Scrap Copper Value Calculator
Current copper spot price: $2.04/troy oz
Scrap Copper Value Calculator
Common Scrap Copper Items
| Item | Grade | Typical Weight | Scrap Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bare Bright Wire (1 lb) | Bare Bright | 453.6g | $29.74 |
| #1 Copper Tubing (1 lb) | #1 | 453.6g | $29.47 |
| #2 Copper w/ Solder (1 lb) | #2 | 453.6g | $28.58 |
| Insulated Wire (1 lb) | Insulated | 453.6g | $25.30 |
| Copper Pipe (per ft) | #1 | 150g | $9.75 |
Copper Scrap Grades Explained
Scrap copper is classified into grades that determine its value at the scrap yard. The three main grades are Bare Bright, #1 Copper, and #2 Copper, each with different purity requirements and pricing.
Scrap Value = Weight (troy oz) × Recovery Rate × Spot Price
Bare Bright is the highest grade — clean, uncoated, unalloyed copper wire thicker than 16 gauge. It commands the best price, typically 95–99% of spot. #1 Copper includes clean copper tubing, bus bars, and wire free of solder, paint, and coatings, paying around 90–95% of spot. #2 Copper has solder, paint, or light coatings and pays 80–90% of spot.
Insulated copper wire is priced based on its copper recovery rate, which depends on the insulation thickness. Standard household wire (Romex) yields about 75–85% copper by weight. Scrap yards may buy insulated wire at a discounted rate or require you to strip the insulation first for the best price.