What US scrap yards typically pay per pound for each grade of copper, worked out from today's live COMEX price.
Estimated scrap yard payout at today's market price. Yards set their own rates daily.
Wire is paid on expected copper recovery. Thick single-conductor wire is worth far more than thin multi-conductor cable.
About $5.69–$6.16 per pound at most US scrap yards, against a COMEX price of $6.692.
#1 copper is clean, unalloyed pipe, bus bar or thick wire with no solder, paint or fittings. #2 copper has solder, paint, coatings or corrosion. Cleaning #2 material up to #1 standard typically adds 10% or more per pound.
For thick, high-grade wire it can be: stripped bare bright pays well over insulated wire. For thin wire such as extension cords, the time spent rarely pays off; sell it as low-grade insulated wire.
No. Yards pay a share of COMEX that covers sorting, processing, shipping and margin. Clean, well-sorted material earns the highest share.