A full commercial kitchen strip-out is around 2,730 pounds of metal worth roughly $1,187 at our board, which is the densest concentration of stainless most people ever handle. But a three-compartment sink is worth about $86 as scrap against roughly $1,020 new, and a 12 foot extraction hood about $239 against nearly $7,000 new. Scrap is the last resort in this category, not the first.
Scrap Price Today market analysis, written from exchange settlement data, mill and refiner pricing practice and published policy documents. Figures are examples; today’s numbers are on the live scrap price board.
The order that maximises return is resale, then donation, then scrap, and the gap between the first and last is measured in thousands.
What a kitchen contains, item by item
| Item | Weight | Scrap value | Value per pound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk-in cooler panels, 200 sq ft | 900 lb | $272.04 | $0.30 |
| Extraction hood, 12 ft | 420 lb | $239.40 | $0.57 |
| Reach-in refrigerator | 300 lb | $176.29 | $0.59 |
| Six-burner range | 400 lb | $140.62 | $0.35 |
| Dishwasher, undercounter | 200 lb | $104.01 | $0.52 |
| Commercial fryer | 180 lb | $93.20 | $0.52 |
| Three-compartment sink | 150 lb | $85.50 | $0.57 |
| Stainless prep table, 6 ft | 120 lb | $68.40 | $0.57 |
| Chrome wire shelving unit | 60 lb | $7.92 | $0.13 |
| Total | 2,730 lb | About $1,187 | $0.43 |
Why the value per pound varies so much
The last column is the useful one, and it tracks one thing: how much of the item is actually stainless.
Prep tables, sinks and hoods are essentially all stainless at $0.57 a pound. A range is half mild steel frame, so it averages $0.35. Walk-in panels are mostly steel skin and foam insulation, so they drop to $0.30. Chrome wire shelving is not stainless at all in most cases; it is chrome-plated mild steel and grades as light iron at $0.13.
That single misidentification, shelving assumed to be stainless, is the most common disappointment in a commercial clear-out.
The identification problem, at commercial scale
Most commercial equipment is 304 or 430 stainless, and the distinction matters because 430 is magnetic and pays closer to shred at many yards.
Run a magnet across every surface before quoting anyone a figure. Practitioners report that commercial equipment frequently mixes grades within one unit, with stainless panels welded to mild steel frames, which is why yards often grade a whole unit down rather than separating it.
Our stainless grades article explains why nickel content drives the entire price ladder and how to run the identification sequence.
Resale first, and the numbers say so plainly
Commercial equipment is built for 16 hour daily operation and a well-maintained fryer, griddle or oven often has years of service left. The used market reflects that.
- A three-compartment sink is about $86 as scrap, or 8 percent of its new price.
- A 12 foot hood is about $239 as scrap, or 3 percent of its new price.
- A used walk-in cooler saves a buyer $5,000 to $10,000 against new, which is why they sell rather than get scrapped.
- Buying used typically cuts capital cost by 50 to 70 percent, so there is a real market on the other side.
Keep spec sheets and manuals. Dealers and buyers pay more for equipment with documentation, and it takes no effort to put them in a drawer rather than a skip.
Donation is the middle route and may carry a tax benefit, but check the recipient can actually accommodate commercial equipment, including the utilities and ventilation it needs.
The advice from people who have done it
One consistent theme in practitioner discussion is worth repeating: do not strip a stainless refrigeration unit down to its panels.
The foam insulation is bonded, removal is slow and filthy, and the yard pays little more for panels than for the whole unit. Sell it whole, either to a used equipment buyer or to the yard as it stands.
The exception is anything with a motor or a copper coil. Those come out quickly and are worth several times the stainless rate per pound, as our motors and compressors analysis sets out.
Refrigerant, gas and electronics
Three things must be handled before any refrigeration or cooking equipment moves.
Refrigerant in walk-ins, reach-ins and ice machines must be recovered by a certified technician. Yards refuse untagged units, and this is federal law rather than yard policy. Our fluids page covers it.
Gas connections must be capped and disconnected by a qualified fitter, and any residual fryer oil drained and disposed of through a used cooking oil route rather than a drain.
Digital displays, touchpads and control boards in dishwashers, ovens and refrigeration units are electronic waste and go through a certified e-waste programme, not into a mixed metal load.
Getting it out
Commercial equipment is heavier and more awkward than domestic, and the removal cost is real.
A walk-in cooler comes apart in panels, which is the only practical way to move it. Hoods are ducted into the building and usually need a contractor. Ranges and fryers are heavy enough that overextension, the most common injury cause in this work, is a genuine risk, as our safety article explains.
At 2,730 pounds, a full kitchen is well past a pickup load and into container territory, which is exactly the volume that justifies the account terms described in our accounts and contracts analysis.
What this metal pays around the world
Scrap is a global market priced in US dollars, but what reaches a seller depends on trade position, freight to the nearest consumer and how many buyers compete locally. The table below converts the same grade into each market’s own currency and units at the day’s exchange rate, and shows the factor we apply.
| Market | Local price | USD per lb | Market factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | ₺64.67 / kg | $0.59 | 1.04 |
| Germany | €1.14 / kg | $0.58 | 1.02 |
| United States | $0.57 / lb | $0.57 | 1.00 |
| China | CN¥8.25 / kg | $0.56 | 0.98 |
| Canada | C$0.78 / lb | $0.55 | 0.97 |
| United Kingdom | £0.91 / kg | $0.55 | 0.96 |
| Australia | A$1.73 / kg | $0.54 | 0.95 |
| United Arab Emirates | AED4.38 / kg | $0.54 | 0.95 |
| Saudi Arabia | SAR4.38 / kg | $0.53 | 0.93 |
| India | ₹110 / kg | $0.52 | 0.92 |
| Bangladesh | ৳136 / kg | $0.50 | 0.88 |
| South Africa | R17.65 / kg | $0.48 | 0.85 |
Method
Item weights are typical figures for standard commercial specifications and vary widely with size, gauge and manufacturer. Weigh or estimate your own. The mixed-material items are broken down into assumed stainless, mild steel, motor, coil, wiring and aluminium components, which is a working model rather than a measurement of any particular unit.
Grade prices are our own daily board, documented on the editorial policy page with live figures on the board. New equipment prices used in the comparison are current retail listings for common specifications, and used market savings are from published dealer guidance.
We do not buy equipment or scrap, broker sales or take referral fees.
Questions people ask
What is a commercial kitchen worth as scrap?
A full strip-out of around 2,730 pounds comes to roughly $1,187 at our board, averaging $0.43 a pound. Individual items range from $272 for walk-in panels down to $8 for a shelving unit, and the average is lower than pure stainless because much of the weight is mild steel frame.
Is my chrome wire shelving stainless steel?
Usually not. Most commercial wire shelving is chrome-plated mild steel, which grades as light iron at about $0.13 a pound rather than stainless at $0.57. A magnet settles it in a second and this is the most common misidentification in a commercial clear-out.
Should I strip a stainless refrigerator down to panels?
No. The foam insulation is bonded, removal is slow and dirty, and yards pay little more for panels than for the whole unit. Sell it whole. The exception is the compressor and any copper coil, which come out quickly and are worth several times the stainless rate.
Why is a range worth less per pound than a sink?
Because a sink is essentially all stainless at $0.57 a pound while a range is roughly half mild steel frame, which drops its average to about $0.35. The value per pound of any commercial item tracks how much of it is actually stainless.
Is it better to sell used equipment than scrap it?
Almost always. A three-compartment sink is about $86 as scrap against roughly $1,020 new, and a 12 foot hood about $239 against nearly $7,000. Commercial equipment is built for continuous operation and a well-maintained unit has years of service left, which is why the used market is strong.
What has to be done before refrigeration equipment can be scrapped?
Refrigerant must be recovered by a certified technician, which is a legal requirement rather than yard policy, and yards refuse untagged units. Any digital display or control board should go through a certified electronic waste programme rather than into a mixed metal load.
Does 430 stainless pay the same as 304?
No. 430 is ferritic and magnetic, contains no nickel, and pays much closer to shred at most yards, while 304 is non-magnetic and priced on its nickel content. Commercial equipment uses both, sometimes within the same unit.
Do I need an account for a kitchen strip-out?
It helps. At around 2,730 pounds a full kitchen is past a pickup load and into container territory, which is the volume at which yards will discuss collection, agreed grades and terms rather than a posted counter price.
Frequently asked questions
What is a commercial kitchen worth as scrap?
A full strip-out of around 2,730 pounds comes to roughly $1,187 at our board, averaging $0.43 a pound. Individual items range from $272 for walk-in panels down to $8 for a shelving unit, and the average is lower than pure stainless because much of the weight is mild steel frame.
Is my chrome wire shelving stainless steel?
Usually not. Most commercial wire shelving is chrome-plated mild steel, which grades as light iron at about $0.13 a pound rather than stainless at $0.57. A magnet settles it in a second and this is the most common misidentification in a commercial clear-out.
Should I strip a stainless refrigerator down to panels?
No. The foam insulation is bonded, removal is slow and dirty, and yards pay little more for panels than for the whole unit. Sell it whole. The exception is the compressor and any copper coil, which come out quickly and are worth several times the stainless rate.
Why is a range worth less per pound than a sink?
Because a sink is essentially all stainless at $0.57 a pound while a range is roughly half mild steel frame, which drops its average to about $0.35. The value per pound of any commercial item tracks how much of it is actually stainless.
Is it better to sell used equipment than scrap it?
Almost always. A three-compartment sink is about $86 as scrap against roughly $1,020 new, and a 12 foot hood about $239 against nearly $7,000. Commercial equipment is built for continuous operation and a well-maintained unit has years of service left, which is why the used market is strong.
What has to be done before refrigeration equipment can be scrapped?
Refrigerant must be recovered by a certified technician, which is a legal requirement rather than yard policy, and yards refuse untagged units. Any digital display or control board should go through a certified electronic waste programme rather than into a mixed metal load.
Does 430 stainless pay the same as 304?
No. 430 is ferritic and magnetic, contains no nickel, and pays much closer to shred at most yards, while 304 is non-magnetic and priced on its nickel content. Commercial equipment uses both, sometimes within the same unit.
Do I need an account for a kitchen strip-out?
It helps. At around 2,730 pounds a full kitchen is past a pickup load and into container territory, which is the volume at which yards will discuss collection, agreed grades and terms rather than a posted counter price.