Local scrap metal pricing
National spot prices set the ceiling, but the number you actually see at the scale is local. Two yards 20 miles apart can show meaningfully different per-pound payouts for the same metal because each one is solving for different downstream costs.
Copper (bare bright)
$5.72/ lb
Updated 11:03:03 UTC
+1.40%
Aluminum (sheet)
$1.09/ lb
Updated 11:03:03 UTC
-1.84%
Brass (yellow)
$3.55/ lb
Updated 11:03:03 UTC
+1.40%
Stainless steel (304)
$0.44/ lb
Updated 11:03:03 UTC
-4.48%
Prepared steel (#1 HMS)
$0.12/ lb
Updated 11:03:03 UTC
-1.45%
Gold (spot)
$3,411/ toz
Updated 11:03:03 UTC
-4.48%
Silver (spot)
$29.19/ toz
Updated 11:03:03 UTC
-1.45%
| Metal / Grade | Price | 24h | Last Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper (bare bright) | $5.72/ lb | +1.40% | 11:03:03 UTC |
| Aluminum (sheet) | $1.09/ lb | -1.84% | 11:03:03 UTC |
| Brass (yellow) | $3.55/ lb | +1.40% | 11:03:03 UTC |
| Stainless steel (304) | $0.44/ lb | -4.48% | 11:03:03 UTC |
| Prepared steel (#1 HMS) | $0.12/ lb | -1.45% | 11:03:03 UTC |
| Gold (spot) | $3,411/ toz | -4.48% | 11:03:03 UTC |
| Silver (spot) | $29.19/ toz | -1.45% | 11:03:03 UTC |
Indicative pricing only — confirm rates with your local yard before transacting. Sourced from public futures data with typical scrap discounts applied; not a buy/sell quote.
Why local prices vary
- Distance to the smelter — yards closer to a buying mill have lower transportation cost, which lets them pay more
- Yard saturation — when a regional buyer's yard is full, posted prices drop until it clears
- Operating costs — labor, land, insurance, regulatory burden vary by city
- Competition — areas with multiple competing yards pay slightly more on aggregate
How to call for a quote
A productive 60-second call:
"Hi, I'm calling for current pricing — what's bare bright copper paying today, and #1 prepared steel? And do you have a wait this morning?"
That's it. You'll get a number, an idea of how busy they are, and a feel for whether the person on the phone is engaged. If they won't quote over the phone, that's a signal in itself.
What "spot" means and doesn't mean
When yards say "we pay 90% of spot," they typically mean COMEX spot for copper or LME spot for aluminum. But the % varies by yard, by grade, and by day. Don't assume a yard's headline % applies uniformly.
Related
- Scrap Metal Prices — daily snapshot
- Copper Prices Today