Copper Pipe and Tubing is worth $5.81 per lb today in the United States, ranking 4 of 12 copper grades, against $6.22 for bare bright copper at the top. Plumbing pipe; number 1 if clean, number 2 with solder.
Copper pipe grades as number 1 when clean and free of solder and fittings, and as number 2 when joints, paint or fittings remain. The metal is identical; the grade depends on preparation. Brass fittings are a separate metal and sell separately.
- Versus the general copper scrap ratelevel
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Pipe is a form, not a grade
Copper pipe is not its own grade. It lands in number 1 or number 2 depending on what is on it, which is why the price above is shown as a form and the grade pages carry the definitions.
Clean pipe with every fitting and joint cut off is number 1. Pipe with solder, paint or fittings is number 2. The five to ten point gap between them is the value of a few seconds with a pipe cutter.
Where it comes from
Renovation and demolition supply nearly all of it: water supply pipe, heating pipework, and the runs behind bathrooms and kitchens. The house copper page works through how much a typical home holds.
Plumbers accumulate offcuts by the bucket. Commercial refits yield larger diameters in quantity.
The solder cut
This is the whole job.
Every soldered joint is a lead or tin alloy that the yard will not cut out. Left on, the yard grades the whole length as number 2. Cut an inch of clean pipe either side of each joint and discard the joint, and the cut lengths are number 1.
A pipe cutter or a hacksaw does it. On a bucket of pipe it is the best return per minute available in the copper trade, because it lifts a whole lot by a grade for almost no time.
Fittings, valves and the brass question
Elbows, tees, valves and threaded fittings are brass, not copper, and brass is a different metal at a different price.
Cut them off and keep them separate. The brass grades page explains why red brass, which most plumbing fittings are, pays more than yellow. Left on the pipe, they drag it toward number 2 and you lose the brass price as well.
Steel pipe clips, hangers and brackets pull the lot toward irony. A magnet finds them.
Pipe weights, for planning
Rough figures per foot, so you can estimate a load before you cut.
- Half inch type L: about 0.3 pounds per foot
- Three quarter inch type L: about 0.45 pounds per foot
- One inch type L: about 0.65 pounds per foot
Type M is thinner and lighter; type K is heavier. A house with 200 feet of half and three quarter inch pipe holds roughly 70 to 80 pounds of copper before fittings.
Painted and heating pipe
Radiator and heating pipework is often painted. Paint drops it to number 2 and stripping paint rarely pays. Sell it as number 2 and do not spend the evening on it. The cleaning guide covers what changes a grade and what does not.
Old heating pipe may also carry tar or insulation residue. Knock off what comes easily.
Getting the pipe price
Cut every joint. An inch either side.
Separate brass. Fittings, valves, stopcocks.
Pull steel. Clips, hangers, brackets.
Keep painted pipe apart. It is number 2 regardless.
Present two lots. Clean pipe as number 1, joints and painted pipe as number 2.
Copper Pipe and Tubing prices around the world
| Market | Currency | Price | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | USD | $5.81 / lb | ▲ +1.22% |
| Canada | CAD | C$7.79 / lb | ▲ +1.22% |
| United Kingdom | GBP | £9.10 / kg | ▲ +1.22% |
| Australia | AUD | A$16.89 / kg | ▲ +1.22% |
| Germany | EUR | €11.25 / kg | ▲ +1.22% |
| France | EUR | €11.03 / kg | ▲ +1.22% |
| Italy | EUR | €11.36 / kg | ▲ +1.22% |
| Spain | EUR | €11.03 / kg | ▲ +1.22% |
| Netherlands | EUR | €11.03 / kg | ▲ +1.22% |
| Belgium | EUR | €11.14 / kg | ▲ +1.22% |
| China | CNY | CN¥84.35 / kg | ▲ +1.22% |
| Japan | JPY | ¥1,940 / kg | ▲ +1.22% |
| South Korea | KRW | ₩16,903 / kg | ▲ +1.22% |
| India | INR | ₹1,114 / kg | ▲ +1.22% |
| Bangladesh | BDT | ৳1,386 / kg | ▲ +1.22% |
| Pakistan | PKR | Rs 3,058 / kg | ▲ +1.22% |
| UAE | AED | AED 44.69 / kg | ▲ +1.22% |
| Saudi Arabia | SAR | SAR 44.67 / kg | ▲ +1.22% |
| Turkey | TRY | ₺645.55 / kg | ▲ +1.22% |
| South Africa | ZAR | R 173.74 / kg | ▲ +1.22% |
| Ireland | EUR | €10.70 / kg | ▲ +1.22% |
| Singapore | SGD | S$15.42 / kg | ▲ +1.22% |
| Kenya | KES | KSh 1,392 / kg | ▲ +1.22% |
Where copper pipe and tubing comes from, market by market
| City | Market | What moves there |
|---|---|---|
| New York | United States | Renovation copper pipe cut to number 1, and brass plumbing fixtures |
| Dallas | United States | HVAC copper, aluminum-copper coils and compressors from the trades |
| Miami | United States | Copper pipe and wire from renovation work |
| London | United Kingdom | Dry bright and number 1 copper from rewires and plumbing |
| Manchester | United Kingdom | Copper and brass from rewires and plumbing, graded finely |
| Rome | Italy | Copper plumbing pipe from renovation |
| Naples | Italy | Brass and bronze from marine and plumbing work |
| Munich | Germany | Motor windings and transformer copper |
| 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 Roofing and Sheet | $4.41 / lb |
| Copper Bus Bar | $6.01 / lb |
Questions people actually ask
What is the copper pipe scrap price today?
Clean pipe earns the number 1 rate shown at the top of this page. Pipe with solder or fittings earns number 2. The difference is preparation.
Is copper pipe number 1 or number 2?
Number 1 if clean, unpainted and free of fittings and solder. Number 2 otherwise.
Do I have to cut the solder joints off?
To get number 1, yes. Yards do not cut solder out; they grade the whole piece down.
Are the fittings worth keeping?
Yes. They are brass and sell separately, often as red brass which pays well.
How much does copper pipe weigh?
Roughly 0.3 pounds per foot for half inch type L, 0.45 for three quarter, 0.65 for one inch.
Is painted pipe worth cleaning?
Rarely. Sell it as number 2.
What about the steel clips?
Pull them. Steel left on pushes the lot toward irony.
Do I need ID to sell copper pipe?
In most jurisdictions yes, with a transaction record and often a photograph or holding period. Pipe attracts scrutiny because it is frequently stolen from vacant buildings.
Frequently asked questions
What is the copper pipe scrap price today?
Clean pipe earns the number 1 rate shown at the top of this page. Pipe with solder, paint or fittings still on earns number 2. The metal is the same; the difference is entirely preparation.
Is copper pipe number 1 or number 2 copper?
Number 1 if it is clean, unpainted and free of fittings and soldered joints. Number 2 if any of those remain on it.
Do I have to cut the solder joints off?
To be paid number 1, yes. Yards do not cut solder out; they grade the whole piece as number 2. Cut an inch of clean pipe either side of each joint and discard the joint.
Are copper pipe fittings worth keeping?
Yes. Elbows, tees and valves are brass rather than copper and sell separately, often as red brass, which pays more than yellow brass.
How much does copper pipe weigh per foot?
Roughly 0.3 pounds per foot for half inch type L, 0.45 for three quarter inch and 0.65 for one inch. Type M is lighter and type K heavier.
Is painted copper pipe worth cleaning?
Rarely. Paint drops pipe to number 2 and stripping it is slow. Sell painted pipe as number 2 and spend the time cutting joints off the clean pipe instead.
What do I do with steel pipe clips and hangers?
Pull them off. Steel left on a bundle pushes the lot toward the irony grade at a sharp discount. A magnet finds them quickly.
Do I need ID to sell copper pipe?
In most jurisdictions yes, with a transaction record and often a photograph or holding period. Plumbing pipe attracts scrutiny because it is frequently stolen from vacant buildings.