Scrap metal prices per lb in the United States
| Scrap type | Price (USD) | Change | Global reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-ferrous (per lb) | |||
| Copper Scrap | $5.81 / lb | ▲ +1.22% | $5.81 / lb |
| Aluminum Scrap | $0.87 / lb | ▲ +1.16% | $0.87 / lb |
| Brass Scrap | $3.54 / lb | ▲ +1.14% | $3.54 / lb |
| Stainless Steel Scrap | $0.57 / lb | ▲ +0.00% | $0.57 / lb |
| Lead Scrap | $0.59 / lb | ▲ +0.00% | $0.59 / lb |
| Zinc Scrap | $0.90 / lb | ▲ +0.00% | $0.90 / lb |
| Battery Scrap | $0.23 / lb | ▲ +0.00% | $0.23 / lb |
| Radiator Scrap | $3.34 / lb | ▲ +1.21% | $3.34 / lb |
| Wire Scrap | $2.81 / lb | ▲ +1.44% | $2.81 / lb |
| Cable Scrap | $1.87 / lb | ▲ +1.08% | $1.87 / lb |
| Electronic Scrap | $0.80 / lb | ▲ +1.27% | $0.80 / lb |
| Ferrous and bulk (per ton) | |||
| Steel Scrap | $300 / ton | ▲ +0.00% | $300 / ton |
| Iron Scrap | $264 / ton | ▲ +0.00% | $264 / ton |
| Car Scrap | $360 / ton | ▲ +0.00% | $360 / ton |
| Cast Iron | $288 / ton | ▲ +0.00% | $288 / ton |
Indicative dealer prices for clean, sorted scrap. Global reference is the US board in US dollars; the United States figure applies the exchange rate (1 USD = 1.00 USD) and a local market factor of 1.00.
Yards quote non-ferrous scrap in US dollars per pound and ferrous scrap per net ton of 2,000 pounds (some mills use gross tons of 2,240 pounds). Grades follow the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA, formerly ISRI) specifications such as bare bright, number 1 and number 2 copper, or HMS 1 and 2 for heavy melting steel.
United States scrap price chart (USD)
Daily open, high, low and close for the most traded scrap metals in USD per lb or per ton. Scroll to zoom and drag to move along the timeline.
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Copper scrap prices by grade in the United States
Copper is not one price. Yards grade it by cleanliness, coating and gauge, and the spread from the top grade to the bottom runs 25 to 35 percent. These are the same grades used on export contracts, converted to USD.
The scrap market in the United States
The United States is the largest scrap exporter in the world and one of the deepest domestic markets, with thousands of yards feeding electric arc furnaces, secondary smelters and export docks. Non-ferrous prices follow COMEX and LME quotes closely; ferrous prices are set regionally by mill buying programs and by export demand from Turkey, Mexico, India and Bangladesh.
Regional spreads are wide. Gulf Coast and East Coast yards track export bids, the Midwest follows mill demand around Chicago, Detroit and Ohio, and West Coast yards price to Asian container demand out of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The same grade of copper can differ by ten cents a pound between Houston and Seattle on the same day.
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Price units
- Per lb for non-ferrous, per ton for ferrous
- Benchmarks
- COMEX copper, LME aluminum, regional mill ferrous prices
- Main hubs
- Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles and Long Beach, Newark, Detroit
- Trade position
- Net exporter of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap
The most valuable scrap by weight in the United States today: Copper at $5.81 per lb, Brass at $3.54 per lb, Radiator at $3.34 per lb, Wire at $2.81 per lb, Cable at $1.87 per lb.
Selling scrap metal in the United States: rules, ID and payment
Scrap sales are regulated state by state. Most states require licensed dealers to record photo ID, a description of the material and often a photo or thumbprint, and many restrict cash or delay payment for items linked to theft such as catalytic converters, copper wire and manhole covers. Bring ID and, for vehicles, the title.
Before you sell
- Sort copper by grade before you arrive; mixed loads are paid at the lowest grade.
- Ask whether the ferrous price is per net ton or gross ton.
- Check the yard price board against the COMEX move that morning.
- Get a printed weight ticket for every load.
Scrap prices by city in the United States
City pages carry local yard prices and directories for the main scrap markets. Pages that are not live yet are shown without a link.
Scrap yards in the United States
Find a yard by region or city, or use your location to see the nearest. Every listing shows where its details came from and when they were checked.
- Arizona
- California
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Michigan
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
Yard listings for United States are being added from official dealer registers and trade directories. Nothing is published until it has been verified against a named source, which is why this section is not yet populated.
United States scrap price FAQ
What is the scrap copper price per lb in the United States today?
As of September 7, 2026, the indicative scrap copper price in the United States is $5.81 per lb ($5.81 per lb on the global board). Bare bright and clean number 1 copper earn the top of the range; insulated wire, tubing with solder and mixed copper pay less.
What are scrap metal prices in the United States today?
Today's indicative non-ferrous prices in the United States are Copper $5.81 per lb, Brass $3.54 per lb, Radiator $3.34 per lb, Wire $2.81 per lb, with steel scrap at $300 per ton. The full board above lists all 15 scrap types with the change against the previous close.
How are scrap prices quoted in the United States?
Non-ferrous scrap is quoted in USD per lb and ferrous scrap per ton. Yards quote non-ferrous scrap in US dollars per pound and ferrous scrap per net ton of 2,000 pounds (some mills use gross tons of 2,240 pounds). Grades follow the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA, formerly ISRI) specifications such as bare bright, number 1 and number 2 copper, or HMS 1 and 2 for heavy melting steel.
Do I need ID to sell scrap metal in the United States?
Scrap sales are regulated state by state. Most states require licensed dealers to record photo ID, a description of the material and often a photo or thumbprint, and many restrict cash or delay payment for items linked to theft such as catalytic converters, copper wire and manhole covers. Bring ID and, for vehicles, the title.
Which scrap metals pay the most in the United States?
By weight, copper, then brass, then radiator, then wire. Ferrous scrap such as steel and iron pays far less per lb but moves in much larger volumes, which is why it is quoted per ton.
Why are scrap prices in the United States different from US prices?
Metals are priced in US dollars on the world market, but local prices reflect the USD exchange rate, freight to the nearest mills and smelters, import and export rules and how many buyers compete for material. The US board is the global reference on this site, so US prices are shown without a country factor.
Why do scrap prices differ between US states?
Freight to the nearest mill or port, the number of competing yards and export demand set the local spread. Coastal yards near export docks and Midwest yards near steel mills usually pay the most for ferrous scrap; copper spreads depend on local smelter and export demand.
Sources and methodology
Prices on this page start from the global reference board (US dollars per pound or per ton), are multiplied by a United States market factor of 1.00 that reflects local demand, freight and trade rules, and are converted to USD at 1 USD = 1.00 and to imperial units (pounds and short tons). The board refreshes daily, with the time of the latest update shown at the top of the page.
Reference sources
- Recycled Materials Association (ReMA, formerly ISRI) scrap specifications
- COMEX and LME settlement prices
- US Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries
Prices are indicative and for information only; they are not offers to buy or sell. Actual yard prices depend on grade, quantity, location and the buyer. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will check it against our sources.