Aluminum scrap price today
Aluminum (sheet)
$1.09/ lb
-1.75%
Updated 09:39:01 UTC
The number above is for clean sheet aluminum. Aluminum scrap pricing varies more by grade than most other metals because the alloy mix and contamination level dramatically affect what a smelter can do with it.
Common aluminum grades and typical spreads
| Grade | Description | Typical % of sheet |
|---|---|---|
| Sheet (clean) | Mill-grade sheet, no paint or coating | 100% (reference) |
| Extrusion | Window frames, structural extrusion | 90–100% |
| Cast | Wheels, engine blocks, cookware | 70–85% |
| Cans (UBC) | Used beverage cans, baled | 60–75% |
| Mixed | Unsorted aluminum scrap | 40–60% |
| Painted / coated | Painted siding, anodized | 50–70% |
What moves aluminum prices
- Energy prices — primary aluminum production is extremely energy-intensive; secondary (recycled) production benefits when energy is expensive
- Auto demand — aluminum is increasingly used in vehicle bodies and EV battery housings
- Beverage can demand — UBC pricing tracks consumer beverage volumes
- Bauxite supply — primary feedstock; supply disruptions push secondary up
Selling tips
- Clean sheet pays the most — strip paint and labels where economic
- Don't mix cast with sheet — entire load defaults to cast pricing
- Cans pay best in volume — small-volume can sales are barely worth the trip