ▲ +1.38% |
Where copper roofing and sheet comes from, market by market
| City | Market | What moves there |
|---|---|---|
| London | United Kingdom | Lead flashing and sheet from roofing work |
| Manchester | United Kingdom | Lead sheet and flashing from roofing |
| Glasgow | United Kingdom | Copper and lead from tenement roofing and rewires |
| Rome | Italy | Roofing copper, flashing and guttering from historic buildings |
| Paris | France | Zinc and copper roofing from Haussmann-era buildings |
| Brussels | Belgium | Roofing copper and zinc from older buildings |
| Bare Bright Copper | $6.22 / lb |
|---|---|
| Number 1 Copper | $5.95 / lb |
| Number 2 Copper | $5.48 / lb |
| Light Copper | $4.41 / lb |
| Tinned Copper | $5.35 / lb |
| Irony Copper | $3.68 / lb |
| THHN Wire | $2.67 / lb |
| Romex Wire | $2.34 / lb |
| Communication Wire | $1.74 / lb |
| Copper Pipe and Tubing | $5.81 / lb |
| Copper Bus Bar | $6.01 / lb |
Questions people actually ask
What is the copper roofing scrap price today?
Roofing grades as light copper, and the live figure is at the top of this page. It sits below number 2 but the weight of a roof makes it worthwhile.
How much does a copper roof weigh?
About one pound per square foot for 16 ounce standing seam, so roughly 1,000 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Heavier gauges weigh more.
Why is roofing not number 1?
Because light copper is defined by thickness and weathering. Thin sheet that has been outdoors is light copper by specification.
Do I need to pull the nails?
Yes. Steel fixings drop the grade to irony. A magnet finds them.
Are copper gutters the same grade?
Yes, light copper. Cut off the brass outlets and pull the steel hangers.
Does the patina lower the price?
Not on its own. Ordinary weathering is priced into light copper.
Should I clean the green off?
No. It does not raise the grade and wastes time.
Will a yard ask where roofing copper came from?
Almost certainly. Bring documentation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the copper roofing scrap price today?
Roofing grades as light copper, and the live figure is at the top of this page. It sits a step below number 2, but the sheer weight of a roof makes it a large sale.
How much does a copper roof weigh?
About one pound per square foot for 16 ounce standing seam copper including seams, so roughly 1,000 pounds for a 1,000 square foot roof. 20 ounce copper runs about 1.25 pounds per square foot.
Why is roofing copper not graded as number 1?
Because light copper is defined by thickness and weathering rather than purity. Thin sheet that has been outdoors is light copper by specification, however clean the metal is.
Do I need to pull the nails out of roofing copper?
Yes. Steel fixings left in a bundle drop the grade from light copper to irony copper at a sharp discount. A magnet sweep finds them and pulling them is the most valuable minute you will spend.
Are copper gutters the same grade as roofing?
Yes, light copper. Cut off the brass outlets to sell separately and pull any steel hangers before weighing.
Does the green patina lower the price?
Not on its own. Ordinary weathering is priced into the light copper grade. Only heavy flaking or pitting corrosion pushes a lot lower.
Should I clean the patina off before selling?
No. Roofing is light copper by specification, so cleaning does not raise the grade, and it wastes an afternoon that could go on pulling nails.
Will a yard ask where roofing copper came from?
Almost certainly. Roofing and guttering are among the most stolen scrap items, so yards record ID and often photograph the material. Bring a job sheet or replacement invoice.